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Altera_Forum's avatar
Altera_Forum
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14 years ago

Problems downloading ELF

Hello,

I downloaded the Quartus II last version and the service pack (legacy) to design hardware for a FPGA (Cyclone II EP2C20F484C6N) and I selected this device when I was creating the project in Quartus II.

I have problems to download the ELF file from the NIOS II with a Hello World. The error only says that "Downloading ELF Process failed", that's all. I saw several times the time-limited OpenCore version advertisement in warnings and I am not sure if this is not working because of that. Furthermore, it is doing the synthesis without EDA Netlist Writer (if I select in Settings->EDA Tool Settings->Modelsim VHDL, it says "can't generate netlist output files because the license for encrypted file "path/cpu_0.vhd" is not available").

I don't know how to fix this :(

Does anyone have any suggestion?

Thank you in advance.

3 Replies

  • Altera_Forum's avatar
    Altera_Forum
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    14 years ago

    Do you have the opencore evaluation window when you configure the FPGA? In that case don't close it or you won't be able to upload your software to it.

    What core are you using? Is it one of your designs?
  • Altera_Forum's avatar
    Altera_Forum
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    14 years ago

    Hello Daixiwen,

    thank you for your answer.

    If I don't close a window that appears, as you explained, I can download the ELF :)

    I can run this, but it is weird because this project was working at my university on Altera software with all the licenses, but now, it is not working here.

    It is an LCD controller, I am using: NIOS II, JTAG UART, EPCS flash controller, SDRAM, ALTPLL and LCD module (mine). The registers and memory seem to be well-configured :S Is it ok if it is compiling without doing the EDA Netlist Writer? I am a beginner and I am a bit lost with some stuff.

    Thank you very much for your help!
  • Altera_Forum's avatar
    Altera_Forum
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    14 years ago

    The EDA Netlist writer is only necessary if you are using an external tool or simulator, and for regular uses it isn't necessary.

    Among the components you are using, the Nios II and the SDRAM controller are the two that require a license, if I'm not mistaken. For the Nios II, you can select the e core that doesn't require a license (with Quartus >= 10.0 IIRC).