Eraseprotect is enabled and readback protection setting is ALL, can't recover device. and JLinkARM DLL error

[Rana Roy]

Issue:
I am trying to flash the zephyr sample code into custom board with nrf52840 chip. I am frequently getting the recovery failed error or the JLinkARM DLL error. I have attached the logs for reference:

18:10:54.990 Using nrfutil device to communicate with target via JLink
18:10:56.580 Reading readback protection status for Application core
18:10:56.581 Reading readback protection status for Application core 0%
18:10:56.648 Failed to reading readback protection status for application core core. Error: [object Object], message: Batch task protection-get failed, [jlink] INVALID_OPERATION
18:10:56.701 Error: Failed with exit code 1. One or more batch tasks failed: - [jlink] INVALID_OPERATION, code: Nrfjlink. Message: Batch task protection-get failed, [jlink] INVALID_OPERATION.
18:10:56.702 Error: Failed with exit code 1. One or more batch tasks failed: - [jlink] INVALID_OPERATION, code: Nrfjlink. Message: Batch task protection-get failed, [jlink] INVALID_OPERATION.


Environment:
Development environment: Ubuntu 22.04
Application: Zephyr sample code
Command: west flash --recover / nrfjprog --reset
JLink debugger: Jlink, Jlink Edu mini
Also tried flashing the hex file using the NRF connect desktop app

It would be great if I can get any reference to resolve this issue.

[Håkon Alseth]

Hi,

 

Does your custom board not have inductors for the DCDC?

The default behavior for the nrf52840dk in zephyr is to enable the DCDC, and if your custom board does not have the components mounted, it will effectively be a in a reset loop.

 

To recover from this scenario requires you to run nrfjprog in a loop, as described here:

https://devzone.nordicsemi.com/f/nordic-q-a/45078/nrf52832-not-connected-anymore-after-first-trying-to-debug-keil/177579#177579

 

Could you try this?

 

For your project configuration, you should then set:

CONFIG_BOARD_ENABLE_DCDC=n
CONFIG_BOARD_ENABLE_DCDC_HV=n

 

Kind regards,

Håkon

[Rana Roy]

Thank you Håkon Alseth for your quick support. Yes, we have the DCDC components placed on our board. 

[Håkon Alseth]

Hi,

 

Thank you for confirming.

If the firmware running in the device is continuously resetting, for instance due to an assertion early on in the boot process, it can be hard to recover the device. I would recommend that you try to method that I previously posted to see if you are able to recover your board.

 

Kind regards,

Håkon