> Date: Thu, 26 Feb 1998 00:26:52 -0500 > From: Mike > Subject: PIC START PLUS Comm Problems > I know this has been talked about recently, but I've tried all the > suggestions and still can't get my PIC START to talk with my PC. Here is > what I have done so far, and maybe someone can tell me what I haven't done > yet to get my PC and programmer talking with each other. (NOTE: I have > tried this on a 486 PC running windows 95, and a 386 running windows 3.11, > but neither will talk with the programmer. I'm wondering if maybe the > programmer is faulty.) > > 1. Started MPlab with mouse still connected to com 1. > 2. Disconnected mouse and connected programmer cable to com 1. > 3. Turned power on to programmer--the programmer power light came on. > 4. Tried to "enable programmer" but got a failure message saying can't open > communications with programmer. > 5. I ensured that the "commport=1" was in my ".ini" file. > 6. I set up the comm port at 19200 baud per the release notes...tried 9600 > also which is my default setting--still no luck with either setting. > 7. Disabled the FIFO for the port. > 8. Tried using the alternate "mpplus.dll" from microchip--this caused the > 486 PC to not allow me to open MPLab--got an error message about the BWCC > file being old. I get this same message when I try to open an ASM file from > file manager/explorer, so not sure if this is a valid error or not. The 386 > would let me open MPlab, but still no comm with programmer. > 9. Checked the system.ini to ensure I had the proper com.drv installed for > this version of MPlab (3.10.00) and PIC START (1.21.00). > 10. Since I have tried this on two different PC's, and loaded the 486 from > CD-ROM and the 386 from disks (3.5"), I assume that the software is not at > fault. > > Since I bought this from Digi-Key, I hate to send it back as they won't have > any means to check it, only replace it or refund my money. I want the > programmer, but would like to get it working and not just get my money back. > > Any ideas or suggestions from anyone??? > > Mike Mike It does indeed sound like there is a fault with your Picstart hardware. This is not impossible. I had a Picstart Plus that one day just stopped communicating. I tried everything, including upgrading the firmware. Then out of desperation I borrowed a firend's Picstart Plus and "Voila!" it worked on my computer. This made me realize that it was a hardware problem, so I returned it to our local Microchip agent who sent it back to Microchip to have it fixed. I must warn you that it took at least six months before I had it back and I still had to pay for the shipping as well. In fairness to Microchip, I do not think it was their fault... I rather suspect that our local agent waited until he had several broken PS+'s before he sent them away. Hope you have better luck. Suggestion: Maybe you can also borrow another Picstart Plus from a friend to try on your computer to see if it is indeed a harware problem in your unit? Rgds Werner -- Werner Terreblanche http://users.iafrica.com/w/we/wernerte/index.htm wterreb@plessey.co.za (work) OR wernerte@iafrica.com (home) Plessey SA, PO Box 30451,Tokai 7966, Cape Town, South Africa or at home : Suite 251, PostNet X5061, Stellenbosch, 7599 Tel +27 21 7102251 Fax +27 21 7102886 Home +27 21 8523249 ------------------------------------------------------------