Bricked RT1170 EVKB, please help!

cyberhelmer · ‎06-18-2025

I was running some code on the board that had been working before. But all of a sudden it flashing and debugging the board over the debug USB stop working.

The program that was in memory before were printing some stuff to the debug port but after this happened I only get dots printed continuously on the serial port like this:
.............

Even after setting the boot pins on SW1 to 0001 I get the same dots printed.
Does that mean it did not enter serial downloader mode correctly?

If usb is connected to the USB debug port the serial port shows up in MCUXpresso Secure Provisioning tool but trying to flash gives this error:

Executing script /Users/melker/secure_provisioning0/gen_scripts/init_flashloader_mac.sh
### Parse input arguments ###
### Check presence of FlashLoader ###
### FlashLoader is not running yet, download and run it ###
### Check communication with target bootloader ###
/Applications/MCUX_Provi_25.03/MCUXpresso Secure Provisioning 25.03.app/Contents/Frameworks/tools/spsdk /Applications/MCUX_Provi_25.03
/Applications/MCUX_Provi_25.03/MCUXpresso Secure Provisioning 25.03.app/Contents/Frameworks/tools/spsdk/blhost -t 2000 -p /dev/cu.usbmodem1PUQXTTDF5B0Y3,115200 -- get-property 17 0
SpsdkNoDeviceFoundError: No devices for given interface 'uart' and parameters 'port=/dev/cu.usbmodem1PUQXTTDF5B0Y3, baudrate=115200, timeout=2000' was found.
/Applications/MCUX_Provi_25.03

blhost failed

If usb connected to USB OTG1 or 2 no uart port shows up. And the device does not show up as USB device either.

I tried following this post:
https://community.nxp.com/t5/i-MX-RT-Crossover-MCUs/How-do-I-un-brick-a-MIMXRT1170-EVK-that-doesn-t-...

But that gives me this error:

LinkServer RedlinkMulti Driver v24.12 (Dec 18 2024 19:35:47 - crt_emu_cm_redlink build 869)

Found chip XML file in /Users/melker/Documents/MCUXpressoIDE_24.12.148/workspace/evkbmimxrt1170_hello_world_primary_core/Debug/MIMXRT1176xxxxx.xml

Reconnected to existing LinkServer process.

Connecting to probe 1 core 0 (using server started externally) reports:

'Ee(42). Could not connect to core.'

Retrying...

Reconnected to existing LinkServer process.

Server OK but no connection to probe 1 core 0 (after 3 attempts) - Ee(42). Could not connect to core.

============= SCRIPT: RT1170_connect_M7_wake_M4.scp =============

RT1170 Connect M7 and Wake M4 Script

Error: Wire Ack Fault - target connected?

Error: Wire not connected

Setting M4 spin code

Error: Wire not connected

Setting M4 clock

Error: Wire not connected

Resetting M4 core

Error: Wire not connected

View cores on the DAP AP

Error: Wire Ack Fault - target connected?

Error: Wire not connected

============= END SCRIPT ========================================

Failed on connect: Ee(42). Could not connect to core.

No connection to chip's debug port

How can I fix this?

mayliu1 · ‎06-19-2025

Hi @cyberhelmer ,

Thank you so much for your interest in our products and for using our community.

Do you have J-link device?

I have a very simple way to solve your question.

First, you need set SW1 to 0001, Serial Downloader mode , then power on.

Second, connect J1 with the J-link device.

create a J-Flash project, connect and Erase Chip.

Third, set SW1 to 0010, Internal Boot mode , then power on.

Finally, you can use your IDE to program and debug your project.

Wish it helps you.
If you still have question about it, please kindly let me know.

Best Regards
MayLiu

cyberhelmer · ‎06-19-2025

Unfortunately I don’t have a J-link currently. Is there a way to recover the board without one?

Can it be recovored with the onboard usb port or mcu-link?

When I set the SW1 to 0001 and power off/on the dots(.) are still being printed to usb debug serial port, so I’m not sure serial downloader mode is entered correctly. Should I get dots printed in the serial monitor when board is in serial downloader mode?

mayliu1 · ‎06-20-2025

Hi @cyberhelmer ,

Thanks for your updated information.

question: Can it be recovored with the onboard usb port or mcu-link?
Answer: Yes, you can use MCUXpresso Secure Provisioning Tool , it support USB and UART.

Question:

When I set the SW1 to 0001 and power off/on the dots(.) are still being printed to usb debug serial port, so I’m not sure serial downloader mode is entered correctly. Should I get dots printed in the serial monitor when board is in serial downloader mode?

Answer: when you set SW1 to 0001 and power off/on , UART should not print the dot(.)

I think you can use UART port in MCUXpresso Secure Provisioning Tool. This UART port is J86(Debug USB)

If Test connection is okay, you can see the Result is OK.

You can also use USB interface, this interface is J20.

Please make sure your board can enter serial downloader mode first.

Best Regards

mayLiu

cyberhelmer · ‎06-20-2025

”When you set SW1 to 0001 and power off/on , UART should not print the dot(.)” - the board keeps printing dots even when the SW1 is set to 0001 and restarted so the board does not seem to enter serial downloader mode. What could be the reason for this?

