Error: "Could not find MSP-FET430UIF on specified COM port"

Hi Esau,

some further tips.  What CCS version are you using and how have you set up your FET? Can you provide more details?  Do you see any issues in the device manager?  Are you trying to force a COM port for some reason.

Please keep us informed.

Best Regards,

Lisa

I think there is a hardware compatibility problem. A year or so ago when I first got my Launchpads, I didn't have any problems at all. I've been away from the MSP430 for a

while but since dragging the launchpads out of storage for a new project I've had nothing but problems. Given my previous WIndows 7 and recent clean install of Windows 8 and experiencing the same (or worse) problems, I'm thinking it may be hardware related more than OS related.

Or it is a 64 bit Windows problem as that's the only other common denominator that I'm aware of.

Symptoms: CCS 5.2 and 5.3. Plug in the Launchpad, devices install fine. In device manager, there is a "HID-Compliant device" and "USB Input Device" and the back channel COM port "MSP430 Application UART (COM1)". Hit Debug in CCS, first time 95% of the time it won't download the code and says it can't find the FET. Sometimes hitting Retry

will download and run the code.  70% of the time it never finds it and I have to disconnect the LP and reconnect and try again. Sometimes when hitting the "Retry" button, Windows will make the sound of a device getting disconnected. SOmetime multiple times. Sometimes reconnection sounds after a

disconnect sound. This time (as an example), a disconnect sound (device manager refreshes but I can't see anything change) and the it downloads, which makes no sense.

When the code does eventually download, the backchannel COM port doesn't work most of the time. Under this WIndows 8 install, I've never been able to get the backchannel com

port to work at all even though the COM port always shows in device manager when the launchpad is connected. The previous install with Windows 7 64 bit, I could at least get a combination of retries where both the download and the backchannel com port worked at the same time.

There are no applications running that appear to be taking control of the COM ports. I've used Process Explorer to make sure no apps have a handle open for COM ports.

Ignoring all the hours I've wasted under Windows 7; as of WIndows 8, this setup is completely unusable. I'd be more than happy to provide you with any information you request to try and fix this issue.

The USB ports are on a ASUS P8Z68-V PRO/GEN3 motherboard. I've tried all the USB ports both USB2 and USB3 but that doesn't make a difference. I've tried several USB cables, two Launchpads and several MSP430 chips. Hopefully at some point in the next week I'll be able to grab the old PC (An HP desktop) and see if things still work on there.

Take care,

John

Hi John,

just thought I would check for any updates.   Intermittant issues are extermely difficult to debug at times.   Have you tried updating CCS?   What have you been seeing in the device manager through your attempts?

Have you checked for antivirus/permissions problems?   COuld some virtual bluetooth COMS or such be interfering?

Best Regards,
Lisa

Hi Lisa,

Apologies for the really late reply: I've just been living with the issue since then and hadn't been able to spend a lot of time troubleshooting the issue.

I'd tried everything: Updating CCS multiple times (tried the 5.3 beta when it was beta). Made sure the Launchpad was flashed with the right firmware. AV not an issue. No bluetooth/gaming mouse apps etc. The COM port and other USB devices alway showed up in device manager as expected. Just 8/10 times it would fail with the error. And sometimes after a failure you hit retry and it magically worked. Very annoying. I turned on the Debug Server logging and in the log I can see "MSP430_Error_String( 57 ) = Could not find MSP-FET430UIF on specified COM port" and then a retry and everything works.

My solution to the problem: I purchased a USB PCI card that uses a VIA USB chipset and it works perfectly *every* time. Even the "backchannel" UART works! Before, even if I could get the code loaded on the device it was hit or miss whether the backchannel UART would actually work.

Since I have a system where I can plug the cable into a different port and it doesn't work I'd be willing to provide any help to your devs that they need. I've posted a debug server log (about 5 meg) where there is both successes and failures.

Let me know if there's anything else I can do to help resolve this issue. I'd hate to see TI lose devs because they got too frustrated even though there's apparently few with this issue. https://dl.dropbox.com/u/102499/DebugLog.txt

Take care,

Happy John

I forgot to post the card that I purchased that works in case anyone comes across this that may have the same issue:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004F3B5Z2

No, I don't work for Amazon, Rosewill or VIA.

Was there ever a fix for this besides buying a pci usb card?