failed 2960 ios upgrade - unable to revert back

[ckilday]

I tried to upgrade a 2960-8TC-L switch to c2960sm-lanbasek9-mz.150-2.SE10a code but when I attempted to reload the unit, I got the following message on the console:

"File "flash:c2960sm-lanbasek9-mz.150-2.SE10a.bin" uncompressed and installed, entry point: 0x3000
executing...

Error: hardware not supported by firmware.
Try loading newer software instead.
System Resetting..."

At which point, the process would start all over again. I was able to interrupt the cycle using the "mode" button, but when I tried to issue a boot command for the old code, I would get this sequence:

" switch: boot flash:c2960-lanbasek9-mz.122-50.SE5/c2960-lanbasek9-mz.122-50.SE5.bin
Loading "flash:c2960-lanbasek9-mz.122-50.SE5/c2960-lanbasek9-mz.122-50.SE5.bin"...flash:c2960-lanbasek9-mz.122-50.SE5/c2960-lanbasek9-mz.122-50.SE5.bin: invalid argument"

I tried the same command with a "/" after the "flash:" so it was "flash:/" but got the same "invalid argument" result

I also tried to delete the new code from flash, but again got an "invalid argument"

switch: delete flash:c2960sm-lanbasek9-mz.150-2.SE10a.bin
Are you sure you want to delete "flash:c2960sm-lanbasek9-mz.150-2.SE10a.bin" (y/n)?y
File "flash:c2960sm-lanbasek9-mz.150-2.SE10a.bin" not deleted -- invalid argument

How can I correct this and restore the original IOS? Please be specific as I am working through another individual in a city 350 miles away. Thank you

[Leo Laohoo]

The only way is to upload the IOS using ROMmon: Recovering Catalyst Fixed Configuration Switches from a Corrupted or Missing Image

[ckilday]

The document you suggested covers the basic stuff we've already tried. However, because I can't delete any of the existing IOS files because of the "invalid argument" response, there's insufficient room in flash to upload another copy of IOS. The "invalid argument" response is also why I couldn't reload using the original file in flash. As far as I can tell from the screen capture I pasted in the original submission, I am using the correct command syntax. 

[Leo Laohoo · Accepted solution]

The "invalid argument" response is also why I couldn't reload using the original file in flash.

Do the following: 

flash_init

load_helper

dir flash:

[ckilday]

I will have to get back to you later on this. Not sure if my guy can get back there today. The "load_helper" did not appear on the screen capture. Gives me some hope. I will reply once we get a chance to try your sequence. Thank you.

[ckilday]

Leo, here's what happened. The switch powered up into the "Switch" prompt without us having to use the mode button. We entered the flash_init command and the system followed it. We then tried the load_helper command, but the system said this was an unknown command. We tried the dir flash: and this time the system responded with the flash directory. From there, we were able to reload the original code and restore the system. When we first tried to boot up, the screen capture showed that flash was initialized. Do you have any idea why it would work this time?

P.S.: I am going to mark that response the correct answer, but I would like to know your thoughts...especially since we never got to use the load_helper command.

[Leo Laohoo]

Do you have any idea why it would work this time?

The document I've posted is for a 2950 (and old, old model) and load_helper is one of the commands in ROMmon to use.  2960 (and later) model don't need to use load_helper but I always put it in anyway as a "just in case".  

So it doesn't really matter that the "load_helper" command didn't work.  This also means that someone did enter the command.

When we first tried to boot up, the screen capture showed that flash was initialized.

 Never use this presumption.  When in ROMmon, particularly with the load_helper &/or flash_init commands, it's better to enter them and get an error message as a response than not enter the commands in and then get weird responses because none of the prerequisite command(s) were not entered.

[Julio E. Moisa]

Hi

You could verify first where the current IOS is located and if it is into a directory (drwx) using the command dir:

Could you please share the outputs?

[ckilday]

The technician I was working with has left the site. This switch is a mirror image of its uplink switch and the original flash looks like this:

6  drwx         512  Feb 28 1993 15:09:39 -09:00  c2960-lanbasek9-mz.122-50.SE5

When I open that directory up, I get 

559  -rwx     8060350  Feb 28 1993 15:07:42 -09:00  c2960-lanbasek9-mz.122-50.SE5.bin

The problem I'm facing is the "invalid argument" response that prevents me from loading the original software.

[Julio E. Moisa]

Hi

As you, I remember the command is delete, can you type help word and press enter to see the valid arguments.