CCS/MSP430G2553: Issue with the "Could not find MSP-FET430UIF on specified COM port" on Windows 10 Enterprise (Lots of Detail)

Tyler Holliday

Part Number: MSP430G2553

Tool/software: Code Composer Studio

I have been having this problem for the last year and have found no solution to the problem. I am a graduate student who is using a Windows 10 Enterprise computer as my main research station and I have administrative access. Also I have heard of the problem occurring on other computers on my campus and most solved the problem by changing computer. Changing computer is not an option for me.

Problem: Whenever I enter the debug interface on CCS I can connect to an MSP430G2553 so long as my system has not left a waking state. However, the moment my computer enters an idle state (shutdown, sleep, hibernate, etc.) I can no longer connect to the MSP430, getting the error listed in the title.

Attempted solutions: The following is a list of solutions I have tried according to related threads on the forum.

Uninstall and reinstall of TI drivers and CCS. This works until my computer goes into a low power state.
Disabling xHCI in BIOS. My bios does not list the option and my school IT department has the computer configured a specific way so I don't want to mess with any other settings.
Changing versions of CCS. Again this works temporarily but the issue persists across versions of CCS (v5-v9.1 tested)
Clearing out unused drivers. This made no difference.
Trying a different USB port. Same issue across all of my ports, no matter USB 2.0 or USB 3.0.
Running CCS in Compatibility Mode. No difference across any of the versions.

Workaround: The only way I have been able to get around the issue has been to use my personal laptop (Windows 10 Home) when I need to program MSP430s. This is not ideal for obvious reasons. My laptops have not shown the issue whatsoever.

Further details: Here are some things I have noticed but am not sure how they correlate to the issue I am having.

When I connect an MSP430 I see the UART connection listed under COM Ports in Device Manager but there is no sign of the MSP-FET430UIF.
Lately when I plug the MSP430 Launchpad in, the GSPY Devices category appears in Device Manager with Virtual HID Minidriver Collection as the listed device. This goes away when I unplug the MSP430.
If I disable or uninstall the Virtual HID Minidriver Collection, CCS cannot see the FET.

System details: Dell Optiplex 7040, Intel i7-6700, 16GB DDR4, Windows 10 Enterprise

over 6 years ago

0 Ling Zhu2 over 6 years ago

TI__Genius 9570 points

Hi Tyler,

See if https://www.windowscentral.com/how-prevent-windows-10-turning-usb-devices helps.

Ling

0 Tyler Holliday over 6 years ago in reply to Ling Zhu2

Prodigy 60 points

Ling, I made the changes you suggested and it made no difference. I still get the error.

0 Ling Zhu2 over 6 years ago in reply to Tyler Holliday

TI__Genius 9570 points

Hi Tyler,

Are you using MSP430G2 Launchpad?

What CCS version are you using?

Ling

0 Tyler Holliday over 6 years ago in reply to Ling Zhu2

Prodigy 60 points

Ling,

I am using the MSP430G2 Launchpad and CCS 9.10 to program my MSP430G2553s. I have also tried using CCS 6, 7, and 8. All three exhibit the same behavior with being able to connect to the Launchpad initially but when my computer goes into a low power state I end up with the error.

Tyler

0 Ling Zhu2 over 6 years ago in reply to Tyler Holliday

TI__Genius 9570 points

Tyler,

If you are using G2553 launchpad please choose new version http://www.ti.com/tool/MSP-EXP430G2ET

Thanks,

Ling

0 Tyler Holliday over 6 years ago in reply to Ling Zhu2

Prodigy 60 points

Ling,

While I realize there is a new version of the Launchpad, that still doesn't explain why when I program the boards on another computer it works just fine. I can even program the boards using the newest version of CCS on the other computer. Plus, the launchpad doesn't show up as a GSPY Device in my Device Manager on the other computer. I have only come across the issue I am having on my main research computer.

Tyler

0 Ling Zhu2 over 6 years ago in reply to Tyler Holliday

TI__Genius 9570 points

Hi Tyler,

A few other things you can try:

Use another G2 Launchpad to see if it works.

Use another IED like IAR to see if it works.

Uninstall and reinstall drivers in the computer device manager.

Ling

0 Tyler Holliday over 6 years ago in reply to Ling Zhu2

Prodigy 60 points

Ling,

I uninstalled drivers and reinstalled them via Device Manager and it did not change anything. I will work on trying another IED shortly. I have been pursuing this issue on a Windows 10 forum and found this detail:

It seems that the Launchpad is showing up under the two categories, according to the device IDs. I still have not found a reason for why it would show up under GSPY Devices, which is from G-Spy Co, LTD.

Tyler

0 Ling Zhu2 over 6 years ago in reply to Tyler Holliday

TI__Genius 9570 points

Hi Tyler,

Sorry for the late reply, I am going to fowoard this post to Tools team.

Thanks,

Ling

0 Gary Gao over 6 years ago in reply to Ling Zhu2

TI__Mastermind 39690 points

Hi Tyler

Please try this low level driver

Low level drivers

http://software-dl.ti.com/msp430/msp430_public_sw/mcu/msp430/MSP430_FET_Drivers/latest/index_FDS.html

0 Tyler Holliday over 6 years ago in reply to Gary Gao

Prodigy 60 points

Gary,

Since I wasn't getting anywhere with finding the driver issue, I had my school's IT Department take my computer and reset it. I will try your proposed solution if the same issue persists when I get the computer back.

Tyler

0 Ling Zhu2 over 6 years ago in reply to Tyler Holliday

TI__Genius 9570 points

Hi Tyler,

I am going to close this post for now. If you have issue when you get your computer back, you can either reopen this post or submit a new one.

Thanks,

Ling

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CCS/MSP430G2553: Issue with the "Could not find MSP-FET430UIF on specified COM port" on Windows 10 Enterprise (Lots of Detail)