MSP430G2452: MSP430G2452 PROGRAMING ISSUE

Part Number: MSP430G2452
Other Parts Discussed in Thread: UNIFLASH

Subject: MSP430G2452 – MSP-EXP430G2 Rev 1.4 detected by Windows but not detected by MSP430 Flasher/UniFlash

Hello TI Support Team,

I am trying to program an MSP430G2452IRSA16 on my custom PCB using an MSP-EXP430G2 LaunchPad Rev 1.4 as the programmer/debugger.

I am using Windows 11 and CCS 21.0.1.

1. VS Code + MSP430 GCC

I installed the TI MSP430 GCC toolchain at:

C:\ti\msp430-gcc

The compiler is detected correctly using:

& "C:\ti\msp430-gcc\bin\msp430-elf-gcc.exe" --version

I also verified:

Test-Path "C:\ti\msp430-gcc\include\msp430.h"

Result:

TRUE

The MSP430G2452 linker script is also present:

C:\ti\msp430-gcc\include\msp430g2452.ld

My test program is:

#include <msp430.h>

int main(void)
{
    WDTCTL = WDTPW | WDTHOLD;

    while (1)
    {
    }

    return 0;
}

I successfully compiled it in VS Code using:

& "C:\ti\msp430-gcc\bin\msp430-elf-gcc.exe" -mmcu=msp430g2452 -Os -Wall -I"C:\ti\msp430-gcc\include" -L"C:\ti\msp430-gcc\include" -o build\G2452_Test.elf main.c

The ELF file is generated successfully:

build\G2452_Test.elf

So the VS Code/GCC build process is working correctly.

2. MSP430 Flasher

I installed MSP430 Flasher 1.3.20 at:

C:\ti\MSPFlasher_1.3.20\MSP430Flasher.exe

I ran:

& "C:\ti\MSPFlasher_1.3.20\MSP430Flasher.exe" -i DETECT

The result is:

Evaluating triggers...done
Executing FET detection sweep:
Exit: 19
ERROR: Could not find MSP-FET430UIF on specified COM port
Driver : closed (No error)

3. Windows Device Manager

Windows detects the LaunchPad USB device.

The LaunchPad appears as:

MSP430 Application UART (COM4)

I also checked the USB device IDs.

When the LaunchPad is connected, Windows reports:

VID_0451&PID_F432

The related devices include:

HID-compliant vendor-defined device
USB Composite Device
MSP430 Application UART (COM4)
USB Input Device

All of them show status:

OK

So Windows appears to enumerate the LaunchPad/eZ430 USB interface correctly.

4. CCS

In CCS, I created a target configuration:

Connection: TI MSP430 USB1
Device: MSP430G2452
Debug interface: SBW

When attempting to connect to the target, CCS reports:

Error connecting to the target:
Could not find device (or device not supported)

5. UniFlash

I also tested the same setup in UniFlash.

I selected:

Device: MSP430G2452
Connection: TI MSP430 USB1

UniFlash initially reports:

No debug probes/devices detected

I manually configured the device and connection.

I loaded:

G2452_Test.elf

The ELF file is accepted by UniFlash, but when I click Load Image, UniFlash reports:

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

6. Hardware

Target MCU:

MSP430G2452IRSA16

I am using Spy-Bi-Wire:

RST/NMI/SBWTDIO -> MSP430G2452 pin 9
TEST/SBWTCK -> MSP430G2452 pin 10

Target supply is approximately 3.3 V.

The target has:

RST pull-up = 30 kOhm to +3V0
AVCC/DVCC powered
AVSS/DVSS connected to GND

My main question:

Since Windows detects the MSP-EXP430G2 Rev 1.4 / eZ430 interface with:

VID_0451&PID_F432

but MSP430 Flasher, CCS and UniFlash cannot communicate with the debugger, could you please advise:

1. Is the MSP-EXP430G2 Rev 1.4 eZ430 debugger supported with the current MSP430 Flasher/UniFlash/CCS versions?

2. Is there a specific legacy eZ430 driver/MSP Debug Stack version required?

3. Why does MSP430 Flasher report "Could not find MSP-FET430UIF on specified COM port" when the eZ430 interface is enumerated by Windows?

4. Is there any known compatibility issue between the legacy eZ430 interface and modern Windows 11 / USB 3.x?

5. Is there a recommended driver or software version for programming an MSP430G2452 using the MSP-EXP430G2 Rev 1.4?

I can provide screenshots, Device Manager information, CCS configuration, and the complete Flasher/UniFlash logs if required.
Please provide me step by step guide !

Thank you.

Best regards,
NIKHIL