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PGA460: When EVM is connected to PC, the OS freezes

Part Number: PGA460
Other Parts Discussed in Thread: , , MSP-EXP430F5529LP

Customer's question:

When I connect the PGA460 [EVM] to my laptop, my laptop freezes. [I can do] nothing if the PGA460 is connected. When I [un]plug [the EVM], my laptop become normal. I don't know what happened. Do I need install additional drivers for PGA460? I am using Windows 7 system and I never met this freezing problem [before].

  • To determine which component of the PGA460-Q1 EVM and/or GUI is causing your laptop's OS to become corrupted, please see the following:

    First, can you provide further detail about the freeze-error?
    • Are you using a 32-bit or 64-bit version of the Win7 OS?
    • Does the GUI only freeze, or does your entire PC? Can you move your mouse/cursor, type, or CNTL+ALT+DEL while the EVM is connected?
    • Does Windows ever show a PGA460Q1EVM GUI has stopped working message?
    • What is the jumper configuration on the MSP-EXP430F5529LP and BOOSTXL-PGA460?
    • Has the EVM and GUI ever worked? If so, were you ever able to flash program the boostxlpga460-frimware.bat onto the MSP using the GUI?
    • What LEDs are illuminated on the PGA460-Q1 EVM? You should see three LEDs illuminated when the PGA460-Q1 is properly powered (assuming the MSP430 was flash programmed):
    1) MSP-EXP430F5529LP’s LED102 (green)
    2) MSP-EXP430F5529LP’s LED2 (green)
    3) BOOSTXL-PGA460’s D6 (orange)

    Here is my general guide for troubleshooting the root-cause of this issue:
    1) Can you start the PGA460-Q1 EVM GUI when no EVM is connected? Does the GUI only cause the PC to freeze? If not, proceed to step 2.
    2) Close the GUI. Disconnect the BOOSTXL-PGA460 BoosterPack from the MSP-EXP430F5529LP. With only the MSP-EXP430F5529LP attached to the USB cable, plug-in the USB. Does the laptop freeze? If not, proceed to step 3.
    3) Disconnect the USB cable. The GUI should still be closed. Stack onto BOOSTXL-PGA460 to the MSP-EXP430F5529LP. Remove the shunt connector from the Alt Power Modes jumper block from the BOOSTXL-PGA460’s J7. Plug in the USB cable. Does the laptop freeze? If not, proceed to step 4.
    4) Start the GUI. Does the computer freeze? If not, proceed to step 5.
    5) If the GUI did not freeze, does the GUI prompt the user to upload the boostxl-pga460 firmware to the MSP430? If not, then the appropriate drivers may not have installed.
    a. If you are using a 64-bit operating system, then the one-click driver files are available on the install path: “My Documents→BOOSTXL-PGA460”. Run the “one_time_setup.bat” file.
    b. If you are using a 32-bit OS system, then copy and unzip the “pga460_fw_installer_32bit.zip” from “C:\Program Files (x86)\Texas Instruments\PGA460Q1EVM\PGA460Q1EVM-1.0.0.8” to “My Documents→BOOSTXL-PGA460”. Run the “one_time_setup.bat” file.
    6) Connect the J7 shunt jumper to run parallel to the "LP-USB" text on the BOOSTXL-PGA460 Alt Power Mode block for the USB Only power mode. Refer to section 2.2.2.1 Power Mode Jumper Settings of the user's guide (www.ti.com/.../slau659) for compatible jumper modes.

    If you still encounter the error, at which step of the debug do you encounter the error?

    If you have any issue flash programming the MSP430, refer to the PGA460 FAQ (www.ti.com/.../slaa733.pdf):
    4.2 The boostxlpga460-firmware.bat batch file fails to install.
    If the batch file fails to install, ensure the MSP430 and Code Composer Studio (CCS) driver files successfully installed during the PGA460-Q1 EVM GUI install wizard or when manually installed by the one_time_setup.bat file. Refer to question 4.1 for additional details on the driver file installation. The boostxlpga460-firmware.bat must be loaded from the same directory containing the ccs_base and user_files installed during the PGA460-Q1 EVM GUI wizard. All aforementioned files and folders will be stored in the install-created folder at Documents→BOOSTXL-PGA460 or My Documents→BOOSTXLPGA460. The batch file must only be flash programmed onto the MSP-EXP430F5529LP once during initial setup. Unless the LaunchPad is repurposed or programmed for a purpose other the PGA460-Q1 EVM GUI evaluation, the user will not have to repeat the batch file upload.
  • Hello Akeem,

     Thanks for your detailed info.

    I am using window 7 64bit professional system. 

    My entire laptop freezes. I cannot move mouse and do anything. 

    Follow you steps, 

    I think the problem is MSP-EXP430F5529LP. When I disconnected  BOOSTXL-PGA460 BoosterPack from the MSP-EXP430F5529LP ,With only the MSP-EXP430F5529LP attached to the USB cable, my laptop freezes. 

    I keep all the jumper configuration on default state just like what I got  at beginning. 

    Could you please give me some advice on this problem? Thank you. I really appreciate your prompt help. 

  • Hello Akeem,
    I have solved the problem. Maybe the drivers are not installed correctly. I manually installed CCS. Now, it works correctly!