Reset a Cisco Router to Factory Default Settings
Reset a Cisco Router to Factory Default Settings
To perform this reset you must have privileged EXEC access on the router. If you don't you must perform the password recovery procedure at Password Recovery for Cisco Router 1841 first.
There are a couple of methods for resetting a Cisco 1841 router to it's factory default settings.
Method #1
1. Use the show version command to see if the configuration register is set to 0x2102. If it isn't then enter the following:
router#configure terminal router(config)#config-register 0x2102 router(config)#end router#
When you enter show version again the output will show (will be 0x2102 at next reload) after the current register setting.
2. Enter write erase to erase the start-up configuration.
3. Enter reload to reload the router. Do not save the configuration when prompted.
router#reload System configuration has been modified. Save? [yes/no]: n Proceed with reload? [confirm]
When the router is done reloading the System Configuration Dialog is displayed.
--- System Configuration Dialog --- Would you like to enter the initial configuration dialog? [yes/no]:
The router has the factory default settings now.
Method #2
The first method used the config-register 0x2102 command in global configuration mode. This method will use the config-register 0x2142 command in global configuration mode.
1. Enter config-register 0x2142 command. Be sure you are in global configuration mode.
router#configure terminal router(config)#config-register 0x2142 router(config)#end router#
2. Reload the router by entering the reload command. Do not save the configuration when prompted.
router#reload System configuration has been modified. Save? [yes/no]: n Proceed with reload? [confirm]
3. The output shows "Would you like to enter the configuration dialog?". Enter no.
4. Go back into global configuration mode and enter config-register 0x2102 to enable the router to use the start-up configuration file again.
5. Enter write memory in enable mode to save the runnning-config to the startup-config.
6. In enable mode enter the reload command to reload the router with the new startup configuration.
When the router is done reloading the System Configuration Dialog is displayed.
--- System Configuration Dialog --- Would you like to enter the initial configuration dialog? [yes/no]:
The router has the factory default settings now.