Microchip ICD2 with CCS Compiler - won't load DLL

[Andy-in-Cornwall]

Hi,

I'm trying to use an ICD2, I've downloaded the plugin / DLL from here into the PICC directory:

https://www.ccsinfo.com/downloads.php#mplabPlugIn

But when I try programming or debugging I get the error message "unable to open device: The MPLAB API for this device failed to load."

Any ideas? I have three ICD2s so it seems a shame not to use them!

Thanks,

Andy

[Ttelmah]

You understand that this uses MPLAB, to actually do the programming?.
The latest releases of MPLAB no longer support the ICD2. So you need to
load an older release that supports this (MPLAB 8.92).
The plug in, uses the programming code inside MPLAB to work.
It is the API to do this that it is not finding.

[Andy-in-Cornwall]

Ah...it's probably my version of MPLAB that's too new..d'oh, should have thought of that!

Thanks,

Andy

[jaka]

When you install MPLAB 8.92, check out this document:

C:/Program Files (x86)/Microchip/MPLAB IDE/Drivers64/Vista64/ddvista64_icd2.htm

It guides how to install ICD2 drivers on 64-bit Windos systems. An important point is that not all ICD2 revisions are supported by this driver! Only the revision mentioned in the above document is supported, that is, MPLAB ICD 2 (P/N 10-00397)

The readme file in parent directory lists the compatibility as:
Use these drivers for 64-bit Windows operating systems only, i.e.:
* Windows XP 64
* Windows Vista 64
* Windows 7 64

Of course Win 10 and 11 were not yet around when 8.92 was released, but I think they will work

[Andy-in-Cornwall]

All working thanks! I couldn't get the ICD2 USB interface to work in Win 11 but has just programmed nicely over a USB-RS232 adapter - after a bit of setting up (setting adapter COM port to 1 and baud to 19200) and the usual turning the PC off and on again a few times.

Cheers,

Andy