MSBBN: How to update the firmware and software for your Microsoft Broadband Networking device

This step-by-step article describes how to update the firmware and software for your Microsoft Broadband Networking device. Additionally, this article describes where to download the Microsoft Broadband Network Utility software if you lose your Microsoft Broadband Networking CD.

Back up base station settings

Before you start, back up the current settings for your base station. To do this, follow these steps:

1. Start the Microsoft Broadband Network Utility.
2. On the Tools menu, click Management Tool.
3. When you are prompted to, log on to the base station. To do this, use the password that you created when you ran the Setup Wizard the first time. If you did not run the Setup Wizard, use the following default base station password:
   admin
4. On the Management menu, click Back up and Restore Settings.
5. Click Back Up Settings.
6. Click Save.
7. Type a name for the file that contains your base station settings or use the default name Config.bin.
8. Click the folder where you want to save the file, and then click Save.

Disable firewall or antivirus programs

For information about how to disable your firewall or antivirus programs, view the documentation that came with the program, or contact the manufacturer's technical support.

Install firmware update

Warning Do not install the firmware update from a computer that is connected to your base station by using a wireless network connection. If your wireless signal is interrupted, weakened, or interfered with while the firmware update is running, your base station may become unusable.

Automatic update

1. Start the Microsoft Broadband Network Utility.
2. On the Help menu, click Check for Updates Online. The Broadband Networking Update Service checks for updates by connecting to Microsoft. This can take several minutes, depending on your connection speed. If any new updates are available, a download screen appears. Otherwise, you receive a “No new updates are available” message.
3. Follow the instructions on the Broadband Networking Update Service page to update the firmware of your device.

If the automatic update fails, go to the "Manual Update" section.

Manual update

1. Download the MSBNDownload.exe firmware update. To do this, visit the following Microsoft Web site:
   http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?linkid=6790 (http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?linkid=6790)
2. Save the file to a location such as your desktop or the My Documents folder.
3. If you are updating a wireless base station, use an Ethernet cable to connect your computer to your base station.
4. To run the update, double-click the MSBNDownload file.
5. Follow the instructions that appear on the screen to update the firmware of your device.

While the firmware is being saved to your base station, the power light on the base station blinks and then turns orange. When the light is solid green, the update is completed. If the update fails, the power light continues to blink slowly until you successfully update the firmware. In this situation, you can try to update the firmware again, or you can reset the base station.

Microsoft Broadband Network Utility

If you lose your Microsoft Broadband Networking CD and you have to install the software on a new computer, download the contents of the installation CD. To do this, visit the following Microsoft Web site: