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MSP430F5438A: Erasing the MCU

Iheb Hamdi
Prodigy 140 points

Part Number: MSP430F5438A
Other Parts Discussed in Thread: MSP-FET,

HI,

So I am working for an EMS company and we are using MSP-GANG programmer to program a set of different products. The problem we faced is that our PCB's goes through two types of test : ICT + FCT.

The product in which we faced a problem are tested in a flank of 4 so when the test of one or more of them fails, we break the flank and repair the unit in which we found a problem. This unit then goes through the ICT test again but it fails and that's because the MCU is already programmed (deduced this after several tests). Even if we erase it using the "MSP-GANG Programmer" software the problem persists. So on the first hand, we are wondering if this erase made is a soft one and can you provide us of what exactly it does erase.

On the other hand, is it possible to manipulate the MSP-GANG so it can carry out a hard erase.

Kind Regards,

Iheb

  • 0
    TI__Mastermind 26225 points
    Thanks for your thread, I propose you can use MSP-FET (MSP430 Flash Emulation Tool): www.ti.com/.../msp-fet
  • 0 in reply to Xiaodong LI
    Prodigy 140 points
    Hi Xiaodong Li,

    Thanks for you help. I am not sure if this answer actually solves the erase problem but even if it does it's not an easy solution to implement as it will cost much more than what this project's budget allows. What I am looking for is a fast and an easy solution, presumably using what we have in store which's the MSP-GANG programmer.

    Kind regards,
    Iheb
  • 0 in reply to Iheb Hamdi
    TI__Genius 14165 points
    Iheb,

    what do you mean with soft or hard erase? If you perform a mass erase with the GANG programmer the flash memory should be erased.
    I assume you use JTAG interface for this (4 wire or SpiBiWire)?
    Which parts of the flash you want to erase (info, BSL, main)?

    When you say the flash erase failed did you read the memory content? If yes please tell which areas cannot be erased?

    Best regards,
    Dietmar
  • 0 in reply to Dietmar Walther
    Prodigy 140 points
    Hi Dietmar Walther,

    Well I am using JTAG, and I want to erase all the data on the MCU so that it seems as though it has never been programmed before.
    So what I did is as follow :
    So I programmed a flank of products in which there is the MSP430F5438A, and then erased it, but then when I passed the flank through the ICT test, the test failed. The software is acting as though the MCU is damaged which I can assure you that its's not true because I can reprogram it as usual.
    I do know that once an MCU is programmed the Bootstrap loader of some MCU's can no longer be changed. So I am wondering if this applies to the MSP430F5438A, or not ?

    Kind regards,
    Iheb
  • 0 in reply to Iheb Hamdi
    TI__Genius 14165 points

    Iheb,

    the BSL memory (0x1000 - 0x17FF) comes preprogrammed from TI. Do you change or erase this memory?

    Again what memory areas you program with your image file, maybe you can provide address ranges.

    The BSL can be changed all the time on F5438A but if it is erased you need to take care to reprogram it.

  • 0 in reply to Iheb Hamdi
    Prodigy 140 points
    Hi Dietmar Walther,

    Well I am using JTAG interface : 4 wire.
    I want to erase all the parts of the flash (BSL + info +main).
    As for reading of memory content; no I haven't done that but If you provide me of a way to do that I can try. But it should the BSL part like I have said in the previous reply.

    Kind regards,
    Iheb
  • 0 in reply to Dietmar Walther
    Prodigy 140 points
    Hi Dietmar Walther,

    Well I don't think I have modified the BSL section as the MCU still gets erased and programmed without any mishap happening. We are not sure which part is different between a fresh never programmed MCU and one that has been programmed once and then got its data erased.

    Best regards,
    Iheb
  • 0 in reply to Iheb Hamdi
    TI__Genius 14165 points
    Iheb,

    which SW do you use Elprotronics FET-Pro? Please post a picutre and I can show you how to read out?

    I'm still no 100% sure if I understand your problem. Maybe to clarify.

    1. If you use a fresh part it comes erased for info and main memory but preprogrammed with standard TI BSL.
    2. then you program it with your application code using GANG and 4 wire JTAG
    3. afterwards your ICT is fail
    4. now you searching for a way to erase it right?

    But in your last post you say you can erase and reprogram so where is the problem?

    So please provide picture of you programming tool. Alternativly you can download FET-Pro Lite and erase it.

    Best regards,
    Dietmar
  • 0 in reply to Dietmar Walther
    Prodigy 140 points

    Hi Dietmar Walther,

    Well, that's not the right sequence. It's more like this :

    1. I program a fresh MCU as you described it with my application code using GANG and 4 wire JTAG

    2. now I want it to go through the IC test once again so whether i erase the MCU or not, the ICT test is still fail. I was asked to check if erasing the frimware changes anything in the ICT test but unfortunately it did not.

    3. now am searching for a way to erase it so it goes back to how it came from IT. In other words, erased info and main.

    Where are using this GANG.

    Kind regards,

    Iheb

  • 0 in reply to Iheb Hamdi
    TI__Genius 14165 points

    Hi Iheb,

    So in this SW on the right site (marked red) you have an erase button and a verify buttion. If you erase it does the erase verify is pass? If yes I would assume its erased.

    Via the READ button you can read you memory.


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