Hyper Terminal

I'm attempting to update the firmwear and flash the ROM of my NetGear router
RT311. After I've uploaded the files the program drops its upload window
leaving that of the Hyper Terminal. Text on the Hyper Terminal shows that
it's completing an operation but then the word "Erasing" appears followed by
a series of dots.

I've tried unsuccessfully to flash this ROM three times. The only thing I
can think that I may be doing wrong is allowing it to erase whatever it's
erasing. I don't know how to prevent that expect, perhaps, hitting a key as
soon as the upload window disappears.

Is "Erase" part of the standard procedure for this operation?