How do I fix RB760 router (can't get it to go into net boot)

RouterOS General
1

I have read the manual and numerous posts online on how to hold reset while applying power, then releasing at just the right time. Also seen many conflicting reports about following LEDs as clues on when to release reset. I’ve been trying in vain all day to recover this router after screwing up vlan config on the bridge.

I can access via ssh and web interface, but neither accept the default admin / empty password login. Only things left to try are reinstall using netinstall or hooking up a serial UART to usb cable to access the console. I can’t locate my uart cable so trying like hell to get the router into proper mode. It really shouldn’t be this difficult, but from what I see from others, this is a very common frustration.

According to this releasing reset after SFP LED goes off should trigger net boot / install. However that same page also says if reset is pressed on power application only the routerBOOT will occur, meaning a series of ticks will be heard, followed by silence for ~1 minute followed by a beep.

2

Not sure if you followed this page by heart?

In my experience you can press the reset button a lot longer...it will remain in netboot.

Have you tried the password available on the sticker?

3

Doh! THANK YOU @erlinden for reminding me about the sticker password. I can now login on ether2 with that, and believe I can get back to where I was before I screwed the pooch.

Out of curiosity, when you say you can hold the reset a lot longer, are you referring to this router model or (an)others? I have held the reset from very short intervals to very long ones trying to get it into netinstall mode on ether1 (WAN port). But I don’t think I need to reinstall router OS now, I can login via ether2.

My question is whether the default routerBOOT script that runs when you login on ether2 which asks if I want to restore “the configuration” will restore my screwed up config, or the one labled “flash/auto-before-reset.backup” dated 1970-01-01xxxx? The current router OS version is 7.18.2. The “flash” folder under /Files is dated the same as my .backup file I saved on another machine. I believe restoring that external backup file is probably the safest way to go, but there is no certain way to know what router OS version created it.