Why can't I reset this MX device

[Marc_Abaya]

I can't seem to figure out how to reset this MX250. Unit has been on the shelf for about 6-8 months and right now isn't connected to the internet. 

- While powered-on, I press and hold the pinhole reset button for more than 15 secs. Nothing's happening. Once I stop pressing the reset button, it will reboot but the config didn't reset.

- I unplug the power, wait 60 secs, then put it back on. I wait for the status lights to cycle colors, then press and hold the reset button again for more than 15 secs. Nothing's happening. But when I release it, the unit will reboot but the config will not reset.

- I press the reset button and hold for more than 60 secs. Nothing's happening. But like the above, once I release it, the unit will reboot but no change on the config.

I'm trying to get in the Management Port but cannot remember the password, that's why I wish to reset it.

[Marc_Abaya]

Also it says from here that holding the reset button for 15 secs will remove the static IP and the unit will switch to DHCP. It's not happening to me. The WAN IP stays at static. And it's not connected to the internet.

https://documentation.meraki.com/General_Administration/Support/Resetting_Cisco_Meraki_Devices_to_Fa...

[DarrenOC]

Hi @Marc_Abaya , you keep stating you’re holding the reset button for more than 15 seconds.  The manual says 10-15 secs, have you tried holding for less time?

[Marc_Abaya]

Yep, I use a stopwatch, I tried 5 and 10 secs but no bueno.

[Mloraditch]

It sounds like you are following the correct directions. Are both wans configured with static ips? You can try switching to the other wan and using dhcp from somewhere to get it online and then clearing the other config from the dashboard/reset the password.

You may  have to RMA the unit. I've been in situations where devices just won't reset and after working with support RMA was the only option.

[Marc_Abaya]

Unfortunately both WANs are set to static...

[PhilipDAth]

Is there any chance it is coming back online and downloading its config again?

How do you know that the factory reset has failed?

[Marc_Abaya]

It's not connected to the internet. WAN IPs are set to static of the old site. We haven't used this MX for a bit of time. 

[Mloraditch]

The static IPs set on the MX can be tied to the serial. Add the serial to a dummy site and set both wans to DHCP, then factory reset and see what happens

[rhbirkelund]

Assuming you haven't changed the login credentials, the default login is serial number as username with no password. 

From newer releases this behaviour has changed to username "admin" and serial number as password. After facetory defaulting the MX, did you try both credential sets?

[Marc_Abaya · Accepted solution]

For the life of me, I can't get the reset button to work.

What fixed it for me is getting it connect to an ISP modem using DHCP and have it register to Meraki cloud (again). Then I tried resetting again using the pinhole button and now it works! It looks like what's happening is if the unit has not been used for a while, things like this happen.