Bricked PCA10056 52840 DK

[fe7565]

I have a  PCA10056 (nRF52840 DK) and while programming it with a UART example from the nRF5_SDK_17.1.0_ddde560 using Segger Embedded Studio for Arm  5.42a, it will not show up on the COM anymore in Windows. 

I do a RESET hold and power of/on and then LED5 flashes green, but only if I plug the USB in from the long side of the board (which suppsoed to be the USB application port).  If I plug in from the short side in the USB, I do not get LED5  to come on, even if I do a RESET and hold off/on.  If I plug one USB cable in the long end and do the RESET off/on to start LED5 flash green...and also plug in another USB cable in the short side USB port... then when I unplug the USB cable on re long side, the LED5 remains fleshing.

When I do the RESET and power off/on, the BOOTLOADER mass storage shows up for a few seconds.  I tired to drop previously good hex apps on it, but it does not have enough space, shows only 108KB of 128KB free.  So I cannot drop the 1MB  j-link-ob-sam3u128-v2-nordicsemi-170724.bin on it, not any hex files that are more than 100KB.  Also, the mass storage only stays active for a few seconds then disappears on its own while making the Windows sound of a USB port disconnect.  I cannot see any devices in NRF Connect for Desktop (latest version) Programmer and  Quick Start.  

When I connect the J-Link Mini-Edu to the DK board's SWIO, SWCLK, GND, and separate 3-5V V-in, I can see a J-link device in Desktop Programmer and Quick Start.  But, the Programmer cannot identify it.  It says I should do a full erase to free up the protected memory. When I try a full erase, it says it's protected and will not let me do it. 

I checked out these guides, but no avail.  I have not yet done a njprog- erase on comand line tool, I would need some guidance on that.  Or if I should use any other J-LINK programs/terminals..  Segger Studio also did not show any options to use for J-Link Connect and shows no COM ports.  

Rebooted the laptop, and other MCU boards work, like an Nrf52840 dongle (PCA10059). 

 nRf52840 unseen under Device Manager. How to restore? 

 factory reset nrf52-dk 

[fe7565]

The files inside the USB mass storage that appears in Windows for a few seconds when doing a RESET:

-fseventsd         (yellow folder)

.metadata_never_index

.Trashes

bootload.htm

[Priyanka]

Hi Tom,

Could you tell me the revision on your DK? (white sticker on DK)

When you connect the J2 USB and normally switch on the DK, is it being detected ?

If you have any other DK could you please try flashing the problematic DK using that, or if you have any other debugger, could you try flashing your DK using that? This will help us isolate the issue to the Debug chip.

Regards,

Priyanka

[fe7565]

I connected the 5340 DK with the 52840 DK in this way: RE: External programming Using nRF52-DK 

I am using the P20 method: devzone.nordicsemi.com/.../programming-custom-nrf5340-board-using-nrf5340-development-kit

But nRF Connect Desktop -> Programmer can see the 5340 DK board, and if I remove the VTG cable then it maps out the memory of the 5340DK. But when I re-connect (as it should be) the VTG cable, it says "core protection status is unknown...etc  "Press erase all button to recover protected memory"  . But in Programmer (nRF Connect Desktop)  if I try to "erase all", I get this red error message:

01:31:27.237 Failed "reading readback protection status for application core". Error: code: 1, description: Generic, message: Batch task protection-get failed, [Probe] Device error: Failed to write DebugPort register 2: Unknown Error in J-Link DLL (error code =-1

EDIT:  let me check again, because I connected the 5349DK SWDCLK and SDWIO from P20 with the P20 of the bricked 52840DK, and I believe those do not connect to the SOC. 

[Priyanka]

Hi Tom,

Did you try connecting as I had mentioned in my previous reply? Do you get issues then too?

-Priyanka

[fe7565]

I followed your directions: 5430DK Debug Out to 52840DK Debug In, and it worked as far as able to see 52840DK in Programmer and flashed the hex file "blinky" on it.

The four LEDs flash, but Windows does not recognize it us a mass storage device and also Programmer cannot see it either without the 5340DK acting as the debugger probe.  Also, the nRF Connect Desktop -> Quick Start does not recognize it either as a 52840DK development board.  Is there a bootloader hex or some other firmware to restore the factory nRF52840DK firmware on the board? 

Is there one in the nRF5_SDK_17.1.0_ddde560 example folder? 

EDIT: uploaded the FDU secure bootloader BLE S140 image and it works, but still does not show up as development board.  How to restore it to have USB and mass storage firmware, like it came when new?

[fe7565]

Now that I can program the 52840DK board again, how to restore the factory firmware image, as if came when new?

[Priyanka]

Hi Tom,

Are you asking whether it's possible to re-upload the J-Link firmware onto your debugger chip?

If your interface MCU is the SEGGER chip (this should be your case, since you mentioned you have the v2.0.1 DK, but please re-check), then it should be possible to re-flash the J-Link fw using the programmer app, by putting the DK in Bootloader mode. You should be able to find the appropriate firmware from the following location:

But if the interface MCU is the 5340 SoC, then I'm afraid it's not possible top re-flash the J-Link fw onto it.

Regards,

Priyanka