I was able to install original firmware on my TL-WR1043ND V2. It doesn't matter if you have DD-WRT or OpenWrt, the process is the same and it's quite easy.
Basically I followed what is described in this video and article:
https://community.tp-link.com/en/home/forum/topic/81462
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dkUc76lDbl8
Steps I did (on Windows machine):
- Download from official site you firmware and save it. My was here. Official files works with this technique. You don't need to strip any "boot" section or download files from some unofficial websites.
- Download tftpd program
- Plug in you laptop with ethernet cable to router.
- Go to Controll Panel -> Network Panel -> Network and Sharing Centre -> Change Adapter settings.
- Right click on Enthernet -> Properties.Then select "Internet Protocol Version 6. (TCP/IPv4)" -> Properties. And change IP address to this:
This 192.168.0.66 is where your router will try to find firmware when is started in recovery mode (I found some more info on polish blog (link) but you can probably find more info how it works if you want)
- Open Tftpd64 program, click "Browse" and select the folder where you extracted firmware file
- Now turn off router.
8 Press reset button and power button. You can release the power button but keep pressing reset button.
9 You should see some "logs" in Tftpd64 program in "log viever" tab like
Connection received from 192.168.0.86 on port 4084 [26/04 21:40:57.616]
Read request for file <wr1043v2_tp_recovery.bin>. Mode octet [26/04 21:40:57.618]
File <wr1043v2_tp_recovery.bin> : error 2 in system call CreateFile The system cannot find the file specified. [26/04 21:40:57.620]
Connection received from 192.168.0.86 on port 4084 [26/04 21:40:59.605]
Read request for file <wr1043v2_tp_recovery.bin>. Mode octet [26/04 21:40:59.605]
File <wr1043v2_tp_recovery.bin> : error 2 in system call CreateFile The system cannot find the file specified. [26/04 21:40:59.617]
Connection received from 192.168.0.86 on port 4084 [26/04 21:41:01.610]
Read request for file <wr1043v2_tp_recovery.bin>. Mode octet [26/04 21:41:01.617]
File <wr1043v2_tp_recovery.bin> : error 2 in system call CreateFile The system cannot find the file specified. [26/04 21:41:01.617]
Connection received from 192.168.0.86 on port 4084 [26/04 21:41:03.617]
Read request for file <wr1043v2_tp_recovery.bin>. Mode octet [26/04 21:41:03.617]
File <wr1043v2_tp_recovery.bin> : error 2 in system call CreateFile The system cannot find the file specified. [26/04 21:41:03.618]
Notice the name of .bin file that the router was searching for. Mine was wr1043v2_tp_recovery.bin
. Change the firmware file name to this name In my case I changed wr1043v2_en_3_19_32_up_boot(150910).bin
to wr1043v2_tp_recovery.bin
- Turn off router and turn on again with reset button pressed. You should see in Tftpd program that router is copying you firmware.
When you see it just release reset button
- Just wait for router to install firmware
- Revert ip changes you did in step 5.
- Go to http://192.168.0.1/ and login with default credentials (admin/admin)