Cisco Router Password Recovery ~ Latest Information Technologies

Password Recovery Procedures

Contents
Introduction
Prerequisites
Requirements
Components Used
Conventions
Index
Routers
Integrated Services Routers (ISR) Products
High-End Routers
LAN Switches
LAN Switch Modules
ATM Switches and Modules
Access Products
Content Delivery Devices
Application Oriented Networking
AVVID Hardware and Applications
Security
Network Management Systems
Wireless LAN
Network Analysis Module (NAM) Module
Storage Networking Routers
Optical Products
Cisco Support Community - Featured Conversations
Related Information

Introduction

This page is an index of password recovery procedures for Cisco products. For security reasons, the password recovery procedures listed here require physical access to the equipment.

Note: Cisco has announced the end of sale for the Cisco LocalDirector. Refer to the LocalDirector 400 Series End-of-Life and End-of-Sale Notices and Product Bulletins for more information.
Prerequisites
Requirements

There are no specific requirements for this document.
Components Used

This document is not restricted to specific software and hardware versions.
Conventions

Refer to Cisco Technical Tips Conventions for more information on document conventions.
Index
Routers

Cisco 2600 Series Routers

Cisco 3600 Series Routers

Cisco 3700 Series Routers

Cisco 801, 802, 803, 804, 805, 811, and 813 Series Routers

Cisco 806, 826, 827, 828, 831, 836 and 837 Series Routers

Cisco SOHO 76, 77, 78, 91, 96, and 97 Routers

Integrated Services Routers (ISR) Products

Cisco 1800 Series Routers

Cisco 2800 Series Routers

Cisco 3800 Series Routers

Cisco 2900 Series Routers

Cisco 1900 Series Routers

High-End Routers

Cisco 12000 Series Routers

Cisco uBR7100

Cisco 7200 Series Routers

Cisco 7000 Series Routers

Cisco uBR7200

Cisco AGS

Cisco 7000 Series Route Switch Processor (RSP7000)

