Reset a Cisco 2800 series router to factory default without the enable password

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So you have a router you want to reset, but don't know the enable password. Here's what to do:

1. Connect to the serial console.

2. Power off the router and then power on.

3. Send the router a BREAK. This should bring you to the rommon prompt

4. Type this command at the rommon prompt in order to boot from Flash.

  rommon 1 > confreg 0x2142

5. Reset the router.

  rommon 2 > reset

6. The router should now boot into the Initial config dialogue:

  Would you like to enter the initial configuration dialog? [yes/no]: yes

7. Follow the prompts, to set a basic config.

8. Enter enable mode and set the router to boot from the right place

 Router>enable
 Router>conf t
 Router(config)>config-register 0x2102
 Router(config)>end
 Router>wr mem

9. Reload the router to check it worked properly


If you want to preserve the running config, follow the instructions here.