>>> Is it possible to hurt a (16F88) PIC by reprogramming such that
>>> it dies, or at least behaves like it is dead?

>> Plugging it in backwards could do that.

> Want to be funny? Other possibilities I did NOT ask about: feeding it 
> with 230VAC, hitting it with an axe, heating it to 1500 degrees C, etc.
> 
> I didn't remove the chip from the board or made any other hardware 
> changes.... could you answer the real question, please?

I think Olin's response was reasonable.

In your original message, you said

# After having programmed a 16F88 several times succesfully, all of a 
# sudden it refuses to be reprogrammed and erased. It doesn't even return 
# its device-ID (via the Wisp628 I see '3FFF').
# I moved the chip to anoterh board but it keeps this behaviour,

You did not state what package (DIP versus surface mount) you were
using nor what style of programming (ICSP or ZIF socket).  So you may
have to remove/reinsert the chip for each programming cycle.  How are
we (PIC list members) to know?

And you did state that you had moved the chip to another board.  This
implies you are using a DIP package.  If so, it's quite possible that
you had plugged the chip in incorrectly.  Certainly not something to
rule out a priori.

						Lee Jones

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