Cisco uBR10000

Route Processor Module

Cisco 7100 Series Routers

Cisco 7500 Series Routers

Cisco XR 12000 Series Routers

LAN Switches

EtherSwitch/FastSwitch/FastHub

Catalyst 2800 Series Switches

Catalyst 4000/2980G/2948G Series Switches running Catalyst OS

Catalyst 1200 Series Switches

Catalyst 2900-XL/3500-XL Series Switches

Catalyst 4000/4500/4900 Switches running Cisco IOS

Catalyst 1600 Series Switches

Catalyst 2901-2 Series Switches

Catalyst 5500/5000/2926G/2926 Series Switches

Catalyst 1700 Series Switches

Catalyst 2948G-L3/4908G-L3/4840G Series Switches

Catalyst 6000 Series Switches Running Native IOS

Catalyst 1800 Series Switches

Catalyst 2940, 2950/2955, 2960, 2970 Series Switches

Catalyst 6500/6000 Series Switches running Catalyst OS

Catalyst 1900/2820 Series Switches

Catalyst 3000/3100/3200 Series Switches

Cisco Catalyst 6500 Series SSL Services Module in Native (IOS) Mode

Catalyst 2100 Series Switches

Catalyst 3550, 3560, 3750 Series Switches

Catalyst 8510-CSR Series Switch

Catalyst 2600 Series Switches

Catalyst 2970 Switch

Catalyst 2950 and Catalyst 2955 Switch

Catalyst 3550 Multilayer Switch

Catalyst 3560 Switch

Catalyst 3750 Switch

Catalyst 3900 Series Switches

Catalyst 8540-CSR Series Switch

Catalyst 6500 with Supervisor 720 Running Cisco IOS Software Prior to 12.2(17)SX

LAN Switch Modules

Catalyst 4232-L3 Router Module

Catalyst 5500 RSM

Catalyst 5500 Supervisor RSFC

Catalyst 6000 MSFC

ATM Switches and Modules

Cisco LightStream 1010 ATM Switches

Cisco LightStream 2020

Catalyst 8510-MSR Series Switch

Catalyst 8540-MSR Series Switch

Catalyst 6500/6000 LANE Module

Catalyst 2900XL ATM Module

Catalyst 5000 ATM LANE

MPOA/LANE Module

Access Products

Cisco 1000 Series Routers

Cisco 3700 Series Routers

Cisco AccessPro

Cisco 1020 Routers

Cisco 4000 Series Routers

Cisco MC3810 Access Concentrator

Cisco 1400 Series Routers

Cisco 4500 Series Routers

Cisco IGS

Cisco 1600 Series Routers

Cisco 4700 Series Routers

Cisco 600 Series CPEs

Cisco 1700 Series Routers

Cisco STS-10x Access Servers

Cisco 700 Series Routers

Cisco 2000 Series Routers

Cisco AS5200 Universal Access Servers

Cisco 801, 802, 803, 804, 805, 811, and 813 Series Routers

Cisco 2500 Series Routers

Cisco AS5300 Universal Access Servers

Cisco 806, 826, 827, 828, 831, 836 and 837 Series Routers

Cisco 850 and 870 Series Routers

Cisco 2600 Series Routers

Cisco AS5800 Universal Access Servers

Cisco AS5350 and Cisco AS5400 Universal Gateway

Cisco uBR900 Router

Cisco 3000 Series Routers

Cisco SOHO 76, 77, 78, 91, 96, and 97 Routers

Cisco 3600 Series Routers

Cisco 6000 Family Access Concentrators

Content Delivery Devices

Cisco 500 Series Cache Engine

Cisco DistributedDirector 4700-M

Cisco CSS 11000 and CSS 11500

Cisco 2050 Series Cache Engine

Cisco DistributedDirector 2500 Series

Cisco Content Router 4400

Cisco Content Engine

Cisco LocalDirector

CSS 11000 Secure Content Accelerator (SCA)

Cisco CSS 11000 Offline Diagnostic Module

Offline Diagnostic Mode Password on the Cisco CSS 11000 and CSS 11800

Cisco Content Distribution Manager / Content Delivery Network

GSS GUI Version 1.0

Cisco CSS 115xx ODM

Cisco LocalDirector Content Verification System (CVS LUI)

Cisco CSS 11000 and CSS 11500 Content Services Switch

Application Oriented Networking

AON Node

AVVID Hardware and Applications

Cisco VG200 Analog Gateway

Cisco VG248 Voice Gateway

Unity Express GUI

Cisco ICS 7750

Unified Communications 520 (Same as Cicso 3700 Series Routers

Security

Cisco Secure IDS

Cisco Secure ACS for NT

ASA 5500 Series Adaptive Security Appliance

PIX Firewall

Cisco VPN 3000

No Service Password-Recovery

Cisco Secure ACS UNIX

Cisco VPN 5000

Cisco Guard and Traffic Anomaly Detector

Cisco IOS Security

Cisco FWSM

Network Management Systems

Resource Manager Essentials (RME) Releases 2.x and 3.x

CNS Configuration Registrar

Wireless LAN

Cisco Aironet Equipment (Access Point, Base Station, Client Adapter)

Network Analysis Module (NAM) Module

Cisco 7600 Series and Catalyst 6500 Series

Storage Networking Routers

Cisco SN 5420

MDS 9000 Series Multilayer Directors and Fabric Switches

Optical Products

Cisco ONS 15302 and ONS 15305

Password Recovery Procedure for the Cisco 2600 and 2800 Series Routers

Introduction
Prerequisites
      Requirements
      Components Used
      Related Products
      Conventions
Step-by-Step Procedures
      Procedure 1
      Procedure 2
Example of Password Recovery Procedure
Cisco Support Community - Featured Conversations
Related Information

Introduction

This document describes how to recover the enable password and the enable secret passwords. These passwords protect access to privileged EXEC and configuration modes. The enable password password can be recovered, but the enable secret password is encrypted and must be replaced with a new password. Use the procedure described in this document in order to replace the enable secret password.

Prerequisites

Requirements

There are no specific requirements for this document.

Components Used

The information in this document is based on these hardware versions:

Cisco 2600 Series Router
Cisco 2800 Series Router

The information in this document was created from the devices in a specific lab environment. All of the devices used in this document started with a cleared (default) configuration. If your network is live, make sure that you understand the potential impact of any command.

Related Products

Refer to Password Recovery Procedures for information on how to recover passwords for related products.

Conventions

Refer to Cisco Technical Tips Conventions for information on document conventions.

Step-by-Step Procedures

This section describes two procedures to recover your passwords.

