I have a Cisco 1720 router that is password protected.  I can't even
get to the EXEC prompt.  How do I reset it?

Because I can't get to the EXEC prompt, this doesn't help:
http://www.cisco.com/univercd/cc/td/doc/product/access/acs_mod/1700/1720/1720qsg/trbshoot.htm#xtocid109592

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Request for Question Clarification by eiffel-ga on 06 Sep 2002 06:10 PDT

Hi fiveoclick,

When you follow the instructions at the URL that you quoted, at what
point do things start to go wrong. In other words, what is stopping
you from getting the EXEC prompt?

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Clarification of Question by fiveoclick-ga on 06 Sep 2002 06:24 PDT

I turn on the router and it shows me a bunch of information, but I
don't see anything that says "configuration register"  and then it
goes right to "Property of XXXX" "Password:"

I do not know the password, unfortunately.

---

Request for Question Clarification by eiffel-ga on 06 Sep 2002 06:57 PDT

Are you connecting directly to the console port on the back of the
router, or to the auxiliary port?

What terminal emulation software are you using for the communication?

Is the "bunch of information" appearing in the terminal emulation
window or somewhere else? If so, where?

Hi fiveoclick,

You can reset the password by connecting a terminal emulator program
(or a dumb terminal) to the console port on the back of the router. It
is not possible to reset the password by using a modem connected to
the auxiliary port.

Instructions for the use of a terminal emulator, and details of the
password reset process, are at the page that you referenced in your
question:

Troubleshooting the Cisco 1700 Router
http://www.cisco.com/univercd/cc/td/doc/product/access/acs_mod/1700/1720/1720qsg/trbshoot.htm#xtocid109592

The same document is also available, formatted slightly better, as a
PDF file:
http://www.cisco.com/univercd/cc/td/doc/product/access/acs_mod/1700/1720/1720qsg/trbshoot.pdf

The instructions make reference to the EXEC prompt ("Router>"), from
which the contents of the configuration register can be determined.
Only the unprivileged EXEC prompt is needed. The unprivileged EXEC
prompt ("Router>") ends with a different symbol from the privileged
EXEC prompt ("Router#").

You can probably obtain the unprivileged EXEC prompt without entering
a password, by pressing Enter three times when presented with the
"Password:" prompt (but if you still don't get the prompt, see further
down in this answer for an alternative approach).

Assuming you have the prompt, you can proceed with the instructions
referenced above.

At one point, the instructions refer to sending a "break" from your
terminal or terminal emulator. In some cases this can be achieved by
pressing the "break" key on the keyboard. In other cases, a different
key must be used. For example, if you are using Windows HyperTerminal
you should press Ctrl-Break.

For other terminal emulators, or if you are having any trouble
generating a "break", you should consult the following document:

Standard Break Key Sequence Combinations During Password Recovery
http://www.cisco.com/warp/public/701/61.html

If, despite trying the procedure described above, you still can't
obtain the unprivileged EXEC prompt, you could consult an alternative
document:

Password Recovery Procedure for the Cisco 1700 Series Routers
http://www.cisco.com/warp/public/474/pswdrec_1700.shtml

That document states that, if you cannot obtain an EXEC prompt, you
may safely assume that the configuration register is set to 0x2102.

Towards the end of that document is a complete log of the password
recovery process. It's taken from a Cisco 2600, but Cisco states that
the output is almost identical to what you would experience on a 1720.

I trust this information will enable you to complete your task. Please
let me know if any part of this answer is not clear.


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Regards,
eiffel-ga