Cisco 3750-x Password/ROMmon recovery failing.

[Kai Echo]

I got from my university a Cisco 3750-x 48p switch, however its heavily edited and managed, they do not know the password.

• - I tried to perform a password-recovery with the 15-second mode method, however it did say it was enabled, it didn't interrupt the boot as it should.
• - I tried the ROMmon method by spamming the Break function on Putty, no luck again, its like its being ignored (probably a security setting).

This switch has no removable/modular flash.

Please if theres a way to fix this issue it be amazing!

- Log to show.

The password-recovery mechanism is enabled.
Initializing Flash...
mifs[2]: 10 files, 1 directories
mifs[2]: Total bytes : 2097152
mifs[2]: Bytes used : 689664
mifs[2]: Bytes available : 1407488
mifs[2]: mifs fsck took 2 seconds.
mifs[3]: 0 files, 1 directories
mifs[3]: Total bytes : 4194304
mifs[3]: Bytes used : 1024
mifs[3]: Bytes available : 4193280
mifs[3]: mifs fsck took 3 seconds.
mifs[4]: 5 files, 1 directories
mifs[4]: Total bytes : 524288
mifs[4]: Bytes used : 9216
mifs[4]: Bytes available : 515072
mifs[4]: mifs fsck took 0 seconds.
mifs[5]: 5 files, 1 directories
mifs[5]: Total bytes : 524288
mifs[5]: Bytes used : 9216
mifs[5]: Bytes available : 515072
mifs[5]: mifs fsck took 1 seconds.
mifs[6]: 521 files, 11 directories
mifs[6]: Total bytes : 57671680
mifs[6]: Bytes used : 47293440
mifs[6]: Bytes available : 10378240
mifs[6]: mifs fsck took 44 seconds.
...done Initializing Flash.
done.
Loading "flash:/c3750e-universalk9npe-mz.150-2.SE4/c3750e-universalk9npe-mz.150- 2.SE4.bin"...

[johnlloyd_13]

hi,

make sure you press/hold the MODE (black protruding) button and observe closely the LED lights.

or using the correct "break" sequence depending your PC/laptop model.

if MODE button still doesn't work, probably it's loose/faulty so you'll need to focus more on the "break" sequence to go into ROMMON.

see helpful link:

https://wannabelab.blogspot.com/2021/01/cisco-3750-x-switch-password-recovery.html

[Leo Laohoo]

You are suppose to hold down the Mode button and apply power.  Count to 20 seconds and release the Mode button.  If done right, the prompt should be "rommon1>".

[Kai Echo]

Thanks for posting, however

johnlloyd_13 - I have done every thing you just told me, It goes amber, then it blinks the SYS LED, it says password recovery is enabled, but does not interrupt the boot. - Tried PuTTY Break sequence, didn't work. Used a other Terminal application and same story. 

Edited : I think the button is in fact broken because it doesn't switch to modes.

Leo Laohoo - Same as a above

To remind you, this switch is heavily edited, by meaning, i cant put any commands, since its been forced to show a MOTD banner with a password lock.

Theres a reset button on the switch, but i think thats a reboot, instead of a reset.

- Logs

Using driver version 1 for media type 2
Base ethernet MAC Address: 6c:41:6a:e3:b3:80
Xmodem file system is available.
The password-recovery mechanism is enabled.
Initializing Flash...
mifs[2]: 10 files, 1 directories
mifs[2]: Total bytes : 2097152
mifs[2]: Bytes used : 689664
mifs[2]: Bytes available : 1407488
mifs[2]: mifs fsck took 2 seconds.
mifs[3]: 0 files, 1 directories
mifs[3]: Total bytes : 4194304
mifs[3]: Bytes used : 1024
mifs[3]: Bytes available : 4193280
mifs[3]: mifs fsck took 3 seconds.
mifs[4]: 5 files, 1 directories
mifs[4]: Total bytes : 524288
mifs[4]: Bytes used : 9216
mifs[4]: Bytes available : 515072
mifs[4]: mifs fsck took 0 seconds.
mifs[5]: 5 files, 1 directories
mifs[5]: Total bytes : 524288
mifs[5]: Bytes used : 9216
mifs[5]: Bytes available : 515072
mifs[5]: mifs fsck took 1 seconds.
mifs[6]: 521 files, 11 directories
mifs[6]: Total bytes : 57671680
mifs[6]: Bytes used : 47293440
mifs[6]: Bytes available : 10378240
mifs[6]: mifs fsck took 44 seconds.  <--- this is me still holding the button, no response what so ever. Even though i think the button is broken.
...done Initializing Flash.
done.
Loading "flash:/c3750e-universalk9npe-mz.150-2.SE4/c3750e-universalk9npe-mz.150-2.SE4.bin"...