Procedure 1

Complete these steps in order to recover your password:

Attach a terminal or PC with terminal emulation to the console port of the router.
Use these terminal settings:
- 9600 baud rate
- No parity
- 8 data bits
- 1 stop bit
- No flow control
Refer to these documents for information on how to cable and connect a terminal to the console port or the AUX port:
If you can access the router, type show version at the prompt, and record the configuration register setting. See Example of Password Recovery Procedure in order to view the output of a show version command.
Note: The configuration register is usually set to 0x2102 or 0x102. If you can no longer access the router (because of a lost login or TACACS password), you can safely assume that your configuration register is set to 0x2102.
Use the power switch in order to turn off the router, and then turn the router back on.
Important Notes:
- In order to simulate this step on a Cisco 6400, pull out and then plug in the Node Route Processor (NRP) or Node Switch Processor (NSP) card.
- In order to simulate this step on a Cisco 6x00 with NI-2, pull out and then plug in the NI-2 card.
Press Break on the terminal keyboard within 60 seconds of power up in order to put the router into ROMmon.
If the break sequence does not work, refer to Standard Break Key Sequence Combinations During Password Recovery for other key combinations.
Type confreg 0x2142 at the rommon 1> prompt in order to boot from Flash.
This step bypasses the startup configuration where the passwords are stored.
Type reset at the rommon 2> prompt.
The router reboots, but ignores the saved configuration.
Type no after each setup question, or press Ctrl-C in order to skip the initial setup procedure.
Type enable at the Router> prompt.
You are in enable mode and should see the Router# prompt.
Type configure memory or copy startup-config running-config in order to copy the nonvolatile RAM (NVRAM) into memory.
Warning: Do not type copy running-config startup-config or write. These commands erase your startup configuration.
Type show running-config.
The show running-config command shows the configuration of the router. In this configuration, the shutdown command appears under all interfaces, which indicates all interfaces are currently shut down. In addition, the passwords (enable password, enable secret, vty, console passwords) are in either an encrypted or unencrypted format. You can reuse unencrypted passwords. You must change encrypted passwords to a new password.
Type configure terminal.
The hostname(config)# prompt appears.
Type enable secret <password> in order to change the enable secret password. For example:
```
hostname(config)#enable secret cisco
```
Issue the no shutdown command on every interface that you use.
If you issue a show ip interface brief command, every interface that you want to use should display up up.
Type config-register <configuration_register_setting>. Where configuration_register_setting is either the value you recorded in step 2 or 0x2102 . For example:
```
hostname(config)#config-register 0x2102
```
Press Ctrl-z or end in order to leave the configuration mode.
The hostname# prompt appears.
Type write memory or copy running-config startup-config in order to commit the changes.

Procedure 2

Complete these steps in order to recover your password:

Shut down the router.
Remove the compact flash that is at the back of the router.
Power on the router.
Once the Rommon1> prompt appears, enter this command:
```
confreg 0x2142
```
Insert the compact flash.
Type reset.
When you are prompted to enter the initial configuration, type No, and press Enter.
At the Router> prompt, type enable.
At the Router# prompt, enter the configure memory command, and press Enter in order to copy the startup configuration to the running configuration.
Use the config t command in order to enter global configuration mode.
Use this command in order to create a new user name and password:
```
router(config)#username cisco privilege 15 password
		cisco
```
Use this command in order to change the boot statement:
```
config-register
		0x2102
```
Use this command in order to save the configuration:
```
write
	 memory
```
Reload the router, and then use the new user name and password to log in to the router.

Example of Password Recovery Procedure

This section provides an example of the password recovery procedure. This example was created with a Cisco 2600 Series Router. Even if you do not use a Cisco 2600 Series Router, this output provides an example of what you should experience on your product.

Router>enable
Password:
Password:
Password:
% Bad secrets

Router>show version
Cisco Internetwork Operating System Software
IOS (tm) C2600 Software (C2600-IS-M), Version 12.0(7)T, RELEASE SOFTWARE (fc2)
Copyright (c) 1986-1999 by cisco Systems, Inc.
Compiled Tue 07-Dec-99 02:21 by phanguye
Image text-base: 0x80008088, data-base: 0x80C524F8

ROM: System Bootstrap, Version 11.3(2)XA4, RELEASE SOFTWARE (fc1)

Router uptime is 3 minutes
System returned to ROM by abort at PC 0x802D0B60
System image file is "flash:c2600-is-mz.120-7.T"

cisco 2611 (MPC860) processor (revision 0x202) with 26624K/6144K bytes of memory.
Processor board ID JAB031202NK (3878188963)
M860 processor: part number 0, mask 49
Bridging software.
X.25 software, Version 3.0.0.
Basic Rate ISDN software, Version 1.1.
2 Ethernet/IEEE 802.3 interface(s)
2 Serial(sync/async) network interface(s)
1 ISDN Basic Rate interface(s)
32K bytes of non-volatile configuration memory.
8192K bytes of processor board System flash partition 1 (Read/Write)
8192K bytes of processor board System flash partition 2 (Read/Write)

Configuration register is 0x2102

Router>



!--- The router was just powercycled, and during bootup a
!--- break sequence was sent to the router.


