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Altera_Forum's avatar
Altera_Forum
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9 years ago

USB Blaster II will program but not verify, but USB Blaster will....

I have both the USB Blaster and USB Blaster II. We've been using the Blaster II due to the faster programming speeds. But for some reason I cannot get multiple different and similar boards to program/verify with the USB Blaster II anymore. I've changed the clock speeds using the jtagconfig --setparam 1 JtagClock 6M command however it doesn't work. I've tried the following clock speeds 500k, 1M, 6M and 16M.

I can program and it will work. "Programmer Operation was Successful"

However, when I program/verify, I get "Verification Failed for Device number 1"

Any thoughts?

6 Replies

  • Altera_Forum's avatar
    Altera_Forum
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    What device are you using? Some CPLD can disable TDO which will prevent you verifying it.

    Cheers,

    Alex
  • Altera_Forum's avatar
    Altera_Forum
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    We're using a Stratix III EP3SL1501152C2N and the EPCS64SI16N to program over active serial. We're also using a Stratix V 5SGSMD5K3F40C3N and the EPCQ256SI16N to program over active serial. Neither will program/verify with the USB Blaster II

  • Altera_Forum's avatar
    Altera_Forum
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    Another couple of interesting points (or not...) is that after the device is programmed with the USB Blaster, I can switch to the USB Blaster II and perform a verify and it verifies successfully. I can also perform the "Examine" function with the USB Blaster II and it reads back the correct check sum. Finally I can Program and Verify (as long as it is the same file/checksum) and it works successfully. As soon as a new file with a different checksum is loaded, the Program / Verify function does not work on the USB Blaster II

  • Altera_Forum's avatar
    Altera_Forum
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    Another update:

    I've used the following to program:

    Quartus 14.1 programmer (Licensed Version)

    Quartus 14.1 stand-alone programmer

    Quartus Prime 16.1 Stand Alone programmer

    All have behaved the same and failed to verify.

    Also tried to program from my co-workers PC and it failed to program / verify as well.

    Wondering if this a Windows 10 issue?
  • Altera_Forum's avatar
    Altera_Forum
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    --- Quote Start ---

    We're using a Stratix III EP3SL1501152C2N and the EPCS64SI16N to program over active serial.

    --- Quote End ---

    Your latest findings in post# 4 suggest a software problem, without this observations I had guessed about a signal quality problem. AS programming interface is quite sensitive to ringing DCLK, a faster clock driver in USB Blaster II might cause it.
  • Altera_Forum's avatar
    Altera_Forum
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    After speaking with Altera, I had to do a full erase on the configuration chips, with the TCK set to 6M. After confirming that the IC was erased, I was able to program/verify with two different PCB's using the USB Blaster II. I don't have an explanation as to why the config chips got corrupted or why the USB Blaster would work and not the USB Blaster II. But for now I am able to once again use the USB Blaster II.