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[edit] Introduction

The Netgear WNDR4300 is a simultaneous dual band 802.11 a/b/g/n router, sporting a fast Qualcomm Atheros CPU, good routing performance and transmit power capability, and a USB 2.0 port. To date there are 2 hardware revisions of this router, v1 & v2. The v2 is not currently supported and there is no ETA. Both versions require its own firmware build, whether you use stock firmware or DD-WRT. Installation of DD-WRT is very simple and can be done in a few steps.

[edit] Version Information

• v1 units are not labeled at all and are just called "WNDR4300".
• v2 units are labeled on the side of the box, in firmware, & under the router as "WNDR4300v2".

[edit] DD-WRT Installation

NOTE: The wndr4300-factory.img file is for worldwide (ALL!) units flashing from NETGEAR firmware to DD-WRT, or recovering from TFTP mode.
The wndr4300-webflash.bin is from upgrading an existing DD-WRT firmware to a newer build via Administration -> Firmware Upgrade.

NOTE:Do not consider these build recommendations, check New Build threads for recommendations.
See Where do I download firmware? for firmware download links.

NOTE: If you try to install DD-WRT later than r23503 on v1 with initial factory firmware, the update will eventually fail with "CGI timeout error".
Workaround for this problem is to first flash to DD-WRT using the r23503 wndr4300-factory.img file provided below, then upgrading to the latest DD-WRT
using the wndr4300-webflash.bin from within DD-WRT GUI.

[edit] Prerequisites

[edit] v1

Download the following initial flash files:

• https://ftp.dd-wrt.com/betas/2014/02-04-2014-r23503/netgear-wndr4300/wndr4300-factory.img
• https://ftp.dd-wrt.com/betas/2019/02-04-2019-r38570/netgear-wndr4300/wndr4300-webflash.bin

[edit] v2

The v2 is not currently supported. This information will be updated if and when it DD-WRT support is added.

[edit] Procedure

1. Reset your NETGEAR router to factory defaults via reset button or WebUI.
2. Connect your computer to your router with an Ethernet cable.
   • (Do not flash over a wireless connection.)
3. Launch a web browser and enter http://routerlogin.net (or http://192.168.1.1) into the address bar.
   • A login page displays.
4. Enter the router admin user name and password.
   • The default user name is admin. The password is the one you specified the first time you logged in.
     The user name and password are case-sensitive.
5. Select ADVANCED > Administration.
   • Some models might use slightly different navigation, like Settings > Administration.
6. Select Firmware Update or Router Update. The label varies depending on your router.
7. Click Choose File or Browse, then locate and select the previously downloaded wndr4300-factory.img file.
8. Click the Upload button.
   • The firmware update starts and the router restarts. The firmware update process takes up to five minutes.
   • WARNING: After you start the firmware update, do not try to go online, turn off the router, or do anything else to the router until it finishes restarting.
   • Wait at least 1 minute after 100% is reached.
   • Wait while the router reboots. The lights should flash, and eventually the status light should go solid green.
9. Open http://192.168.1.1 in your web browser, and you should be greeted by the DD-WRT password change page, indicating successful flash.
10. Reset to defaults again by one of the following methods:
    • Press and hold the Reset button for ~10 seconds and then release it.
    • Set password (username is root) and go to Administration -> Factory Defaults, select 'Yes' and click 'Apply Settings'.
    • Set password (username is root) and via telnet login and issue an `nvram erase && reboot`.
    • DO NOT 30/30/30 reset this router or you risk bricking it forever!
11. Open http://192.168.1.1 in your web browser, and you should be greeted by the DD-WRT password change page.
12. Set password, then configure router as desired.
    • You may want to wait until you have upgraded after initial flash.

[edit] Upgrading DD-WRT

1. Download the desired wndr4300-webflash.bin file.
   See Where do I download firmware? for firmware download links.
2. Connect your computer to your router with an Ethernet cable.
   • (Do not flash over a wireless connection.)
3. Launch a web browser and enter http:http://192.168.1.1 (or whatever IP you set during configuration) into the address bar.
4. Go to Administration -> Firmware Upgrade.
5. Click 'Browse' and select the previously downloaded wndr4300-webflash.bin file.
6. Click 'Upgrade'
   • The firmware update starts and the router restarts. The firmware update process takes up to five minutes.
   • WARNING: After you start the firmware update, do not try to go online, turn off the router, or do anything else to the router until it finishes restarting.
   • The router should eventually return to the Setup -> Basic Setup page. If it does not, click back button or manually return to http://192.168.1.1 (or whatever IP address you set during configuration).

[edit] FAQ

See Firmware FAQ first before posting a question in the forums.

Q: After flashing DD-WRT, the LAN LEDs are now green for 10/100M and orange 1000M? (v1/v2 only)

A: This is an intentional change by the DD-WRT developers, Netgear had the colors backwards as gigabit is usually orange (check any other NIC!).

Q: I heard some WNDR3700 radios were dying shortly after flashing DD-WRT? Does the firmware damage routers?

A: No DD-WRT does not damage routers, there is also reports as said above, of WNDR3700's having weak wireless even when DD-WRT was never put on it. It is a faulty hardware issue.

Q: Is there going to be a special version of DD-WRT for this router?

A: No, there are no special versions anymore except for Buffalo routers.

Q: Is it possible to restore the factory or stock firmware that came with my router?

A: Yes. Refer to WNDR3700: Restore Factory Firmware in Five Easy Steps. This also works the same for WNDR4300, just be using the proper WNDR4300 files instead & make sure to have the ethernet cable plugged into the router & PC BEFORE putting it into TFTP or it WILL NOT WORK.

[edit] Unbricking

See Reinstall the firmware on a router without the setup CD recovery tool

[edit] Notes and Further Reading

• What about the WNDR4300?
• DD-WRT on Netgear WNDR4300 V2