!

*** System received an abort due to Break Key ***

signal= 0x3, code= 0x500, context= 0x813ac158
PC = 0x802d0b60, Vector = 0x500, SP = 0x80006030
rommon 1 > confreg 0x2142

You must reset or power cycle for new config to take effect

rommon 2 > reset

System Bootstrap, Version 11.3(2)XA4, RELEASE SOFTWARE (fc1)
Copyright (c) 1999 by cisco Systems, Inc.
TAC:Home:SW:IOS:Specials for info
C2600 platform with 32768 Kbytes of main memory


program load complete, entry point: 0x80008000, size: 0x6fdb4c

Self decompressing the image : ###############################
##############################################################
##############################################################
##############################################################
############################### [OK]


 Restricted Rights Legend

Use, duplication, or disclosure by the Government is
subject to restrictions as set forth in subparagraph
(c) of the Commercial Computer Software - Restricted
Rights clause at FAR sec. 52.227-19 and subparagraph
(c) (1) (ii) of the Rights in Technical Data and Computer
Software clause at DFARS sec. 252.227-7013.

 cisco Systems, Inc.
 170 West Tasman Drive
 San Jose, California 95134-1706

Cisco Internetwork Operating System Software
IOS (tm) C2600 Software (C2600-IS-M), Version 12.0(7)T, RELEASE SOFTWARE (fc2)
Copyright (c) 1986-1999 by cisco Systems, Inc.
Compiled Tue 07-Dec-99 02:21 by phanguye
Image text-base: 0x80008088, data-base: 0x80C524F8

cisco 2611 (MPC860) processor (revision 0x202) with 26624K/6144K bytes of memory.
Processor board ID JAB031202NK (3878188963)
M860 processor: part number 0, mask 49
Bridging software.
X.25 software, Version 3.0.0.
Basic Rate ISDN software, Version 1.1.
2 Ethernet/IEEE 802.3 interface(s)
2 Serial(sync/async) network interface(s)
1 ISDN Basic Rate interface(s)
32K bytes of non-volatile configuration memory.
8192K bytes of processor board System flash partition 1 (Read/Write)
8192K bytes of processor board System flash partition 2 (Read/Write)


 --- System Configuration Dialog ---

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

Press RETURN to get started!

00:00:19: %LINK-3-UPDOWN: Interface BRI0/0, changed state to up
00:00:19: %LINK-3-UPDOWN: Interface Ethernet0/0, changed state to up
00:00:19: %LINK-3-UPDOWN: Interface Ethernet0/1, changed state to up
00:00:19: %LINK-3-UPDOWN: Interface Serial0/0, changed state to down
00:00:19: %LINK-3-UPDOWN: Interface Serial0/1, changed state to down
00:00:20: %LINEPROTO-5-UPDOWN: Line protocol on Interface BRI0/0, 
changed state to down
00:00:20: %LINEPROTO-5-UPDOWN: Line protocol on Interface Ethernet0/0,
 changed state to up
Router>
00:00:20: %LINEPROTO-5-UPDOWN: Line protocol on Interface Ethernet0/1, 
changed state to up
00:00:20: %LINEPROTO-5-UPDOWN: Line protocol on Interface Serial0/0, 
changed state to down
00:00:20: %LINEPROTO-5-UPDOWN: Line protocol on Interface Serial0/1, 
changed state to down
00:00:50: %SYS-5-RESTART: System restarted --
Cisco Internetwork Operating System Software
IOS (tm) C2600 Software (C2600-IS-M), Version 12.0(7)T, RELEASE SOFTWARE (fc2)
Copyright (c) 1986-1999 by cisco Systems, Inc.
Compiled Tue 07-Dec-99 02:21 by phanguye
00:00:50: %LINK-5-CHANGED: Interface BRI0/0, 
changed state to administratively down
00:00:52: %LINK-5-CHANGED: Interface Ethernet0/0, 
changed state to administratively down
00:00:52: %LINK-5-CHANGED: Interface Serial0/0, 
changed state to administratively down
00:00:52: %LINK-5-CHANGED: Interface Ethernet0/1, 
changed state to administratively down
00:00:52: %LINK-5-CHANGED: Interface Serial0/1, 
changed state to administratively down
00:00:53: %LINEPROTO-5-UPDOWN: Line protocol on Interface Ethernet0/0, 
changed state to down
00:00:53: %LINEPROTO-5-UPDOWN: Line protocol on Interface Ethernet0/1, 
changed state to down
Router>
Router>enable
Router#copy startup-config running-config
Destination filename [running-config]?
1324 bytes copied in 2.35 secs (662 bytes/sec)
Router#
00:01:24: %LINEPROTO-5-UPDOWN: Line protocol on Interface BRI0/0:1, 
changed state to down
00:01:24: %LINEPROTO-5-UPDOWN: Line protocol on Interface BRI0/0:2, 
changed state to down
Router#configure terminal
Enter configuration commands, one per line. End with CNTL/Z.
Router(config)#enable secret < password >
Router(config)#^Z
00:01:54: %SYS-5-CONFIG_I: Configured from console by console
Router#show ip interface brief

