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MSP-FET430UIF error: Trouble Writing Memory Block

Pradeep S. Shenoy
Prodigy 80 points
Other Parts Discussed in Thread: MSP430G2131

I am getting a confusing error when I am trying to program a MSP430G2131 using the MSP-FET430UIF. I was not always getting this error previously so I'm wondering if something I did during debugging caused this problem.

The error:

MSP430: Trouble Writing Memory Block at 0xfc00 on Page 0 of Length 0x1fa: Could not erase device memory
MSP430: GEL: File: C:\Users\deep\workspace_v5_1\VoltagePassthrough\Debug\VoltagePassthrough.out: Load failed.

Here are some potential issues but I'm not actually sure what the problem is:

1) I accidentally was resetting (basically shorting out) the supply voltage capacitor instead of the small reset capacitor. Perhaps I overloaded something in the FET430UIF and now it doesn't work?

2) When the FET430UIF is plugged in to my computer, only the green power light is on. The red mode light does not flash at all. When I try to program the MSP430, the green power light goes off and the red mode light stays on (maybe flashes once).

In the past, I could program my MSP430 just fine and debugging was going quite well. So I don't think there is anything wrong with my board layout. When this error came, I decided to reconstruct my basic board using a new MSP430G2131, etc. to make sure my hardware was not damaged/the cause of problems.

Any assistance would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

Edit: I forgot to mention I'm using CCS 5.1, have some peripherals set up using GRACE, and am using the 4-wire JTAG interface.

  • 0
    Prodigy 80 points

    Update: I think that the reason why the green power LED on the FET430UIF stays on is because I have the newest firmware update (i.e. MSP430.DLLv3). According to this, I think it is working fine. So, perhaps there is nothing wrong with the FET430UIF. By the way, I am using V1.4a. Also, the FET430UIF troubleshooting page should be updated to reflect the initialization/light flashing sequence with the newest firmware update.

    So, any ideas as to why I cannot flash my program onto the microcontroller? Any advice would be appreciated.

    Thanks.

    Edit: For more information, I am using CCS on Windows 7, 64-bit version.

  • 0 in reply to Pradeep S. Shenoy
    Prodigy 80 points

    I'm starting to get pretty desperate. Any help would be greatly appreciated. I've installed CCS on another computer and tried to program with another FET430UIF and I still get the same basic error. What is the cause of the error? Any hints would help me troubleshoot.

  • 0 in reply to Pradeep S. Shenoy
    Prodigy 80 points

    I GOT IT TO WORK!!!! I'm so glad I figured out the problem. 

    This is basically what happened:

    I have a linear regulator that supplies power to the msp430 under normal operation. When I program the msp430 though, I have the power to the msp430 come from the FET430UIF programmer. The problem (I think) was that some of the components upstream from the linear regulator would "load" it or somehow there would be some backfeeding of current (I know, not very technical terminology). I think that the voltage on the msp430 would be too low to allow for erasing and reprogramming the flash memory. I was able to figure this all out by rebuilding a board, component by component, and seeing when I was able to program the msp430 and when I couldn't. As long as there is nothing connected to the input of the linear regulator, I am able to successfully program the msp430. I ended up ripping up a trace on my board so that I don't have problems with it again.

    Hope this info is helpful to others.

  • 0 in reply to Pradeep S. Shenoy
    Guru 227245 points

    Pradeep S. Shenoy said:
    As long as there is nothing connected to the input of the linear regulator, I am able to successfully program the msp430

    Most linear regulators have a free-running diode that shortcuts the output to the input if the output has a higher voltage than the input (to avoid destruction of the output transistor due to 'negative' voltage). If the voltage source then has a low inner resistance when off, it will load the FET supply voltage beyond its specs.
    To have this work, you'll have to switch the external power source on when programming, or need a jumper between the regulator and teh MSP that can be pulled for programming (as replacement for a trace rip-off :) )

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