Resetting a Cisco to the Factory Default

Steps for Cisco 7900 Series

1.) Unplug the power cable from the phone, and then plug in the cable again.

The phone begins its power up cycle.

2.) Immediately press and hold # and while the Headset, Mute, and Speaker buttons begin to flash in sequence, release #.

The Headset, Mute, and Speaker buttons flash in sequence in order to indicate that the phone waits for you to enter the key sequence for the reset.

3.) Press 123456789*0# within 60 seconds after the Headset, Mute, and Speaker buttons begin to flash.

If you repeat a key within the sequence, for example, 1223456789*0#, the sequence is still accepted and the phone resets.

If you do not complete this key sequence or do not press any keys, after 60 seconds, the Headset, Mute, and Speaker buttons no longer flash, and the phone continues with its normal startup process. The phone does not reset.

If you enter an invalid key sequence, the buttons no longer flash, and the phone continues with its normal startup process. The phone does not reset.

If you enter this key sequence correctly, the phone displays this prompt:

7940/7960 = Keep network cfg? 1 = yes 2 = no  (Select no/2)

7941/61 = Upgrading

7942/62 =  the line buttons on the phone flash red and the phone goes through the factory reset process

If you press another key or do not respond to this prompt within 60 seconds, the phone continues with its normal startup process and does not reset. Otherwise, the phone goes through the factory reset process.

Steps for Cisco/Linksys SPA phone (942, 504, 508, 525)

Press the Setup/Menu key    

Using the Navigation button you may scroll down to the option Factory Reset or using the key pad enter the option number 14

Press the OK softkey and the phone will begins its default process.