JTAG chain not seen unless factory_load switch is set

Thanks for the link. The BTS "Erase Flash" feature looks like it only erases a single sector. However, whatever configuration is used with the BTS could also be used to erase the whole flash. If the documentation includes details on the system controller memory map, you should be able to use that via JTAG to erase the flash (the max5.zip has the source, so you can figure it out if needed). However, you should also be able to follow the instructions in Appendix A of the User Guide to restore the board to its factory default state. I'll often do that step as soon as I get a board, just to ensure I have all the correct images. You can restore the MAX V system controller image too.

Cheers,

Dave

Now I'm wondering about the MAX II Byte Blaster II. The LED that is stuck on is driven by the MAX II .. does it have internal FLASH ?

The attached section of the schematic indicates SCTX is the signal stuck on. ( yellow highlight ). There is a mismatch in the schematic

since the schematic says the associated LED is D9 but the silkscreen on my board says LED D8.

I may have to bring up the .brd file to determine which signal / LED is the actual one stuck on.

Anyone have any experience with the MAXII Byte Blaster ... is the RTL design available for me to determine why that LED would be stuck

on when I try JTAG operations and the SW4.3 , "factory_load" is not set on ie user mode ? ... does that mean I have some code in

the FLASH for the FPGA + NIOS that is loading on power up and shutting down the opening the JTAG loop or somehow shutting down JTAG

even when I only have the FPGA in the JTAG path . ie all other JTAG devices bypassed ? That us what the factory inferred .

Thanks in advance , Bob.

Also , any hints on getting the BTS to work ... ? I thought I could do a visual check on the FLASH contents on the card that is acting up

vs the good Arria V starter kit card.

--- Quote Start ---

Now I'm wondering about the MAX II Byte Blaster II. The LED that is stuck on is driven by the MAX II .. does it have internal FLASH ?

--- Quote End ---

Wrong terminology; the circuit you provided an image of is a "USB-Blaster II".

The Cypress FX2 has internal memory and the MAX II has internal memory. Both of these devices need to be correctly programmed with USB-Blaster II firmware (which is proprietary to Altera).

--- Quote Start ---

The attached section of the schematic indicates SCTX is the signal stuck on. ( yellow highlight ). There is a mismatch in the schematic

since the schematic says the associated LED is D9 but the silkscreen on my board says LED D8.

I may have to bring up the .brd file to determine which signal / LED is the actual one stuck on.

--- Quote End ---

SC = SystemConsole, so my guess is that this is the SystemConsole communications interface transmitter LED.

--- Quote Start ---

Anyone have any experience with the MAXII Byte Blaster ... is the RTL design available for me to determine why that LED would be stuck

on when I try JTAG operations and the SW4.3 , "factory_load" is not set on ie user mode ? ... does that mean I have some code in

the FLASH for the FPGA + NIOS that is loading on power up and shutting down the opening the JTAG loop or somehow shutting down JTAG

even when I only have the FPGA in the JTAG path . ie all other JTAG devices bypassed ? That us what the factory inferred .

Also , any hints on getting the BTS to work ... ? I thought I could do a visual check on the FLASH contents on the card that is acting up

vs the good Arria V starter kit card.

--- Quote End ---

I'd recommend filing a Service Request and talking with someone at Altera directly.

If you're seeing differences between two Arria V starter kits, then its possible you have damaged one :(

Cheers,

Dave

Ok ... yes it is a USB-Blaster II ... I'm thinking about the factory comment ... that the application I programmed the FLASH with may be causing trouble.

That is a convoluted case of FLASH corruption ... so I will try to write the FLASH using the update portal with a minimum FPGA code to flash a LED and no NIOS II core.

I will try that and see if it helps.

I went to the Update Portal and re flashed the HW FLASH image the current FLASH contents may be configuring the FPGA and running NIOS II SW causing some

weird JTAG "side effect" where the JTAG chain was no longer intact.

Once I did this , the application came FPGA application came up running from power up, the JTAG chain check from the tools drop-down menu worked and I was able to program the same FPGA code via the tools programmer.

Thanks for your help ... I still need to get the FLASH programmed with NIOS II SW + boot loader and have the FLASH read interface in the FPGA that I copied from the BTS example.

Thanks for all your help. Bob.