Member Avatar for DeviousRidr

My buddy was over earlier today showing me how to setup QoS on my Linksys WRT54G Wireless Router and somehow disabled the wireless interface to the router. Unfortunately I found this out after my roommate started his afternoon long campaign on the Xbox, and the settings we changed earlier gave the Xbox priority on the network and has been eating majority of the bandwidth. The router is on the opposite end of the house from my comp, so my question is, is there any way to reset the router back to default config (already used the reset and tried leaving it unplugged for an hour) without having to go out and get 200' of ethernet cable? Thanks..... MK2

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A few practical, non-redundant suggestions for ’s WRT54G scenario (after the QoS change disabled the radio and the Xbox is soaking bandwidth). Several replies specifically recommend getting a wired connection and a factory reset (, , ). Below are additional steps that help immediately and diagnose the router without a 200' cable.

First, stop the bleeding: address the Xbox itself. Pausing or cancelling active downloads, signing out of online accounts, or disconnecting the console from the network (network cable or wireless) will free bandwidth instantly while other fixes are applied. Many consoles run background updates and game downloads that continue until explicitly stopped.

Next, use the console to find the router. The Xbox’s network status usually shows the device’s IP, subnet, DNS and the gateway address — the gateway is the router’s LAN IP (common default on WRT54G units is 192.168.1.1). Note that some Linksys variants accept the password admin with a blank username, or admin/admin. If a browser can reach that gateway from any device on the LAN, the admin UI may still be accessible even if the radio is off.

Short, low-cost access options: borrow a laptop or a short (10–25 ft) Ethernet lead, use a pair of powerline adapters, or briefly move a PC closer. These avoid the long run and are usually enough to re-establish admin access. If a reset really didn’t restore defaults, consider advanced recovery only as a last resort (corrupted NVRAM or alternate firmware can require TFTP/reflash procedures). For immediate relief, however, pausing the console’s network activity is the fastest, lowest-risk measure.

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Member Avatar for 29FIVE Designs

If the reset didn't work, then you will have to physically connect the router to your computer. The reset might not work because the default on the router might have wireless set to off. Unplugging a router won't reset it. No laptops available to you? I would just move your computer to the other side of the house temporarily. 200 feet of cable can be expensive.

Member Avatar for Stylish

Factory reset!

Just be careful - any awesome, super cool, custom changes you made will be lost.

Member Avatar for jimlaver

There's a Reset button on the back of the router, next to the internet port. Press it for about five seconds and you'll have factory defaults back.

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