Thanks for taking the time to reply!

I saw that link already. The problem is that when I'm at that first rommon 1 prompt, I can't seem to type anything.

I assumed it was a local echo problem, so I tried just entering confreg 0x142 (and others) followed by return. Nothing happens.

What happens when you type confreg and hit enter?

And are you at rommon1> or > prompt

this is at the rommon 1 > prompt. Nothing happens with confreg. See detailed post below.

I've tried just confreg [enter]

Nothing appears at the rommon 1 > prompt and no settings are displayed on screen. Just to make sure that I was still connected, I did another ctrl+break and get:

rommon 1 >

*** Reserved LVL 7 Interrupt ***

PC = 0xfff0b9c0, Vector = 0x500, SP = 0x80004de4

So I'm connected, but it doesn't seem like my other keystrokes are getting to the router when in rommon 1 >

If I let the device boot without ctrl+breaking, I am prompted for the username and password. I can type these in and the characters appear on screen.

I'll have to mull this a bit. If you're sure that Hyperterm is setup right (i.e. confirm it by accessing another Cisco Box console port)8 N 1 no flow control, then you may have corrupt ROM issues. The bottom line is that without rommon 1 interaction, you have no method of forcing base maintenance actions. And the only failed rommon issues I have ever run across are called into TAC and the subject unit replaced.

I'm going to give this a try on another 1700 router that we're going to have to do this on anyway. I'll get right back with you.

Thanks

I HATE HYPERTERMINAL and appologize for wasting your time. I tried using MTTTY, configured the same way 9600,8,n,1 no flow, and viola, confreg works.

Thank you so much for working through this with me.

All of the dumness is on me. And you didn't just help, you solved.

Thanks