Robert Rolf wrote:

>>>>>The ICD2 loads firmware dedicated to each chip type and specific to
>>>>>programming or debugging. Nice way to fatigue the on board flash if
>>>>>you change modes or devices a lot.

>> So for me, it looks like the ICD2 chip got reflashed only when switching
>> between majorly different devices. I doesn't even seem to get reflashed
>> when switching between e.g. 18F6680 and 18F458, and it doesn't seem to get
>> reflashed when switching between programmer and debugger modes.

>> Or am I missing something?
> 
> Yes. The checkbox that says "Automatically download firmware if needed".
> If it's checked you only see the download happen in the "output" screen.

I didn't miss that checkbox... :)  Mine still doesn't seem to download an
update to the ICD2 when I switch from programmer to debugger. No notice in
the Output window when I do it, and no popup dialog when I disable this
checkbox. 

If yours does, I think there's something wrong with your ICD2.

> If 'debug' mode can both debug AND program, why does it produce the
> misleading warning message?? Maybe other families (I use 16F*) need two
> versions of firmware code to be loaded into the ICD2? 

I think this message is because the first ICD (I never used it) supported
to be connected to (by MPLAB) as both programmer and debugger at the same
time, and the ICD2 doesn't allow that anymore. To me, this looks more like
an MPLAB or driver restriction than an issue with the ICD2 itself.

> Thanks for saving my flash lifetime since I can now program & debug with
> one firmware load. 

You always could... :)  (As changing modes doesn't reprogram the ICD2.)

Gerhard
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