Interface   IP-Address        OK?  Method     Status                   Protocol
Ethernet0/0 10.200.40.37      YES  TFTP       administratively down    down
Serial0/0   unassigned        YES  TFTP       administratively down    down
BRI0/0      193.251.121.157   YES  unset      administratively down    down
BRI0/0:1    unassigned        YES  unset      administratively down    down
BRI0/0:2    unassigned        YES  unset      administratively down    down
Ethernet0/1 unassigned        YES  TFTP       administratively down    down
Serial0/1   unassigned        YES  TFTP       administratively down    down
Loopback0   193.251.121.157   YES  TFTP       up                       up
Router#configure terminal
Enter configuration commands, one per line. End with CNTL/Z.
Router(config)#interface Ethernet0/0
Router(config-if)#no shutdown
Router(config-if)#
00:02:14: %LINK-3-UPDOWN: Interface Ethernet0/0, changed state to up
00:02:15: %LINEPROTO-5-UPDOWN: Line protocol on Interface Ethernet0/0, 
changed state to up
Router(config-if)#interface BRI0/0
Router(config-if)#no shutdown
Router(config-if)#
00:02:26: %LINK-3-UPDOWN: Interface BRI0/0:1, changed state to down
00:02:26: %LINK-3-UPDOWN: Interface BRI0/0:2, changed state to down
00:02:26: %LINK-3-UPDOWN: Interface BRI0/0, changed state to up
00:02:115964116991: %ISDN-6-LAYER2UP: Layer 2 for Interface BR0/0, 
TEI 68 changed to up
Router(config-if)#^Z
Router#
00:02:35: %SYS-5-CONFIG_I: Configured from console by console
Router#copy running-config startup-config
Destination filename [startup-config]?
Building configuration...
[OK]
Router#show version
Cisco Internetwork Operating System Software
IOS (tm) C2600 Software (C2600-IS-M), Version 12.0(7)T, RELEASE SOFTWARE (fc2)
Copyright (c) 1986-1999 by cisco Systems, Inc.
Compiled Tue 07-Dec-99 02:21 by phanguye
Image text-base: 0x80008088, data-base: 0x80C524F8

ROM: System Bootstrap, Version 11.3(2)XA4, RELEASE SOFTWARE (fc1)

Router uptime is 3 minutes
System returned to ROM by abort at PC 0x802D0B60
System image file is "flash:c2600-is-mz.120-7.T"

cisco 2611 (MPC860) processor (revision 0x202) 
with 26624K/6144K bytes of memory.
Processor board ID JAB031202NK (3878188963)
M860 processor: part number 0, mask 49
Bridging software.
X.25 software, Version 3.0.0.
Basic Rate ISDN software, Version 1.1.
2 Ethernet/IEEE 802.3 interface(s)
2 Serial(sync/async) network interface(s)
1 ISDN Basic Rate interface(s)
32K bytes of non-volatile configuration memory.
8192K bytes of processor board System flash partition 1 (Read/Write)
8192K bytes of processor board System flash partition 2 (Read/Write)

Configuration register is 0x2142

Router#configure terminal
Enter configuration commands, one per line. End with CNTL/Z.
Router(config)#config-register 0x2102
Router(config)#^Z
00:03:20: %SYS-5-CONFIG_I: Configured from console by console

Router#show version
Cisco Internetwork Operating System Software
IOS (tm) C2600 Software (C2600-IS-M), Version 12.0(7)T, RELEASE SOFTWARE (fc2)
Copyright (c) 1986-1999 by cisco Systems, Inc.
Compiled Tue 07-Dec-99 02:21 by phanguye
Image text-base: 0x80008088, data-base: 0x80C524F8

ROM: System Bootstrap, Version 11.3(2)XA4, RELEASE SOFTWARE (fc1)

Router uptime is 3 minutes
System returned to ROM by abort at PC 0x802D0B60
System image file is "flash:c2600-is-mz.120-7.T"

cisco 2611 (MPC860) processor (revision 0x202) 
with 26624K/6144K bytes of memory.
Processor board ID JAB031202NK (3878188963)
M860 processor: part number 0, mask 49
Bridging software.
X.25 software, Version 3.0.0.
Basic Rate ISDN software, Version 1.1.

