Converting a German targeted Fritz!Box Fon Wlan to an International version

[ducklord]

Sorry for re-posting, but I must add that during my tries to update with the different firmware I was (ofcourse) changing to the apropriate language version (avm/avme) through adam. That means that, feeling quite helpless, I -did- try to update the avme-changed fritz with an avm recover, I -did- change it to avm and tried the avm recover, and the same for the international firmwares (I tried each with both avm AND avme setting). Yeah, that doubles the times I tried but, hey... I -was- banging my head on the wall (now I can see the neighbours through - nice underwear, dear brunette lady neighbour)...

AHRGHR.... <bang>...<bang>...

Best regards
Ducklord

 

[imagomundi]

Let's give it a try through ftp:

You got on your PC:

FRITZ_Box_Fon_WLAN_7270.en-de-es-it.04.67.recover-image.exe

and

FRITZ_Box_Fon_WLAN_7270.en-de-es-it-fr.54.04.76.image

Do all the usual settings for the recover procedure (fixed IP for your lan-card etc.)

disable mediasense (suppose you got XP)

- open box's ftp server (think you know how to do that - you mentioned it before)

commands:

quote SETENV firmware_version avme

and

quote SETENV firmware_info en-de-es-it-fr.54.04.76

leave ftp through command "bye"

DO NOT DISCONNECT THE BOX FROM POWER - EVEN IF RECOVER PROCEDURE ASKS YOU TO DO SO - DO NOT REBOOT THE BOX

and

RUN RECOVER.EXE.....04.67 immediately

good luck

 

[el_valiente]

@ducklord:

Having 20 years of experience with computers should make things easier!
And I agree: You did something wrong. But I still don't see what it was.

Ok, I will try to describe the procedure step by step.

1. I go to firmware-update (I don't remember how's that in German)...
2. I select that I want to upload manually a firmware through the Browse button.
3. I select the fritz_as_avme_newer.tar and the whole thing starts.
4. After a while, it tells me that it failed to update the firmware...

Until here everything looks fine.
At this point you must continue the update! You will get an other message ("kein Fehler", that means "no error") and the box will reboot - and it will hang in a permanent reboot loop!
The reason of this reboot loop is the german FW, which is still installed and ist not compatible with the parameter "avme" you wrote on the box.

Now has come the moment to run "FRITZ.Box_Fon_WLAN_7270.en-de-es-it.04.67.recover-image.exe"
It is important to follow exactly the instructions to run a recover file.
I hope you know them?

That's all! After the recovery you should have the international FW installed.

I don't know what kind of message "cannot determine the version" you got.
If you run the recover file while the FB is in the reboot loop, there should by no such message.

Good luck!

----------------------

Edit:
You must not repost to add information.
Just click at the button "Ändern" (bottom right) and add further text.
.

 

[ducklord]

@imagomundi
I've already tried this - well, that's the way it's supposed to be done, as all the guides I found say. If you see my first message, I mention that I even tried to change to avme while the web interface existed (before the reboot loop) so as to "force" its loading, since everytime I run it, whatever I do, it says "it cannot determine the version"... :-(

@el_valiente
When you say "I must continue the update"... You mean exactly what? I mean, the move I must do... Re-select the file and hit update, or hit the buttom at the bottom (that means reboot, but I don't remember the German word - sorry)? I've tried both... Nada... :-(

@imagomundi and @el_valiente
Now, here comes the reason I told you about "my experience": I can extrapolate from the events and find some meaning about what happens. Let me explain...

The message I mention (about the version) MUST be a check in the firmware-restore file, to "see if the device is compatible/if it is appropriate to go on with the update". That's where the procedure gets stuck. Normally, it would detect the router, say something like "fritzbox found, version yadda-yadda-yadda, starting update"... But it doesn't! It does find the box, but it seems like it checks the version and thinks the model/the router isn't appropriate to commence the update. That's (I guess) the reason it throws me a message that "it cannot determine the version". Like, say, trying to update a camouflaged Zyxel router with a fritzbox firmware. Yeah, I know, science-fiction, but that's the situation:

* Router is set to language-standard required by the update (avme)
* Router is the right one for the firmware-recovery (and vice-versa)
* The procedure starts and the firmware-recovery searches "to find the version of the router"
* It finds the router
* It checks (I suppose) the router
* It mentions that "it cannot even read its version"

That's as I can put it in plain English - and by the way, sorry for any mistakes or misuse of the language, as I happen to be Greek...

Sooo... Any ideas? Could there be some way that the firmware got "locked", that it "cannot be read"? That's why I mentioned earlier the example with the file/folder usage rights. Think of the firmware-recovery as a user and the data on the router as... well... a folder. If the user doesn't have access to the data, he cannot read it or modify it. That seems a similar situation to my problem: the firmware-recovery can "see" that "there is a router", but "it cannot see which one it is to update it"...

