topic Re: MCF5211Demo flash programming problem, when using a notebook in ColdFire/68K Microcontrollers and Processors

MCF5211Demo flash programming problem, when using a notebook

agm — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 19:45:55 GMT

Hi,

I'm using a MCF5211Demo board, and when i try to write the program in flash using CF Flasher on a notebook I get the time-out error. This problem does not appear when I use a desktop.
Initially I thought it was a power issue, so I got a docking station, but I had the same problem, so I checked the USB voltage, and it was only 4.5V, so I got also a powered USB hub, now the voltage is 5V, it's stable , but the timeout issue is still present.

Can anyone suggest a solution?

Thankyou.

Muntianu Andrei Gabriel.

Re: MCF5211Demo flash programming problem, when using a notebook

agm — Tue, 09 Sep 2008 12:47:27 GMT

bump

PLS , any suggestion would be appreciated

Re: MCF5211Demo flash programming problem, when using a notebook

J2MEJediMaster — Tue, 09 Sep 2008 19:57:20 GMT

If the same board can be programmed by a desktop system and not by the laptop, then clearly the problem is with the laptop--which you already know. Things to try are:

1) Are you using the same USB cable on the PC and the laptop? If so, then the cable is likely not the culprit. If you're using different cables, then try the cable that works on the PC set up with your laptop arrangement and see if the problem goes away.
2) Same question for the USB run-control pod, unless the USB cable is a part of it: trying switching the USB pod that works with that one that does not.
3) Compare the USB drivers of the PC and the laptop. Update the USB run-control driver software on the laptop with the latest version.

HTH.

---Tom

Re: MCF5211Demo flash programming problem, when using a notebook

agm — Tue, 09 Sep 2008 22:46:23 GMT

Thx Tom for answering,

I've tried with different USB cables , and still no success, I've also upgraded the drivers, and tried with another developing board (the same type) but the result was the same... so I guess the notebook has something to do with it (it's a Dell Latitude D53).
The weird part is that if I dock the notebook in a docking station, that also has an external monitor connected to it (using DVI Cable), the board works, but only in this setup .. if I connect a monitor using analogue video cable, or with no monitor connected, it doesn't work .
I have also tried to write the flash on the board using other notebooks and works only with the ones that are in docking stations with monitors connected to them

Are there any other applications that I can use to write to the flash (I have tried CFFlasher and PROGCFZ) ?

Any other suggestions ?

Muntianu Andrei Gabriel.

Re: MCF5211Demo flash programming problem, when using a notebook

J2MEJediMaster — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 21:15:54 GMT

When the laptop is in a docking station with a monitor, I suspect no energy-saving features are in effect. I'm thinking that while you're working with the laptop as a stand-alone device, some sort of energy conserving features kick in, and this interferes with the Flash programming process. I'd check the Dell's Power Options settings and see if there's a mode you can place it in where it never sleeps, or is running at maximum performance rather than making any attempt at power conservation.

---Tom

Re: MCF5211Demo flash programming problem, when using a notebook

agm — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 21:20:49 GMT

Well , I also suspected that .. but on my notebook all the power saving features are disabled (and this features are anyway only active when the notebook works on battery).

Re: MCF5211Demo flash programming problem, when using a notebook

agm — Sat, 13 Sep 2008 20:23:07 GMT

I have managed to fix the problem... it appears notebooks due to the high power requirement when programming a flash, don't like USB2.0 , so when I used USB1.1 instead it worked like a charm, even when it was on battery. I also found out why it worked when the notebook was docked..., when an external monitor was connected, the USB2.0 got disabled

Re: MCF5211Demo flash programming problem, when using a notebook

J2MEJediMaster — Mon, 15 Sep 2008 21:06:16 GMT

Thanks for the info. Perhaps this will spare some other people needless grief. I've had problems with Dell laptops powering parallel port programmers because of power supply issues, but I didn't think the USB interface would have similar quirks. Again, thanks for letting us know what the solution was.

---Tom