Erase before Program 'F873A

[david smith]

Just recently I've discovered that I have to
Erase Flash Device before programming parts.
I've never done this before a week ago.

MPLAB(R) IDE v5.70.40
PicStart Plus
Firmware Version 3.00.40, Software DLL Version 2.70.40
CCS PCM C Compiler, Version 3.091

Can someone tell me what's different?
Is it the part, a #DEFINE setting, or...?

Thanks.
___________________________
This message was ported from CCS's old forum
Original Post ID: 13976

[PCM programmer]

:=Just recently I've discovered that I have to
:=Erase Flash Device before programming parts.
:=I've never done this before a week ago.
:=
:=MPLAB(R) IDE v5.70.40
:=PicStart Plus
:=Firmware Version 3.00.40, Software DLL Version 2.70.40
:=CCS PCM C Compiler, Version 3.091
:=
:=Can someone tell me what's different?
:=Is it the part, a #DEFINE setting, or...?
-----------------------------------------------------

Could this post be applicable ?
<a href="http://www.pic-c.com/forum/general/posts/12405.html" TARGET="_blank">http://www.pic-c.com/forum/general/posts/12405.html</a>
Were (are) you setting the Code Protect fuse ?
___________________________
This message was ported from CCS's old forum
Original Post ID: 13980

[david smith]

:=:=I...I have to
:=:=Erase Flash Device before programming parts...

:= Post 12405.html
suggests that I erase first, which is what I'm doing.
I just wonder why I've never done this before
(including reprogramming several production parts last wk;
same 'F873A device)?

:=Were (are) you setting the Code Protect fuse ?
The window says OFF.
Inline code for fuses is:
#FUSES HS,NOWDT,PUT,noLVP
#USE DELAY(clock=20000000)
___________________________
This message was ported from CCS's old forum
Original Post ID: 13982

[david smith]

:=:=I...I have to
:=:=Erase Flash Device before programming parts...

:= Post 12405.html
suggests that I erase first, which is what I'm doing.
I just wonder why I've never done this before
(including reprogramming several production parts last wk;
same 'F873A device)?

:=Were (are) you setting the Code Protect fuse ?
The window says OFF.
Inline code for fuses is:
#FUSES HS,NOWDT,PUT,noLVP
#USE DELAY(clock=20000000)
___________________________
This message was ported from CCS's old forum
Original Post ID: 13983

[PCM programmer]

:=Just recently I've discovered that I have to
:=Erase Flash Device before programming parts.
:=I've never done this before a week ago.
:=
:=MPLAB(R) IDE v5.70.40
:=PicStart Plus
:=Firmware Version 3.00.40, Software DLL Version 2.70.40
:=CCS PCM C Compiler, Version 3.091
:=
----------------------------------------------------------

The README.PLS file for your version of the firmware says this:

<PRE>
- Because of code space restrictions and speed of programming, the
PIC16F87XA and PIC16F81X algorithms do not issue an erase before
programming a location. Therefore if programming a range on these
devices, the locations will fail if that range is not blank. Read
back the device, merge the code and do a complete reprogram if
needed.
</PRE>

The "code space restrictions" have to be due to the limited
amount of space remaining in the 17C44 PIC that's used in
the PicStart-Plus. They don't want to say it right out loud,
but it looks like if your 16F87xA chip has already been
programmed once, and you want to re-program it, then you need
to erase it first. What a pain.

The basic problem is, the PicStart-Plus needs to be re-designed,
but MicroChip doesn't want to abandon their installed user base,
so they're offering firmware upgrades that are becoming less and
less functional. (Due to trying to support too many new PICs
in the remaining 17C44 code space). That's my opinion.

I guess one solution would be to use a bootloader for
development instead of the PicStart-Plus. Another solution
is to get another programmer that doesn't have the PSP's
limitations.
___________________________
This message was ported from CCS's old forum
Original Post ID: 13985