Note that the "B" version of the 877 datasheet, which is likely what Ron designed form, does _not_ explain the 'errata' if you will re: code protect. I think this gives him a certain justification for his own actions and for his irritation with mChip. Bob Ammerman RAm Systems (contract development of high performance, high function, low-level software) ----- Original Message ----- From: "Ron Anthony" To: Sent: Wednesday, July 18, 2001 12:29 AM Subject: Re: [PIC]: about the flash memory on the 16F877 > Hello Adam. Thanks for taking the time to write. We did design for the 77, > we knew of its very poor (non-existent?) code protection of FLASH memory, > but chose the part anyway, took a gamble that the 77A would be available by > go time, but it's not. We never knew that even code protected flash was > readable by internal reads, meaning that any amateur hacker could put on > code to do a memory dump of the code protected area. That is the achilles > heel we didn't know about. That seems quite ridiculous, and in fact, is. > > The 77A was due out long ago, and is quite far delayed into the future, so > now we are stuck with a poorly designed part. To say it's not microchip's > fault is quite remarkable, given that the ONLY part of the chip that's not a > commodity is the ROM image, and they've seen to it that it's impossible to > protect. Again, TOTALLY RIDICULOUS. > > Do you have any suggestions how to preserve the flashability of the part > through our bootloader while still protecting the chip from code copying and > downloading, etc? > > Thank for any insight you can provide, it is truly appreciated, from a coder > in a jam!!! > > -----Original Message----- > From: pic microcontroller discussion list > [mailto:PICLIST@MITVMA.MIT.EDU]On Behalf Of M. Adam Davis > Sent: Wednesday, July 18, 2001 1:50 AM > To: PICLIST@MITVMA.MIT.EDU > Subject: Re: [PIC]: about the flash memory on the 16F877 > > -- > http://www.piclist.com hint: The PICList is archived three different > ways. See http://www.piclist.com/#archives for details. > > -- http://www.piclist.com hint: The PICList is archived three different ways. See http://www.piclist.com/#archives for details.