Sunday, October 05, 2025

Netgear R8000 freshtomato installation


 
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 So I just got a R8000 and here are the steps to flash freshtomato. I may be naive to its hardware issues as these routers are fairly inexpensive on the used marketplaces. 

 For reference, follow my old steps using R7000.  This time around, I have a little bit of a different setup.

 

Download & unzip the CHK file 

Download & unzip the TRX file 



Hint:  not sure which one to download ?  Refer to this hardware compatibility chart
CPU: R7000 has ARM
NVRAM: R7000 has 64KB
AIO=all in one
firmware is easily identified:  freshtomato- R7000- ARM -[version]-AIO- 64K.trx

My SETUP:

My existing network is not on 192.168.1.x so it makes my life easier. I'm also using a USB to ethernet adapter like this.  The adapter is not necessary, but I don't have to unplug my existing connection to get this router flashed. 

 

Lan port on R8000 == ethernet cable ==USB to ethernet adapter ==  Desktop


 This is the best that AI can do. lol.

 

  1. R8000 power is OFF 
  2. Using a paperclip, hold down the reset button.
  3. Power on R8000, continue to hold the reset button.
  4. Wait 30 seconds, release the reset button. 
  5. Open a command window, ping 192.168.1.1.  

Wait until it responds. This takes about 3 to 5 minutes.

 



  1. open a private or incognito browser tab.
  2. Make sure you open a private browsing tab.  
  3.  http://192.168.1.1/genie_index.htm


8.  Select no, then Next

 



 9. Are you sure? OK.


 

 10.  admin/password


 

11. Advanced tab / Administration / Router update. 

Browse and select the .CHK file you downloaded earlier.

click upload.


12.  Click OK.

13. router is rebooting...

14. ping 192.168.1.1

and wait until it responds. 


 15. close your current private browser window.

16. open a new private or incognito browser tab.


17. http://192.168.1.1

root/admin 

 

 
OR:  admin/@newdig

 
 



ISSUES:

If the ping never responds, with the router on, hold down the reset button for 30 seconds. Wait 3 to 5 minutes, and the router should come back up.  

I purposely turned off my router after the flash to get it into this state where it would not respond to ping. Holding down the reset button for 30 seconds and waiting got it back up and running. Be patient! 

 

 

18.  Administration / Config / Erase ALL data. OK. OK.



Please wait...

19. Click Continue

 


 20. Admin/upgrade/Browse and select .TRX file you downloaded earlier.


 21. OK.


 uploading...

CRC OK...rebooting


22. Continue


 

DONE!


 

Want to go back to original firmware?
Read the instructions/video here:
https://freshtomato.org/downloads/freshtomato-arm/Netgear%20back%20to%20OFW/

 

Users have posted older comments with tips and tricks here: R7000 + freshtomato.

Please post a comment below if you have any tips and tricks. Thank you


 

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