Best regards
Ducklord

PS: I tried changing cables. Used the yellow one that came with the fritzbox. Nothing... Same problem... :-(

 

[imagomundi]

I feel this is the point where "skyteddy"s "ruKernelTool" would be the best means. Unfortunately this is only in German, too. But I'm convinced (from my proper recent experience) that this would be the next tool I would try out. It is able to upload directly a kernel.image from whatsoever appropiate firmware to the corresponding box.

Try to send him an e-mail. Maybe Rainer (=skyteddy - his PN is deactivated) would be willing to help you more than only sending you the tool as he is currently looking for someone who could help him to translate his tool settings to english.

 

[vpe]

Hello,

where is listed all

fx_moh
("please hold line ..." - 4 sencond voice)

language versions?

I have fx_moh DE and EN versions, please exist any other language version?
Know anyone method to compose seld voice please in Audacity?

 

[ducklord]

@imagomundi
Could you please help me in contacting him, telling me "where to find him" or maybe telling him to contact me? I really tried to find a way to contact him, but he has disabled IM and not speaking German makes it hard for me to understand if he has some contact info elsewhere - I don't know where to look.

I'd be really grateful for any possible help.

Thank you in advance

 

[imagomundi]

Could you please help me in contacting him,

Who do you wish to contact?

 

[el_valiente]

@imagomundi:

As far as I understand, ducklord is trying to contact skyteddy ...
.

 

[imagomundi]

@ ducklord: Unfortunately skyteddy has seized his activity with regard to the "ruKernelTool", shut down his e-mnail and PN and announced that he will no longer distribute the tool.

 

[ducklord]

@imagomundi @el_valiente Yes, exactly. I'm still trying to do the procedure through a THIRD computer, directly connected with the Fritz. Nothing happens - still "cannot detect the version"... :-(

I want to cry...

 

[ducklord]

So, basically, I have a useless Fritz and I must buy a new one, compatible with my line... Right?

 

[el_valiente]

So, basically, I have a useless Fritz and I must buy a new one, compatible with my line... Right?

I can't believe that! You must not cry and you must not buy a new FB.

I have reviewed your posts and I'm convinced, there must be a "hidden" error which we are unaware until now.
If the FB7270 says "it cannot determine the version", that means, at least one of the environment parameters is wrong. I didn't see the wrong parameter until now, but it must be there.
Anyway, it must be possible to become your FB7270 the international version!

Don't worry about skyteddy's tool. It is a good tool, but all it does can be equally done manually. In fact, you already did.

Let'start again! What do you think about the following idea:

There is a very powerful tool written by Jpascher, called "speed-to-fritz"
Using this tool one can construct modified image files in an easy way.
It is possible to construct recover.exe files, too.
Such a modified recover file does not check for "wrong environment parameters" any more.
Thus it does newer produce the message "it cannot determine the version".

Now comes my idea:
Get your preferred FW version (e.g. FRITZ_Box_Fon_WLAN_7270.en-de-es-it-fr.54.04.76.image) and use "speed-to-fritz" to obtain a recover.exe for this FW version.
"speed-to-fritz" is mostly self explaining.
Than use this recover.exe in the usual way (with "firmware_version avme") and it should flash the FW on your the FB without error message.

Try it! and good luck!
.

 

[ducklord]

Man, I'm good... ALMOST found out the source of the problem, but anyways... Solved it!

I've got mountains of software in all of my computers, due to my work (writting tech articles in magazines). It seems one of them conflicted with the detection of the router. Solution - that from now on you can include in all your advice on "how to flash a Fritz!box":

restart XP in Safe Mode with Networking

Yeah, that simple. Hadn't thought of it, because I had disabled the firewall and the antivirus. What else could get in the way of the flasher? Well, I really don't know and I haven't found it. But by doing a Safe Boot and not loading anything, XP "saw" the router and managed to "stick" the International firmware in it.

Me iz happy!

Thanks for all your help and your kind advice. I can now throw the crappy router my telco gave me and keep my golden Fritz!box. Gawd, I love those boxes!

I'd like to ask something more though, because I remember I saw it mentioned but cannot seem to find it now: if I want to re-update the firmware to a different (newer) International version, do I have to take care of anything? I remember seeing something like "it will revert to Annex B"... Any specific steps I must do to update, or do I just flash a newer firmware?

Best regards (and vast mountains of thank-yous to everyone!)

 

[el_valiente]

Man, I'm good... ALMOST found out the source of the problem, but anyways... Solved it!

Very nice! Congratulations, ducklord.

Yeah, starting XP in safe mode is a new input to this forum.
To me it seems quite a good idea in case of strange looking problems!

In your case that what I thought to be a "hidden wrong environment parameter" was a foreign program at your PC! That's funny!
Did you find out which software caused the problem?

greetz el_valiente
.

 

[ducklord]

@Elvaliente nope, and unfortunately it will be too hard to find it - I use hundreds of programs for too many different uses (I write articles ranging from graphics and DTP to networking and GUI/Desktop customizing). But let me take some wild guesses that may help others...

