Cyclone V E AS Configuration with MX25L256

Trying to configure a Cyclone V 5CEFA2U19I7 with an MX25L256 fails. The device is MX25L25645GZ2I-08G. It is configured to use Active Serial x4. Here is more information.

• Programming .SOF through JTAG works fine.
• We can create and program the MX25L256 with a .JIC file.
• The Examine reads back the same data that is programmed with the JIC.
• We have tried Active Serial x1 and Active Serial X4.
• We have tried AS Fast and AS Standard.
• We have tried Quartus Lite 20.1.1.720 and 21.1.0.842.
• We have tried the Internal Oscillator at 100 MHz and at 12.5MHz.

The behavior is the same. After power on, the FPGA reads the SPI FLASH. After the read is complete, the DCLK changes to the configuration clock frequency. Before configuration completes, nSTATUS goes low and the FPGA re-starts configuration. All power rails look good.