Cisco 2960X hard reset and restore via TFTP

zemerdon · Post by **zemerdon** » Sat Jul 11, 2026 12:44 pm

2960x_garage>en
2960x_garage#wr erase
Erasing the nvram filesystem will remove all configuration files! Continue? [confirm]
[OK]
Erase of nvram: complete
2960x_garage#dir
Directory of flash:/

    2  drwx         512  Jun 22 2024 04:19:16 +00:00  pnp-info
    3  drwx         512  May 28 2025 06:18:15 +00:00  pnp-tech
    6  -rwx        4120  Feb 24 2002 22:19:01 +00:00  multiple-fs
    7  -rwx         676  Nov 24 2025 15:09:08 +00:00  vlan.dat
    9  drwx         512  Oct 16 2025 13:45:44 +00:00  dc_profile_dir
   11  drwx         512  Oct 16 2025 13:45:44 +00:00  c2960x-universalk9-mz.152-7.E13

122185728 bytes total (80086016 bytes free)
2960x_garage#format?
format  

2960x_garage#format ?
  flash1:  Filesystem to be formatted
  flash:   Filesystem to be formatted

2960x_garage#format flash:
Format operation may take a while. Continue? [confirm]
Format operation will destroy all data in "flash:".  Continue? [confirm]
mifs[11]: 0 files, 1 directories
mifs[11]: Total bytes     : 122185728 
mifs[11]: Bytes used      : 1024      
mifs[11]: Bytes available : 122184704 
mifs[11]: mifs fsck took 0 seconds.

Format of flash complete
2960x_garage#
2960x_garage#reload
Proceed with reload? [confirm]

Nothing in the filesystem so time to restore via TFTP.
connect ethernet from MGMT port to switch.
set switch variables

Code: Select all

switch: set DEFAULT_GATEWAY=192.168.1.1
switch: set DEFAULT_ROUTER=192.168.1.1
switch: set IP_ADDR=192.168.1.103/255.255.255.0
switch: set IP_ADDRESS=192.168.1.103
switch: set IP_SUBNET_MSK=255.255.255.0
switch: set TFTP_SERVER=192.168.1.10

copy file from TFTP to switch and boot IOS

Code: Select all

switch: copy tftp://192.168.1.10/c2960x-universalk9-mz.152-7.E14.bin flash:c2960x-universalk9-mz.152-7.E14.bin
switch: set BOOT flash:c2960x-universalk9-mz.152-7.E14.bin
switch: boot

After the switch boots up into regular IOS, enter privileged EXEC mode and save the boot path persistently:

Code: Select all

switch: enable
switch: configure terminal
switch: boot system flash:c2960x-universalk9-mz.152-7.E14.bin
switch: end
switch: write memory
switch: copy run start
switch: reload