title: Cisco 2911 - Password Recovery Functionality Disabled. Need to Reset to defaults
body: <p><strong>EDIT- The solution is to use a different IOS version on a newly formatted flash card. This forces the config out of the router due to an IOS mismatch. You will be free to do any configuration from here on out because the router will be wiped.</strong></p>
  
  <p>I am attempting to recover my 2911 router. I wiped its config and it came back up asking for an enable password. It should have the cisco/cisco passwords and it should give you the option to change them. It is as though this was skipped. I thought this would be no big deal but it seems to have effectively bricked my router. Removing the flash results in a boot loop like seen below:</p>
  
  <pre><code>System Bootstrap, Version 15.0(1r)M14, RELEASE SOFTWARE (fc1)
  Technical Support: http://www.cisco.com/techsupport
  Copyright (c) 2011 by cisco Systems, Inc.
  
  Total memory size = 512 MB - On-board = 512 MB, DIMM0 = 0 MB
  Field Upgradeable ROMMON Integri_________________
  ROM: Digitally Signed Release Software
  CISCO2911/K9 platform with 524288 Kbytes of main memory
  Main memory is configured to 72/-1(On-board/DIMM0) bit mode with ECC enabled
  
  
  Upgrade ROMMON initialized
  PASSWORD RECOVERY FUNCTIONALITY IS DISABLED
  Compact Flash0: Not present
  
  System Bootstrap, Version 15.0(1r)M14, RELEASE SOFTWARE (fc1)
  Technical Support: http://www.cisco.com/techsupport
  Copyright (c) 2011 by cisco Systems, Inc.
  
  Total memory size = 512 MB - On-board = 512 MB, DIMM0 = 0 MB
  Field Upgradeable ROMMON Integri_________________
  ROM: Digitally Signed Release Software
  CISCO2911/K9 platform with 524288 Kbytes of main memory
  Main memory is configured to 72/-1(On-board/DIMM0) bit mode with ECC enabled
  
  
  Upgrade ROMMON initialized
  PASSWORD RECOVERY FUNCTIONALITY IS DISABLED
  Compact Flash1: Not present
  
  System Bootstrap, Version 15.0(1r)M14, RELEASE SOFTWARE (fc1)
  Technical Support: http://www.cisco.com/techsupport
  Copyright (c) 2011 by cisco Systems, Inc.
  
  Total memory size = 512 MB - On-board = 512 MB, DIMM0 = 0 MB
  Field Upgradeable ROMMON Integri_________________
  ROM: Digitally Signed Release Software
  CISCO2911/K9 platform with 524288 Kbytes of main memory
  Main memory is configured to 72/-1(On-board/DIMM0) bit mode with ECC enabled
  
  
  Upgrade ROMMON initialized
  PASSWORD RECOVERY FUNCTIONALITY IS DISABLED
  Compact Flash0: Not present
  </code></pre>
  
  <p>Also trying to break at boot doesn't appear to do anything. I am using putty and the break sequence should be Ctrl/Break. Looking at putty's log shows that it is in fact sending a break sequence. </p>
  
  <p>If I allow the router to boot it will try and tftp to the 255.255.255.255 address, a clear sign that it has no configuration. My question is if there is a way to reset the router, or if there is a configuration file that I can drop onto the flash that will allow me to boot to an actual configuration. </p>
  
  <p>As always, any help is greatly appreciated.</p>
  
  <p>Very Respectfully,</p>
  
  <p>Adam Walker</p>