USB Locking when hiwave.exe is trying to program.

[jcdammeyer]

This has been an ongoing issue for me and now has reached the breaking point.  When I use F5 to DEBUG the program the debugger screen opens up, the status screen shows that it's trying to download to the target Softec HCS12X Starter Kit and then it hangs.  At that point I can't close it.  Eventually it reports that Hiwave.exe has had an error.  Even from WIN-XP SP2 Task Manager I can't terminate Hiwave.exe.

The only solution is to unplug the USB cable from USB 2.0 port.  Then the debugger closes and I can start all over again.  It's really random.  I might have to try 3 or 4 times in order to get this to work.

Now the reason this is such a problem is I have an application running and we upgrade the 9S12 code via Remote Desktop.  The system is in a locked cabinet and unplugging the USB cable to unfreeze the system isn't really an option.  Fortunately we can reboot the PC which also solves the problem but I really can't work that way.  Since it does the same locking up problem here on my workstation it's seems to be endemic to the debugger and USB interface.

 The debugger is version 02.00.22

Any suggestions?

Thanks

John

[J2MEJediMaster]

There have been some issues with the higher speed of the USB 2 port overrunning the USB run-control interface. See FAQ-29039 for one possible remedy. There might be other ways to adjust the USB driver so that it performs as a USB 1.1 interface. I would try any changes on your own system first, and if that clears the problem, then see what can be done about the enclosed system.

---Tom

[jcdammeyer]

Thanks for the suggestions.  Originally I was using a USB 1.1 interface on my development PC and had problems.  They went away when I switched to the USB 2.0 but I have switched it back.  On the PC that's used in the field, all the ports are USB 1.1 except for one FTDI port for a USB245 which is used for the PC to 9S12 command stream.  Can't really disable that one.  (I tried but still couldn't run the debugger).

Anyway,  I'm now wondering whether there is a way to remotely reset the USB hardware on the 9S12 board.  It's possible that it's the one that's locking up and causing the PC to hang.  It doesn't seem to matter what I do at the PC end at the moment, until I unplug the USB which probably resets it.  Both the BKGD ENABLE and REST ENABLE jumpers are in place.

Perhaps it would be better (as in more robust) to usethe BDM socket and an external programmer.  Is there an inexpensive external USB to BDM type programmer that might work better?

Thanks

John

[J2MEJediMaster]

I don't know enough about the signals to offer any advice on performing a reset on the board. As far as external programmers go, P&E Microsystems has a USB-to-BDM programmer for the HC12 family, the Cyclone Pro. You can check it and their other programming products on their web site at: http://www.pemicro.com/. HTH.

---Tom