Hi Alex, I have seen your email on the PIC list about PICSTART problems and have suffered in the same way. You said in one of your last mails that the problems have been reduced by using MPLAB (v3.22.02). Did you upgrade your programmer firmware as well ? If so, could you tell me where to find the HEX file needed to do it. I have searched MICROCHIP's site and couldn't find it. I have downloaded the latest MPLAB and it didn't seem to be with that either. Regards Darryl Masters CamScan Analytical darryl@bendix.demon.co.uk