What you will Need

  1. A PC with a CD-ROM drive.  If the PC runs windows, use a bootable Linux distro like Knoppix.  If you already run Linux, you are all set.  Knoppix will allow you to run Linux, without erasing your hard drive.  When you are done with Linux, simply take the CD out and reboot, and you are back in Windows.   
  2. A bootable Linux CD like Knoppix (link). I had some trouble with Ubuntu, but I have heard Knoppix works. Bootable CD is not necessary if you already have a PC running Linux or some other *nix.
  3. The nvserial linux/unix program. It is easy to find with a google search, or possibly here [DD-WRT Forum].
  4. mn700.zip (download here or a mirror here)
  5. Your MN-700 router with attached JTAG cable.

Step by Step Instructions

  1. Boot into Linux. 
  2. Unzip the MN-700.zip file.  There should be two files, one labeled mn700.bin, the other labeled mn700.txt.  Place these files in the same directory as the nvserial program. 
  3. Open mn700.txt with a text editor (double clicking it should do this automatically). 
  4. In the text file, there are two lines that have “@@MAC@@” written on them.  Replace the “@@MAC@@” with your actual MAC address, in the following format: AA:BB:CC:DD:EE:FF:GG...”, make sure you have the colons every two characters.  You can find your MAC address by looking on the bottom of the router, there should be a sticker.  The sticker may not have the colons every two characters, but make sure you use the colons in the text file.  Make sure you write the MAC address in the file at both locations, and that you use exactly the same MAC address both times.  Save the file when you are done. 
  5. Open a terminal window (usually located in the program menu somewhere).  Navigate to the same directory as you unzipped your files in.  (Basic linux commands are not covered here, but “ls” lists the contents of the current directory you are in, and “cd dir_name” opens a new directory, where dir_name is replaced by the name of the directory you want). 
  6. Once you are at the correct directory, run the following command in the terminal:
    nvserial -i mn700.bin -o cfe.bin mn700.txt

    Note: You may need to add a “./” before this command to make it run.  If you try try this, and still get an error, try running:

    chmod +x nvserial
    Then run the command again.  This should work.  If not, you may need to try another Linux computer, or another Linux distribution.  I have heard nvserial works fine on Knoppix.  I ended up running the program on a Solaris box that I have telnet access to, after Ubuntu didn't work, and it worked fine. 
    This command tells the nvserial program to make a new CFE file for your router, and call it cfe.bin.  In the folder with the nvserial program, there should be a new file called cfe.bin.  Copy this file to a flash drive, you will need it when you boot into Windows XP.  

  7. Shut down the computer and boot Windows.