error message: "can't verify device number 1"

Hi,

I'm a relatively new Altera user, so I could be way off here, but I believe Frank has already mentioned 'programming cycles' with reference to the UFM (user flash memory).

In the MaxII device handbook it states the maximum number of programming cycles to the UFM and CFM is 100 (max II handbook, table 5-3). As frank has already pointed out, if you have logic that is writing and rewriting to the UFM you could quickly reach this limit, making the UFM nonprogrammable.

The limit is the same for both the user flash and configuration flash, but of course you can only program the configuration via JTAG/ISP - one could implement a design that rewrites to the flash constantly, making it unusable within a matter of seconds of power up(!!)

Its a bummer, because I was planning on using these devices for extensive bench testing of bespoke hardware, which requires changing the configuration quite often. Even without the UFM, I would probably use up the rewrite cycles in a matter of months.

As I said, could be way off, or repeating what others have said, but its a little caveat/gotcha that I'm used to spotting in datasheets.

BuriedCode