OOPS… is how I have to start this one off, because it was my fault. I was in the process of relocating my home network and accidentally swapped the power cords with my Linksys router (BEFW11S4) and my Motorola Cable Modem. The cable modem runs on 12v, the router 5v. The swap did no damage to the cable modem (b/c it was under voltage), but the router “Diag” light is constantly on (it was exposed to the overvoltage).
First I unplugged it (after it was plugged in for a good hour) and let it cool down (thinking maybe it had thermal protection, b/c the sucker was hot, but didn’t smell like anything melted). This didn’t work.
I then tried the reset button (holding it in for 30 seconds while the router was on). Still no luck.
My XP Pro computer does still recognize when plug & unplug the patch cable from the router. The Cable Modem’s activity light does not flicker when it is connected to the router (but the rest of the lights light up displaying the modem is functioning properly. I am currently connected directly to the cable modem to send this question (so the cable modem works fine).
Please let me know if you think this is permanent damage or something that can be fixed. Looks like it is time to color code the plugs so this doesn’t happen again (my previous cable modem didn’t have the same size plug so I could never make this mistake).