Xilinx "Programming failed" message

[Patrick Robin]

Hello,

I have been using Web ISE for over a year to program Xilinx CPLDs
XC9572XL

Everything was working fine for hundreds of units until my computer
crashed and I had to resinstall ISE. I now get a "Programming failed"
error. Everything else seems to work as far as communicating with the
chip using the parallel cable. Impact detects the chip, I can query
the ID compute the checksum (zero) and erase it fine.

But I get the "Programming failed error" when I try to program chips.
I tried a number of brand new CPLDs. Is there a way to get more
specific error messages. At this point there are many variables since
I had to resintall Windows XP and ISE.

I tried these versions of web ISE: 5.1, 5.2 and 6.1.


The version I had working before I crashed was probably 5.2 since I
downloaded mid june 2003.

Is it possible for the cable to only fail during program and
everything else works? Any specifie signals I need to check?

I recreated the .jed file with ISE 6.1 to make sure is wasn't
corrupted.

Any help appreciated.

Thank You

Patrick

 

[Jon Elson]

Patrick Robin wrote:

Hello,

I have been using Web ISE for over a year to program Xilinx CPLDs
XC9572XL

Everything was working fine for hundreds of units until my computer
crashed and I had to resinstall ISE. I now get a "Programming failed"
error. Everything else seems to work as far as communicating with the
chip using the parallel cable. Impact detects the chip, I can query
the ID compute the checksum (zero) and erase it fine.

But I get the "Programming failed error" when I try to program chips.
I tried a number of brand new CPLDs. Is there a way to get more
specific error messages. At this point there are many variables since
I had to resintall Windows XP and ISE.


You didn't change the computer, did you? Some motherboard parallel port

chips do not work well AT ALL with the parallel cable III. I have clearly
demonstrated it is the motherboard, as I can swap out the computer,
using all
the other hardware exactly as it was, and get a perfect programming
every time.
I think it is MB's with the UMC parallel port chip that have the problem.

Jon

 

[ram]

Did you install the service packs
I had some similar problem where my earlier synthesised design gave me
error after re installation.I found that i didnt load the service
packs.
Hope this works for you
Ram

Jon Elson <jmelson@artsci.wustl.edu> wrote in message news:<3F8C7292.6000008@artsci.wustl.edu>...

Patrick Robin wrote:

Hello,

I have been using Web ISE for over a year to program Xilinx CPLDs
XC9572XL

Everything was working fine for hundreds of units until my computer
crashed and I had to resinstall ISE. I now get a "Programming failed"
error. Everything else seems to work as far as communicating with the
chip using the parallel cable. Impact detects the chip, I can query
the ID compute the checksum (zero) and erase it fine.

But I get the "Programming failed error" when I try to program chips.
I tried a number of brand new CPLDs. Is there a way to get more
specific error messages. At this point there are many variables since
I had to resintall Windows XP and ISE.


You didn't change the computer, did you? Some motherboard parallel port
chips do not work well AT ALL with the parallel cable III. I have clearly
demonstrated it is the motherboard, as I can swap out the computer,
using all
the other hardware exactly as it was, and get a perfect programming
every time.
I think it is MB's with the UMC parallel port chip that have the problem.

Jon

 

[Jon Elson]

ram wrote:

Did you install the service packs
I had some similar problem where my earlier synthesised design gave me
error after re installation.I found that i didnt load the service
packs.


The problem I had had absolutely nothing to do with service packs.

It was entirely caused by either voltage levels or timing differences
between different parallel port chips in the motherboards. I have found
motherboards that work fine in these applications, and I will just
hang on to them until they die.

Jon