Help on programming bootloader to PIC18f452 with Willem PCB5.0

[GordTheRogue]

Hello to all.

Today i spent the entire day on programming the PIC18f452.

Nothing worked!  :( ???

This is what i have and what i did.

Hardware: Pentium4 2.40ghz - 992RAM (plus the videoRam on board) with Windows Server 2003®

A short Parallel cable on LPT1 port with ECP/EPP enabled

Programmer: Willem PCB5.0 (powered by USB)

PIC: 18f452  (For a MIDIbox SID single core) Tried 4 different Pics

Software:

• Original Willem Eprom PCB5.0 Ver. 0.98D8
  
• IC-PROG 1.06b either with and without the icprog.sys driver
  
• WinPIC compiled in August 2008
  
• WinPic800 ver 3.64
  

With all of these applications i can read/erase the Pic, but i cannot program.

The standar error is at the 000000h address.

Tried all kind of delay settings, also i used the API (but i think they go on only with USB).

WinPic800 says: ERROR-> Writing address 0x000000 Written: 0xEF06  Read: 0x0000

Willem Eprom PCB5.0 Ver. 0.98D8 says: ERROR Program memory at 0x000000

Below you can read the WinPic log

Info: Loading definitions for "PIC18F452" from C:\Programmi\WinPic\devices.ini .

Info: PIC18F452, added and tested by Nam Nguyen-Quang, 2005-06-21

Parsed "C:\Programmi\Microchip\MPLAB IDE\Device\PIC18F452.dev" : found 72 bit combinations in 29 configuration bit groups .

PIC18F: family='10'=458, WriteLatch=8 bytes, EraseLatch=64 bytes .

Initialising PIC-Programmer: Success.

Testing: delay(500ms) took 0.49 seconds, timer_freq=3.5795 MHz ... ok

Programming...

Erasing ("bulk" or "chip") ...

EraseAll: missing bulk erase algorithm !

Erasing FAILED !

Programming CODE, 0x000000..0x00040A

Verifying CODE, 0x000000..0x00040A

Verifying 0x000000..0x00040A

Verify Error: 000000: read 00FFFF, wanted 00EF06, mask 00FFFF  ==> diff=0010F9

Verify Error: 000002: read 00FFFF, wanted 00F000, mask 00FFFF  ==> diff=000FFF

Verify Error: 000004: read 00FFFF, wanted 00EF06, mask 00FFFF  ==> diff=0010F9

Verify Error: 000006: read 00FFFF, wanted 00F000, mask 00FFFF  ==> diff=000FFF

More Verify Errors, unable to list all (total=506)

Programming CONFIG, 0x300000..0x30000C

Verifying CONFIG, 0x300000..0x30000C

Verifying 0x300000..0x30000C

Verify Error: 300000: read 00FFFF, wanted 00FEFF, mask 002700  ==> diff=000100

Verify Error: 300002: read 00FFFF, wanted 00FFF3, mask 000F0F  ==> diff=00000C

Verify Error: 300006: read 00FFFF, wanted 00FFFB, mask 000085  ==> diff=000004

ERROR: Programming FAILED !

I've read others treads about 000000h error but i really didn't find anything useful or maybe i didn't understand, i need help on testing the mclr voltage, i don't know how to do it. I mean that i don't know where to put the Ground probe of the Voltmeter.

Also what other stuff i must check?

On the Willem Eprom PCB5.0 Ver. 0.98D8 there are two weird settings: tWP (uS value) and tWC (mS value). Don't know what they mean.

Thanks to all,I hope you could help me.

[Janis1279]

Hi

Read in some forums:

- better to use a 12V AC  adapter instead of USB, or powered from other's computer's USB port,

- tWC= 8-10, tWP=30

There are many fuses for Pic Mcu's too

Be patient

Regards, Janis

[GordTheRogue]

Thanks, i tried with the external psu (both AC and DC at 12v) but it didn't work.

Also tWP=30 cannot be assigned to the Original Willem Eprom PCB5.0 Ver. 0.98D8 software, maximum is 13.0mS.

If someone could help me on testing the voltage while the Pic is programmed... I dunno where to put the Voltmeter probes.

[Janis1279]

You can read about programming voltage testing for Pic Burner in Uccaps too.

"+" probe to Pin 1 , MCLR

"-" probe to Pin12 or Pin31, GND , both pins are connected.

Regards, Janis

[GordTheRogue]

For everybody that come to this post, an update:

I've tried the Willem PCB5.0 with the ICSP connection to the 18F452 with a breadboard and some resistors like described here http://www.tinet.cat/~sag/pic452.htm. It seems that the Willem application can listen to the PIC without the identification, i've tried to burn a PIC without goal.

Thereafter i decided to etch the PicBurner module and i used that to burn some PICs without problems, so my suggestion is to use the PicBurner.

Regards.

Gord The Rogue

[nILS]

[mikee]

For everybody that come to this post, an update:

i've tried to burn a PIC without goal.

Thereafter i decided to etch the PicBurner module and i used that to burn some PICs without problems, so my suggestion is to use the PicBurner.

Gord The Rogue

Yes indoodlydeedly.

Often the simpler solutions work better.

good burning