2 Ethernet/IEEE 802.3 interface(s)
2 Serial(sync/async) network interface(s)
1 ISDN Basic Rate interface(s)
32K bytes of non-volatile configuration memory.
8192K bytes of processor board System flash partition 1 (Read/Write)
8192K bytes of processor board System flash partition 2 (Read/Write)

Configuration register is 0x2142 (will be 0x2102 at next reload)

Router#

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Reset a Cisco Router to Factory Default Settings

Introduction
Prerequisites
      Requirements
      Components Used
      Conventions
Instructions to Reset a Cisco Router Back to Factory Defaults
      Method 1
      Method 2
Verify
Cisco Support Community - Featured Conversations
Related Information

Introduction

This document describes how to restore a Cisco router to its original factory default settings.

Prerequisites

Requirements

In order to perform the procedures described in this document, you must have "enable" (also known as "privileged EXEC") access on the router.

Router# - Privileged EXEC mode

Components Used

This document is not restricted to specific software and hardware versions.
The information in this document was created from the devices in a specific lab environment. All of the devices used in this document started with a cleared (default) configuration. If your network is live, make sure that you understand the potential impact of any command.

Conventions

For more information on document conventions, refer to the Cisco Technical Tips Conventions.

Instructions to Reset a Cisco Router Back to Factory Defaults

There are two main methods to return a Cisco router to its original factory defaults. These two methods are described below.

Method 1

This method uses the config-register 0x2102 command in global configuration mode.

Check the configuration register on the router by issuing the show version command.
The configuration register setting is displayed in the last line of the show version command output and should be set to 0x2102. If this is not the case, enter the config-register 0x2102 command once in global configuration mode.
```
router#configure terminal
router(config)#config-register 0x2102
router(config)#end
router#
```
If the show version command is issued again, the same line in the command output will have '(will be 0x2102 at next reload)' appended to the current register setting.
Erase the current start-up configuration on the router with the write erase command.
Reload the router with the reload command. When prompted to save the configuration, DO NOT save.
```
router#reload
System configuration has been modified. Save? [yes/no]: n
Proceed with reload? [confirm]
```
Once the router reloads, the System Configuration Dialog appears.
```
--- System Configuration Dialog ---
Would you like to enter the initial configuration dialog? [yes/no]:
```
The router is now reset to the original factory defaults.

Method 2

This method uses the config-register 0x2142 command in global configuration mode.

Enter the config-register 0x2142 command in global configuration mode.
```
router(config)#config-register 0x2142
```
This causes the router to ignore the start-up configuration on the next reload. If a show version is issued, the last line in the command output will have '(will be 0x2142 at next reload)' appended to the current configuration register setting.
Reload the router using the reload command in enable mode. It is not necessary to save when prompted to save the system configuration.
```
router#reload
System configuration has been modified. Save? [yes/no]: n
Proceed with reload? [confirm]
```
After the router has reloaded, the System Configuration Dialog appears.
Enter no to the question "Would you like to enter initial configuration dialog?"
Change the configuration register setting to 0x2102 by entering the config-register 0x2102 command once in global configuration mode.
Issue the write memory command in enable mode to overwrite the existing start-up configuration with the current running configuration.
Reload the router with the reload command in enable mode.
Once the router reloads, the System configuration Dialog appears.
```
--- System Configuration Dialog ---
Would you like to enter the initial configuration dialog? [yes/no]:
```
The router is now reset to the original factory defaults.

Verify

This section provides information you can use to verify that your router has been returned to the factory defaults.
Certain show commands are supported by the Output Interpreter Tool (registered customers only) , which allows you to view an analysis of show command output.

show running-config—Used to verify that the previous running configuration has been erased. The user should be left with a skeleton configuration. For example, there should be no IP addresses configured under any interface on the router.
show version—Used to verify that the configuration register is set to the default value of 0x2102.

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