This article describes how to perform a forced reload of the base station firmware and factory default settings. After performing a forced reload you will have to run the AirPort Setup Assistant to reconfigure the Base Station for use.

Reinstalling base station software (firmware)
If your AirPort Base Station stops responding completely, you need to reset the base station and then reinstall the base station software (perform a forced reload). Reinstalling the base station software may be useful when troubleshooting a base station problem because it will restore the base station to its factory default state allowing you to reconfigure it using the AirPort Setup Assistant or AirPort Admin Utility.

IMPORTANT You should only reset the base station and reinstall the software if all other methods of accessing the base station fail. Your computer must be directly connected to the base station using an Ethernet crossover cable or an Ethernet hub. You cannot configure the base station using a wireless connection. All settings will be lost.

To reset the base station and reinstall the software, do the following:

1. Connect your computer to the AirPort Base Station using Ethernet. You can connect directly to the base station using an Ethernet crossover cable, or you can connect through an Ethernet hub using standard Ethernet cables.

2. Set the TCP/IP control panel to connect using Ethernet and close the control panel.

You may notice a brief system delay after closing the control panel.

3. Disconnect the power adapter from the base station and then reconnect it.

4. When all three status lights glow amber, insert the end of a paper clip into the reset button hole on the bottom of the base station.

5. Press and hold the reset button for 30 seconds.

The middle AirPort Base Station status light glows amber. If the light glows green, you pressed the reset button too late. Go back to step 3 and try again.

6. Double-click the AirPort Admin Utility (located in the AirPort folder inside the Apple Extras folder).

After a brief delay, a list of base stations appears. If the AirPort Admin Utility is already open, click the Re-scan button.

7. Select your base station from the list and click Configure. (The base station name will be set to the Ethernet ID of the base station, for example "00-50-E4-5B-8F-EA".)

8. Follow the onscreen instructions to reinstall your AirPort Base Station software.

Note: The AirPort Base Station password is set to "public".

9. Use the AirPort Setup Assistant to reconfigure the base station.

IMPORTANT If you use the AirPort Setup Assistant to reconfigure the AirPort Base Station after reinstalling base station software, make sure that you select the correct set of TCP/IP settings to use to configure the base station. Because you changed your current TCP/IP configuration to Ethernet, you may have a TCP/IP configuration titled "AirPort" that uses Ethernet. When prompted to select a configuration in the AirPort Setup Assistant, do not use this configuration.

If you want to use the AirPort Admin Utility to reconfigure your base station instead of using the AirPort Setup Assistant, set the TCP/IP control panel back to connect using AirPort, if necessary select the AirPort network from the AirPort application or Control Strip, click Re-scan in the AirPort Admin Utility, select your base station and click Configure, and when prompted for a password enter "public".