boot# - prompt 3

[sm1981]

Hi there

Unfortunately, I have switched off my 803 while a file was sent to the router to configure it. After switching on, I got a different prompt (boot# ) and it doesn't change to the well-known router-prompt. What can I do to get back the usual configuration environment?

thanks
Simon

 

[CtJackal]

sm1981 you just entered a world of pain
Nah seriously I got myself into the same situation and had to work hard to overcome it.

Most of what you need is in this article -

http://www.cisco.com/en/US/products/hw/routers/ps380/products_tech_note09186a008009429e.shtml

IMPORTANT! Do NOT set your console baud rate greater than 9600 or you'll get a load of garbage characters on the screen and you won't be able to sort your problem.

You'll need a tftp program on your computer and the IOS image file.

3COM have a free tftp server available for download from this mirror:-

http://www.rdg.mirror.ac.uk/sites/ftp.3com.com/pub/utilbin/win32/3ts01_04.exe

As for the IOS image you SHOULD have that on one of your documentation cd's although I never found mine and had to use other methods for obtaining it.

Good luck, have fun!

 

[jimmyzz]

Simon,
The are two reasons why your router will boot into "boot#" mode:
1. No IOS located on the flash.
2. You config-register setting is configured to boot into "boot#" mode.

Before you go replacing your IOS file, check to see if your IOS is still on the flash. Do a "sh flash". If the IOS file is still there, then check your config-register setting. Do a "sh ver". The boot modes are:

0x2102 normal boot mode, loads startup file from NVRAM
0x2142 bypass NVRAM startup file
0x2101 boots into ROM "boot#" mode

If your config-register is set to 0x2101, then simply change the register setting.
Router(boot)#en
Router(boot)conf t
Router(boot)config-register 0x2102

If the file you were transferring at the time was the IOS, then its probably not there on the flash. Hence follow CtJackal's tips for IOS recovery.

JimmyZ

 

[sm1981]

Thanks for your help.

In fact, the IOS-File is gone and only the TinyROM is still existing. So, I guess, I need a new IOS image file. But where do I get one without being a cisco contract partner?

Simon