Forum Discussion

Altera_Forum's avatar
Altera_Forum
Icon for Honored Contributor rankHonored Contributor
13 years ago

Installation DE1 Board on Windows Xp

Hello to everyone,

I've got some problem to install the DE1 Board on Windows Xp. I bought two weeks ago from the site Altera the Cyclone II starter kit

that contains Quartus II, other utility for the board.

I downloaded the Quartus II version 9.1 sp2 (for accademic use) and i start to project some simply circuit / file on VHDL language, so i want to start

to test VHDL project with DE1 board but when i switch on it Windows Xp tell me that there is an USB Input but there is necessary Driver for install it....

i saw on forum that driver are on the directory Quartus II / driver / usb blaster

but on Cyclone II starter kit there is not USB BLASTER there is only a normal usb cable for connect pc -> board.

Consider that Windows is virtualized on VirtualBox because i use a Mac. but i think that is not a problem because all other usb input works well

Hoping to receive answer thanks a lot for your cooperation

best Regards

Michele

5 Replies

  • Altera_Forum's avatar
    Altera_Forum
    Icon for Honored Contributor rankHonored Contributor
    13 years ago

    Hi Michele,

    For others reading this thread. It appears that the "Terasic DE1" board

    http://www.terasic.com.tw/cgi-bin/page/archive.pl?no=83

    is also sold as the "Altera Cyclone II Starter Kit"

    http://www.altera.com/products/devkits/altera/kit-cyc2-2c20n.html

    According to the schematic:

    http://www.altera.com/products/devkits/altera/documents/cy2_fpga_starter_board_schematic.pdf

    The board contains a USB-Blaster, so you can simply install the drivers located in the directory you referred to.

    I have had success using VirtualBox with Windows XP hosts and Linux hosts, but had trouble with Windows 7 (it would not release the USB-Blaster to the VM). I have not tried with a MAC, but if it allows the VM to capture the USB-Blaster interface, it should work fine.

    What happened that you could not install the Windows driver for the USB-Blaster? (Which version of Windows is in the VM?)

    Cheers,

    Dave
  • Altera_Forum's avatar
    Altera_Forum
    Icon for Honored Contributor rankHonored Contributor
    13 years ago

    Dear Dave,

    Thanks for your answer, i installed windows Xp but when the operating system identify the device told me that is an USB <-> SERIAL. So i try to install driver but the S.o. say that the file didn't contain any information about installation of DE1.

    consider that i have a normal usb-cable NOT USB-BLASTER.

    Cheers

    Michele
  • Altera_Forum's avatar
    Altera_Forum
    Icon for Honored Contributor rankHonored Contributor
    13 years ago

    Hi Michele,

    --- Quote Start ---

    Thanks for your answer, i installed windows Xp but when the operating system identify the device told me that is an USB <-> SERIAL. So i try to install driver but the S.o. say that the file didn't contain any information about installation of DE1.

    consider that i have a normal usb-cable NOT USB-BLASTER.

    --- Quote End ---

    If the FTDI FT245B device was somehow erased, or not programmed correctly, then it will show up as a USB-to-Serial device.

    Where did you obtain this board?

    Go to FTDI's web site and download their FTDI programmer (FT_PROG);

    http://www.ftdichip.com/support/utilities.htm

    Then ...

    1. Run the program and select "Devices->Scan and Parse". It should detect an FT232/FT245 device with a blank EEPROM.

    2. Select the device, and right-click, "Apply Template->From File", and select the attached .XML file (rename it before using it).

    3. Right click and select "Program Device"

    4. Right click and select "Cycle Port"

    This will program the FTDI device on the board, and then "reconnect" it to your PC. It will then be detected as a USB-Blaster, and assuming the MAX CPLD is still programmed, the USB-Blaster drivers should work correctly.

    If the XML does not work for some reason (FT_PROG's format changes depending on the version), then the information you need to manually enter prior to programming is;

    USB Device Descriptors:

    Custom VID/PID

    Vendor ID: 0x09FB

    Product ID: 0x6001

    USB String Descriptors:

    Manufacturer: Altera

    Product: USB-Blaster

    Serial: BLASTR01 (or whatever 8 character string you like)

    Cheers,

    Dave
  • Altera_Forum's avatar
    Altera_Forum
    Icon for Honored Contributor rankHonored Contributor
    13 years ago

    Thanks Dave now DE1 finally work! I bought it from DIGI-KEY :)

    Michele
  • Altera_Forum's avatar
    Altera_Forum
    Icon for Honored Contributor rankHonored Contributor
    13 years ago

    Hi Michele,

    --- Quote Start ---

    Thanks Dave now DE1 finally work!

    --- Quote End ---

    Excellent.

    --- Quote Start ---

    I bought it from DIGI-KEY :)

    --- Quote End ---

    That is strange then, I would expect the hardware to have been tested by Terasic before being sent to Digikey.

    I'm glad to hear its working now.

    Cheers,

    Dave