Catalyst 3850 Password Recovery Breaks Console

[corytrevor]

While attempting to recover the password for a Catalyst 3850 following this community discussion, IOS via the console has become unusable.

I booted to ROMMON using the MODE button on the switch and issued the following commands:

Switch: SWITCH_IGNORE_STARTUP_CFG=1

Switch: SWITCH_DISABLE_PASSWORD_RECOVERY=0 ---- Message Read Only

Switch: BOOT=flash:packages.conf

Switch: boot

After booting, I get this message:

Both ignore startup configuration and disable password are set
This will result in erasing the startup config
Do you want to Erase the config? Default: n, Answer y/n

Before I am given a chance to answer, the console just starts scrolling infinitely, one line at a time. No input keys work. There is no "Switch:" title on each line, it is completely empty just continuing until eventually rebooting.

[Leo Laohoo]

That is correct.  

Password-recovery will erase the config of the switch. 

[corytrevor]

I think you’re misunderstanding. The config erase isn’t the problem. The switch is now stuck in a boot loop and I cannot use the console.

[Leo Laohoo]

1. Power down the switch. 
2. Attach a console cable. 
3. Reboot the switch. 
4. Copy-n-Paste the entire boot-up process into a text file and attach the file in your next reply.  

[corytrevor]

Attached is the text file of the full boot process. Please also see this video of the point in which it fails and starts making new lines. This is the point in which console input no longer works.

[Leo Laohoo]

Use a USB Type A to USB mini cable instead of a USB-to-serial console cable.  

[corytrevor]

Type A to mini USB is what I am using.

[rodrigombia]

I have the same problem.
I attached a screenshot.

[Htonieto]

Did you try to change de baud rate? Not sure if it will help, but worth try.

Enter in rommon mode then:

set BAUD 115200

boot

 Please remember to also change the speed in the software that you are using to connect, e.g. Putty / TeraTerm