Catalyst 3850 switch not factory resetting after pressing mode button
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08-11-2021 08:30 AM
My company was gifted a few Catalyst 2850 switches. All, I want to do is perform a factory reset of these switches. Before, anyone I asks I don't have any of the login passwords or any other login information for these switches. I don't even know what ISO is installed. I have pressed mode button and none of the expected behavior has occurred when doing a factory reset this way. Is there any other way to do this????? I noticed a reset button on the back of the switch will this button do anything? I'm only going to spend a day on this and if the reset doesn't work, I going to chuck them into garbage.
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Catalyst 3000

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08-11-2021 01:38 PM
Hello,
power down/power up the switch with the reset button pressed for >12 seconds...does the status LED change ?
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08-18-2021 12:25 PM - edited 08-18-2021 12:27 PM
sorry wrong response
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08-11-2021 04:03 PM
Is this 3850 switch or 2850 router ? Maybe password reset disabled? can you post a complete boot log connecting console?
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08-17-2021 07:47 AM
I'm unable to do anything to this switch. I pressed the reset multiple times and nothing happens. I'm in the console window and it still has the old domain information. I just want to wipe it clean and start fresh out of a box. Is there a way to wipe out a switch to factory defaults without knowing anything about the switch?
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08-11-2021 05:46 PM
- Power down the switch.
- Hold the Mode button.
- Keep holding the button and apply power.
- Keep holding down the Mode button for another 45 seconds and then release
- See if the console goes to ROMMON or not.
- If in console, enter this command: SWITCH_IGNORE_STARTUP_CFG=1
- Reload the switch (use the power cable).
- Go to enable mode and enter the following command: factory-reset all
WARNING: This command will delete everything in the flash, including the IOS.
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07-07-2023 12:34 PM
Thank you! This is exactly what I needed
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08-17-2021 09:11 AM
The switch appears to be booting up going though the motions of interfaces are down and the process stops at switch 3: power supply B is not responding which makes sense since I only have one power plugged in. I attached a few images of when the switch finally boots up. I don't think, I'm explaining myself properly, my company took possession of a building and within the IT rooms we found (10) of the Catalyst 3850 switches and we want to use them. Can we wipe them without knowing any of the passwords?
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08-17-2021 09:20 AM
You can't wipe them out without the password. I recommend first doing a password recovery on each switch and then you can "write erase" the config and start fresh.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O7RI3xyveCo
HTH
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08-17-2021 11:44 AM
Thanks, for the help. I have watch the video a few times and I'm not able to get to the following screen "The system has been interrupted prior....." When the switch finishes booting up, I get to base Ethernet mac address screen but what's included is the motherboard serial number, and model information. The IOS installed on the switch is: IOS Software [Denali], Catalyst L3 Switch Software (CAT3K_CAA-UNIVERSALK9- M), Version 16.3.6, RELEASE SOFTWARE (fc3). Am I missing a step?
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08-17-2021 01:09 PM
Hello,
what are the options at the:
switch:
prompt ?
switch: ?
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03-08-2023 10:37 AM
Make sure you have a usb flash drive with the IOS for your switch use the following command when prompted switch:
boot usbflash0:
