Getting started with the MSP-EXP430G2

Hello Galen,

It seems that most of your issues are related to your installation of CCS that did not include MSP430 support, now making it difficult to add the necessary features. It therefore might be best to delete your current CCS version and do a clean re-install with MSP430 support. Regarding your most recent issue, did CCS ever ask to update the MSP-EXP430G2 emulator? What is your most recent MSP430 Emulators version from the CCS Installation Details?

Regards,
Ryan

Ryan,

I do not recall getting prompted for an update. The MSP Emulator I have is version 6.0.1.8.

I will perform a uninstall and reinstall CCS today and see what happens.

Galen

Galen,

Typically an emulator firmware update is required when using an IDE + FET tool for the first time. My current Emulator package is 6.3.4.4, the version you are using is quite old and could be causing the issues you are experiencing. You could always try to Check for Updates inside of CCS and see if it can install the outdated files without requiring a re-install.

Regards,
Ryan

Ryan,

I just uninstalled and reinstalled CCS version 6.1.3.00034. My MSP Emulators and Device Support Files are Version 6.3.4.4. I am getting the same error as before:

Failed to load program... Cannot write to 0xc000, File loader and, Gel File

Hmm... could a trail have been left behind during the uninstall?

I switched comport numbers... now I get cannot find USB FET errors...

Cloud IDE can find the board under target/connect but I can not open the port.

Galen

Galen,

Can you try using an IDE other than CCS (IAR, Energia, Pro-FET430, etc.) and see if any of these report a similar issue? We are trying to isolate the issue between the hardware or software.

Regards,
Ryan

Ryan,
I will do that. On a separate PC that has Windows 10 I can connect using the CCS Cloud IDE. I checked the driver between the 2 PC and it is the same one which I guess you knew cause the date is 4/8/2011.

Galen

Ryan,

I have installed Energia. the board is found on port 65. I selected tools/board/MSP EXP430G2553LP. I found 'BLINK' sample code. I get an error while uploading the sketch message, if I try to upload. I have never used Energia so I may have missed something along the way.

Galen

Galen,

Is this MSP-EXP430G2 brand new, or has it been altered in any way? Is there any other LaunchPad available that you can test with? Are you using a USB3.0 port which the eZ430 does not support?

Regards,
Ryan

Ryan,

It is fresh out of the box, seal date of 8/13/15. I have another one (same model) but it is at my house. I was going to try and see if I can get it to work using my home PC, this weekend. I also tried installing CCS on my Windows 10 PC to test on that machine.

Galen 

Ryan,

I have been able to get CCS to program the MSP-EXP430-G2 on my lab Windows 10 PC. I guess running the uninstall did not clean out all the old CCS files from doing a partial install of CCS in the past. I will attempt to clean out all my TI CCS files and try again. My belief is that the uninstall does not remove all files and that is causing the conflict.

Galen

Galen,

So on the defective computer does the MSP-EXP430G2 enumerate as both a MSP Debug Interface and Application UART on your COM ports? I know you've stated that the drivers are the same between PCs but it is something that would not have been included in an uninstall of CCS that could effect being able to recognize the eZ430 FET tool: www.ti.com/.../slac524

Regards,
Ryan

Ryan,

On either PC I can assign the board to either a MSP Debug Interface or the Application UART. I have to do this by going to Device Manger and selecting to manually assigning the driver I want to use.

Galen

Galen,

This is not typical a step required for LaunchPad devices. Can you communicate using Lite FET-Pro430? Since we know the hardware and FET are operational this would determine if the issue has to do with the MSP430 DLL or drivers.

Regards,
Ryan

Ryan,

I installed the Lite FET-Pro430. I opened it up set the Group and part fields. I am reading the User Guide now as I am not sure what to do with this tool.

I did click a few buttons and get a MSP430.dll init. error. I did run slac524. I als0 disabled the driver for the msp430 and then plugged it in to see what it would do. It started up as a Texas Instruments MSP-FET430UIF with a yellow warning indicator. I MSP430.dll in about 20 location on my PC. Which one should be the correct one? Can I delete the others?

Galen

For efficiency I would just delete all MSP430.dll versions and download the latest from the MSPDS tool page.

Regards,
Ryan

Ryan,

No improvement. I even went and deleted the entire contents of my TI folder. Tried to locate any MSP430 file and remove those. I then reinstalled CCS and updated.

When I plug in the MSP-EXP430 board Windows (7 x64) sees it as a

Other Devices

Texas Instruments MSP-FET430UIF. With a warning for no  driver.

I ran the link above and there is simply no change. I even pointed to the

C:\ti\fetdrivers\emulation\drivers\msp430 that was created and it could not find a driver.

making me manually point to the MSP Debug Interface.

I am running out of ideas...

Galen

This is uncommon behavior as MSP-EXP430G2 devices are most commonly used with Windows 7 64-bit operating systems. You may try to disable any firewalls or security systems not allowing access to the driver, you should have the LaunchPad_Driver specifically selected as multiple could exist on your system.

Regards,
Ryan