The program must have something to do with the network interfaces, so as to work as a "barrier" for the updater/firmware flasher. Some of the possible culprits that come to mind and I have on ALL of my PCs are:

Getright
Pidgin
Outpost Firewall
VMWare
Virtualbox
Synergy (command many PCs through one mouse and keyboard - kind of "virtual KVM")


Especially Outpost and VMWare install network services on the PCs that are active, even if you don't actively run the programs. So, I guess it could be one of them.

Instead of troubleshooting and searching for a needle in the haystack though, it's just easier to boot in safe mode WITH networking and run the updater from there.

Ah, and something else: the procedure need not be as "time exact" as you (I don't mean "specifically you" but all the members of the board) usually mention. It's simpler like that:

1. Connect Fritz!box to the PC (well, it SHOULD be already connected!)
2. Run the English updater to enter boot-cycling mode.
3. Power-cycle the router.
4. Type "ftp 192.168.178.1" in a cmd window. It works almost whenever you type it - you don't need to try it at a specific moment, since the router is stuck in a version-detection cycle.
5. enter adam2 as login and pass.
6. type "quote SETENV firmware_version avme"
7. Run the International firmware updater

At this point it -will- detect the router and start updating it, even if you're still connected through ftp. If it doesn't (never happened to me), just type "quit" and hit enter in the cmd window. You -never- have to quit and wait for the router to reboot, you -never- have to wait for the lights to blink once or twice. I was too happy that it finally worked for me that I've already tried the procedure, as I mention it, three times! It worked flawlessly every single time.

Anyways, thanks again.
Best regards

 

[calinm]

ftp links for getting the recover images are not accessible

Hello everybody
... being the first post I want to say hi to all the guys around that posted useful info and what's most important for me ... in english ...

I have just bought a FritzBox WLAN 7170 in germany and obviously my surprise at home after the installation was that you don't have a Language menu ... it's the first time when I see that on a router and I have played around with few ... how stupid is that? ... i thought maybe they don't wanna sell and limit themselves to the German market ... never mind ... let's forget the number of times I used the F word trying to get the box back to a working state after the first failed attempt to put it in english ... now I've finally managed to learn the right steps but I have the problem of not finding the right recover-image.exe ... all the links given on the forums point to an ftp server hosted by avm ... absolutely no problem BUT the one that it's not accesible ... I cannot connect even though I have tried FileZille, WinSCP and the browsers as well and I get the following error:

The connection was reset

The connection to the server was reset while the page was loading.
* The site could be temporarily unavailable or too busy. Try again in a few moments.
* If you are unable to load any pages, check your computer's network
connection.
* If your computer or network is protected by a firewall or proxy, make sure that Firefox is permitted to access the Web.

the url I'm trying to get is: ftp://ftp.avm.de/fritz.box/fritzbox...n_WLAN_7170.AnnexB.en.04.76.recover-image.exe

... but that's not the only one I've tried ... I have tried all sorts of links ... even ftp://ftp.avm.de ... and the same.

does anyone know where/how can I get the en.recover-image.exe file? or maybe someone already has it and can send it to me on email ...

thanks a lot

 

[imagomundi]

I have tried all sorts of links ... even ftp://ftp.avm.de ...

This is the right one and it works - I just entered through your link! AVM's ftp server was down for a while today.

 

[calinm]

you're right, I've just tried it right now and it works ... now when I don't need it anymore

I have continued looking and I was luckily enough to find this one working:
http://download.avm.de/fritz.box/fritzbox.fon_wlan_7170/x_misc/english/annex_b/

... they either solved their problems when I tried or this side of it wasn't having problems ...

anyways ... meanwhile I have managed to make the box working in english

:rock:

thanks a lot for your quick help

 

[kamil8887]

7141 english firmware and annex A - how to made it?

Hello
I'm newbie on this forum.
I've just bought FBF 7141 (everyones know where ) and box just goes to me.
It's 1&1 branding, german firmware (don't know exactly which) and annex B of course.
I read all this thread but it only increased the number of unknowns!? :-(

Now it's time for my plan:
1. debranding the router;
2. english firmware;
3. annex A

For first step I want to use pseudoimage
fritz_als_avm_new.tar or fritz_as_avm_newer.tar (depending which german firmware the box is)
(or regarding step 2 should I use fritz_als_avme_new.tar or fritz_as_avme_newer.tar?)


In the third step I plan to use pseudoimage
fritz_als_avm_annex_A_new.tar or fritz_als_avme_annex_A_new.tar or fritz_as_annex_a_kernel_args_newer.tar

But the second step still remaining a mystery :-(
Should I try to recover using oryginal german file FRITZ.Box_Fon_WLAN_7170.04.76.recover-image.exe or
english annex B file FRITZ.Box_Fon_WLAN_7170.AnnexB.en.04.76.recover-image.exe
and then updtae the box with the latest english annex B firmware FRITZ.Box_Fon_WLAN_7170.AnnexB.en.29.04.76.image??

Any help, how to do this, step by step is wanted.


I will be grateful for any help
kamil8887