How to reset a Fritz!Box DSL router to factory settings?
I had the same problem, but no analogue telephone at hand. So i tried it with wireshark to find my "lost" fritz.box (i chose: "get IP from DHCP") without success.
After some reading i found a solution: The fritz.box 7170 is always available on http://169.254.1.1. (Just set the IP address manually in the range of 169.254.1.x)
- Set your IP manually to something in the 169.254.1.x range (169.254.1.3)
- Unplug the router and wait 10 seconds Plug it back in
- Open a command windows (cmd) and do ping 169.254.1.1 -t
- As soon as you get reply's go to the webinterface at 169.254.1.1
- You have a option 'click here if you forgot your password' (click on here)
- Then click 'Restore factory settings' (This option disappears after about 10 minutes)
I'm reading through the manual now of this (bizarre) WLAN/router/ADSL modem combo appliance. Yes, it does appear that you need to find an analog touch-tone phone and plug it into the RJ11 (telephone) port on the device and dial those keys to reset it to factory default if you do not have the password (the manual states that it cannot be recovered without factory reset).
Hopefully you have your PPPoE/ADSL authentication information from your ISP, otherwise you'll have to call them to have it reset.