About your firmware for the D-Link...

I had a dlink and they are kind of screwy....

Make sure that nothing else is using your com port. (palm pilot, modem, etc.)
Unplug your ethernet cables and hook up your serial/console cable

get ready to start the firmware upgrade.

unplug the router

start the firmware upgrade

plug in the router.

The x-fer shoud then start after the software x-fer sees the device.

I had problems upgrading mine for the longest time... when it was something stupid.
The com port was in use by another device... and I didn't think to check that. DOH!