Cannot rollback to recent versions of factory firmware after rolling back from DD-WRT on Netgear R7000

[Sopheus]

Cannot rollback to recent versions of factory firmware after rolling back from DD-WRT on Netgear R7000

[jclehner]

Have you tried restoring factory defaults using the reset button, after flashing the latest stock firmware?

[Sopheus]

Have you tried restoring factory defaults using the reset button, after flashing the latest stock firmware?

Thank you for reply.

Yep, tried both already. Factory reset through the web interface and the 8-second button reset. Doesn't matter which, if I flash anything newer than R7000-V1.0.7.10.1.2.3, my router goes kaput, ending with "Unidentified Network," and no access to Web GUI. The only way to fix it is to roll back to R7000-V1.0.7.10.1.2.3 using NMRPFLASH. Really frustrating. It feels like there is some kind of anti-flashing mechanism was implemented for all firmware above R7000-V1.0.7.10.1.2.3.

[Sopheus]

Seems there is no chance I can restore my router and update its firmware to the latest available version. Asked everywhere, on Reddit and DD-WRT, no joy 😭