Since the board is never put into serial downloader mode I can not flash/erase it using the MCUXpresso Secure Provisioning Tool. I can connect to the usb debug serial port using the a serial monitor, this is where the dots keeps printing as if the board keeps on restarting.

Connecting to the same serial port using the MCUXpresso Secure Provisioning Tool connects but gives me errors when trying to flash or erase.

It does not show up as usb device using J20 port either.

So it seems the board is not correctly entering serial downloader mode at all leading to none of your suggestions working. Why is this?

mayliu1 · ‎06-23-2025

Hi @cyberhelmer ,

If you want set MIMXRT1170-EVKB board as serial downloader mode.

First, power off the board, set SW1: 0001 SW2:0000000000,

Second, Power on the board.

Then you can enter the serial downloader mode.

You can use the J86(UART) or J20(USB ) to connect PC.

Best Regards

MayLiu

cyberhelmer · ‎06-24-2025

I understand that and I have the switches set the correct way but the board does not seem to enter serial downloader mode as I said in the previous reply. Why is that?

I do have the switches set to:
SW1: 0001 SW2:0000000000.

I have disconnected all power and restarted the board multiple times but the board still does not seem to enter Serial download mode correctly. What is causing this?

When connecting my serial monitor to the usb debug it does connect but the board keeps printing dots like this:

Serial monitor prints:
............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

It looks like the board is restarting over and over, or what’s happening?

When trying to debug an example project from the MCUXpresso I get this error:

LinkServer RedlinkMulti Driver v24.12 (Dec 18 2024 19:35:47 - crt_emu_cm_redlink build 869)

Found chip XML file in /Users/melker/Documents/MCUXpressoIDE_24.12.148/workspace/evkbmimxrt1170_hello_world_primary_core/Debug/MIMXRT1176xxxxx.xml

Reconnected to existing LinkServer process.

Connecting to probe 1 core 0 (using server started externally) reports:

'Ee(42). Could not connect to core.'

Retrying...

Reconnected to existing LinkServer process.

Server OK but no connection to probe 1 core 0 (after 3 attempts) - Ee(42). Could not connect to core.

============= SCRIPT: RT1170_connect_M7_wake_M4.scp =============

RT1170 Connect M7 and Wake M4 Script

Error: Wire Ack Fault - target connected?

Error: Wire not connected

Setting M4 spin code

Error: Wire not connected

Setting M4 clock

Error: Wire not connected

Resetting M4 core

Error: Wire not connected

View cores on the DAP AP

Error: Wire Ack Fault - target connected?

Error: Wire not connected

============= END SCRIPT ========================================

Failed on connect: Ee(42). Could not connect to core.

No connection to chip's debug port

When trying to flash using uart in provisioning tool:
Executing script /Users/melker/secure_provisioning0/gen_scripts/init_flashloader_mac.sh

ERROR: Script failed with return code: [2]ERROR

### SCRIPT: Starting flashloader: /Users/melker/secure_provisioning0/gen_scripts/init_flashloader_mac.sh

### Parse input arguments ###

### Check presence of FlashLoader ###

### FlashLoader is not running yet, download and run it ###

### Check communication with target bootloader ###

/Applications/MCUX_Provi_25.03/MCUXpresso Secure Provisioning 25.03.app/Contents/Frameworks/tools/spsdk /Applications/MCUX_Provi_25.03

/Applications/MCUX_Provi_25.03/MCUXpresso Secure Provisioning 25.03.app/Contents/Frameworks/tools/spsdk/blhost -t 2000 -p /dev/cu.usbmodem1PUQXTTDF5B0Y3,115200 -- get-property 17 0

SpsdkNoDeviceFoundError: No devices for given interface 'uart' and parameters 'port=/dev/cu.usbmodem1PUQXTTDF5B0Y3, baudrate=115200, timeout=2000' was found.

/Applications/MCUX_Provi_25.03

blhost failed

### RESULT of the script `Starting flashloader`: Failure (return code = [2]ERROR)

Status of the operation: Failure: Starting flashloader

ERROR: Write failed: Failed to start the flashloader

Status of the operation: Failure: Write failed: Failed to start the flashloader

In MCUXpresso Secure Provisioning tool the uart port for the debug USB on the board shows up but it's not possible to flash or do a mass erase. Connecting to USB J20 does not work either and the board is not found at all using the usb option.

The problem seem to be that the serial downloader mode is not entered when setting the switches accordingly, how can I fix this or get around the problem to get the board to accept new firmware or a mass erase?

Attaching screenshots of errors in mcu provisioning tool.

mayliu1 · ‎06-24-2025

Hi @cyberhelmer ,

If the operation to set the serial downloader mode is correct, but you still cannot enter the serial downloader mode , please confirm whether your board has power on success.

Please refer to the following link, Use an oscilloscope to measure whether the power-up sequence is correct.

MIMXRT1170EVKBHUG.pdf

If the Power on sequence is normal, please set SW1:0001, then use an oscilloscope to measure GPIO_LPSR_02 pin and GPIO_LPSR_03 pin voltage, and whether the value is correct.

Best Regards
MayLiu