This article has been written to help those who are practicing with Cisco devices and will describe how to recover the IOS image in Flash memory on a Cisco 2950 Switch

The IOS image file is stored in Flash memory on a 2950 series Switch. On booting the IOS image file is decompressed and copied into RAM, making available the command prompt for configuration

When the IOS image is corrupted or the boot variable is incorrectly set the Switch will normally no longer boot and will provide the following message:

Error loading “c2950-i6q4l2-mz.121-9.EA1.bin”

Interrupt within 5 seconds to abort boot process

Boot process failed…

Resulting in a prompt of: Switch:

At this prompt type: flash_init This will initialise flash

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This article outlines the procedure to recover a lost password to gain access to a 2500 series Cisco Router by modifying and reviewing the Configuration Register

Procedure

• Power off then on the Router (this would be the only option if a password is lost)
• Within 60 seconds of reboot hit CTRL BREAK keys, this will take you into a prompt of: > Which is the ROM monitor

NOTE: The key sequence used will be dependant on the emulation software in use on the PC

• At the prompt Type: O/R 0×2142 Then press Enter. This command will overwrite the original register value of 0×2102 and reset bit 6.

• Type: INITIALIZE This will reboot the Router and use the new register value assigned

The router will now reboot ignoring its saved configuration. The Router will now enter Setup Mode and the following question will then be asked on reboot:

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This article outlines the general procedures to recover a lost password to gain access to a 2600 Router by modifying and reviewing the Configuration Register

NOTE: These are the GENERAL procedures but procedures may vary on different series of Cisco devices

Procedure

• Power off then on (this would be the only option if a password is lost)
• Within 60 seconds of reboot hit the keys: CTRL BREAK this will take you into a prompt of >, which is known as the ROM monitor

NOTE: This key sequence will be dependant on the emulation software in use on the PC

The following will then be displayed:

“Monitor: command “boot” aborted due to user interrupt” This is then followed by a prompt of ROMMON 1>

• Type: CONFREG 0×2142 - Then hit the Enter Key to boot from Flash without loading the current configuration.
• At the: ROMMON 2> prompt type: RESET - Then hit the Enter key.

The router will now reboot ignoring its saved configuration. The following question will then be asked on reboot:

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