AlexS,
I think the clue here is this section of the FLASH programmer log:
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originally posted by alexs@Jan 31 2006, 05:55 AM
reading system id at address 0x021208b8: fail
id value does not match: read 0xffffffff; expected 0x1c4d06cd
timestamp value does not match: image on board is older than expected
read timestamp 1:59:59 1970/01/01; expected 6:23:33 2005/04/21
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The Standard design has a System ID Peripheral that has a unique code for that compiled design. Since the IDE read back 0xFFFFFFFF rather than the expected system ID code of 0x1C4D06CD the problem is probably on the board side. When you see a system ID of 0xFFFFFFFF or 0x00000000 this is usually a good indicator of a board setup issue.
Try to run a program from the IDE rather than flash program doing the following steps:
-Using the Quartus II programmer - program the NIOS II 1c20 Standard design on the development board
-Start up the NIOS II IDE
-Create a new Hello_world program and build it
-run/debug the new hello_world program from the IDE
When you run a program from the IDE it should also read back the system ID and verify the system on the devlopment board. If that also read 0xFFFFFFFF then do the following checks:
1) Is the board powered ON and got the right type of power supply.
2) Is a design loaded on the FPGA, to read back 0xFFFFFFFF usually indicates this type of problem. If you are loading one of the example designs, it usually has all the IOs properly mapped (and has unused IOs tri-stated)
3) Verify that the USB-Blaster is properly connected to the JTAG header - check all wire connections.
4) make sure the USB-Blaster is connected directly to the PC USB port, some unpowered USB hubs seems to corrupt the USB signal when you have a lot of data being downloaded or uploaded from the devlopment board to the IDE program.
5) does your board power-up and load the "Safe" design when you press the "Force Safe" Button? this design will give you some shifting LEDs, rotating seven segment display and the LCD display if hooked it up will scroll a message.
You should also look at the Flash programer Users Guide:
http://www.altera.com/literature/ug/ug_nio..._programmer.pdf (
http://www.altera.com/literature/ug/ug_nios2_flash_programmer.pdf)
(Check out appendix D on troubleshooting flash programming. It cites your problem in the troubleshooting section and what may cause it and how to solve it)
Regards,
ATJ