Error flashing custom board w/ nRF52832 (unable to read)

I'm trying to flash a custom board (schematics in this ticket - Schematic/Layout review request) using a Jlink EDU mini and keep running into an error message saying it's failing to read or erase memory. I've seen suggestions on other posts that running nrfjprog --recover can remove the read protection mechanism, but when I ran that (with --log, which I've attached) it also failed.

 

4274.log.log

I've had the flash process succeed sometimes, but the board doesn't act any differently to before (can't control the GPIO) so I'm assuming that's another issue.

Any ideas for what could be causing this?

Thanks

  • If you open an nRF Connect terminal for this build and run the same west command there, will the flashing procedure fail the same way there, or does this only happen when using VS Code's flash option?

    Best regards,

    Simon

  • Hi again

    I was away last week, but in the meantime I've gotten some suggestions from the developers on this: 

    Can you try using the VS Code extension UI to build and flash using sysbuild on your end? 

    Please confirm whether building with sysbuild and flashing the entire image works or not on your side here.

    Best regards,

    Simon

  • Hey,

    Sorry for the long wait for my support info. Not sure if it's still helpful but here it is:

    // IMPORTANT: The following data can contain sensitive or confidential information about your environment.
    // If you do not want others to see this information, make sure to remove it before sharing the data.
    
    // For help and support, visit Nordic Semiconductor's DevZone at https://devzone.nordicsemi.com/.
    
    {
      "platform": {
        "os": "win32",
        "osVersion": "Windows 11 Home",
        "osKernel": "10.0.26100",
        "vscode": "1.99.0",
        "electron": "34.3.2",
        "node": "v20.18.3"
      },
      "system": {
        "date": "2025-04-09T14:26:27.713Z",
        "vscodeRoot": "c:\\Users\\Razer\\Microsoft VS Code\\resources\\app",
        "nrfConnectForDesktopInstalled": true,
        "vscodeUptime": "00:50:09",
        "osUptime": "238:34:44",
        "cpu": "Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-8750H CPU @ 2.20GHz"
      },
      "workspace": {
        "name": "Untitled (Workspace)",
        "workspaceFile": "1735675693683",
        "folders": [
          "c:\\ncs\\Applications\\Sensor",
          "c:\\ncs\\Applications\\system_off",
          "c:\\ncs\\Applications\\blinky_1"
        ]
      },
      "sdks": [
        {
          "version": "v2.9.0",
          "path": "c:\\ncs\\v2.9.0"
        },
        {
          "version": "v2.4.0",
          "path": "c:\\ncs\\v2.4.0"
        },
        {
          "version": "v2.3.0",
          "path": "c:\\ncs\\v2.3.0"
        },
        {
          "version": "v2.2.0",
          "path": "c:\\ncs\\v2.2.0"
        },
        {
          "version": "v2.1.2",
          "path": "c:\\ncs\\v2.1.2"
        }
      ],
      "activeBuild": "c:\\ncs\\Applications\\Sensor\\custom_build\\Sensor",
      "apps": [
        {
          "workspace": "c:\\ncs\\Applications\\blinky_1",
          "uri": "c:\\ncs\\Applications\\blinky_1",
          "buildConfigurations": [
            {
              "id": "c:\\ncs\\Applications\\blinky_1\\build",
              "name": "build",
              "boardId": "nrf52dk/nrf52832",
              "type": "Sysbuild",
              "isChild": false,
              "isStale": false,
              "taskBindings": {
                "build": [],
                "pristineBuild": [],
                "flash": [],
                "eraseAndFlash": []
              },
              "sdk": "c:\\ncs\\v2.9.0",
              "toolchain": "nRF Connect SDK Toolchain v2.9.0"
            },
            {
              "id": "c:\\ncs\\Applications\\blinky_1\\custom_build",
              "name": "custom_build",
              "boardId": "tennis_sensor/nrf52832",
              "type": "Sysbuild",
              "isChild": false,
              "isStale": false,
              "taskBindings": {
                "build": [],
                "pristineBuild": [],
                "flash": [],
                "eraseAndFlash": []
              },
              "sdk": "c:\\ncs\\v2.9.0",
              "toolchain": "nRF Connect SDK Toolchain v2.9.0"
            }
          ]
        },
        {
          "workspace": "c:\\ncs\\Applications\\Sensor",
          "uri": "c:\\ncs\\Applications\\Sensor",
          "buildConfigurations": [
            {
              "id": "c:\\ncs\\Applications\\Sensor\\build",
              "name": "build",
              "boardId": "nrf52dk/nrf52832",
              "type": "Sysbuild",
              "isChild": false,
              "isStale": false,
              "taskBindings": {
                "build": [],
                "pristineBuild": [],
                "flash": [],
                "eraseAndFlash": []
              },
              "sdk": "c:\\ncs\\v2.9.0",
              "toolchain": "nRF Connect SDK Toolchain v2.9.0"
            },
            {
              "id": "c:\\ncs\\Applications\\Sensor\\custom_build",
              "name": "custom_build",
              "boardId": "tennis_sensor/nrf52832",
              "type": "Sysbuild",
              "isChild": false,
              "isStale": false,
              "taskBindings": {
                "build": [],
                "pristineBuild": [],
                "flash": [],
                "eraseAndFlash": []
              },
              "sdk": "c:\\ncs\\v2.9.0",
              "toolchain": "nRF Connect SDK Toolchain v2.9.0"
            }
          ]
        },
        {
          "workspace": "c:\\ncs\\Applications\\system_off",
          "uri": "c:\\ncs\\Applications\\system_off",
          "buildConfigurations": [
            {
              "id": "c:\\ncs\\Applications\\system_off\\build",
              "name": "build",
              "boardId": "nrf52dk/nrf52832",
              "type": "Sysbuild",
              "isChild": false,
              "isStale": false,
              "taskBindings": {
                "build": [],
                "pristineBuild": [],
                "flash": [],
                "eraseAndFlash": []
              },
              "sdk": "c:\\ncs\\v2.9.0",
              "toolchain": "nRF Connect SDK Toolchain v2.9.0"
            }
          ]
        }
      ],
      "toolchains": [
        {
          "version": "2.9.0",
          "path": "c:\\ncs\\toolchains\\b620d30767"
        },
        {
          "version": "2.4.0",
          "path": "c:\\ncs\\toolchains\\31f4403e35"
        },
        {
          "version": "2.3.0",
          "path": "c:\\ncs\\toolchains\\v2.3.0"
        },
        {
          "version": "2.2.0",
          "path": "c:\\ncs\\toolchains\\v2.2.0"
        },
        {
          "version": "2.1.2",
          "path": "c:\\ncs\\toolchains\\v2.1.2"
        }
      ],
      "connectedDevices": [
        {
          "serialNumber": "000801042234"
        }
      ],
      "tools": {
        "C:\\ncs\\toolchains\\b620d30767\\opt\\zephyr-sdk\\arm-zephyr-eabi\\bin\\arm-zephyr-eabi-gcc.exe": "0.17.0",
        "C:\\Program Files\\SEGGER\\JLink_V812c\\JLink.exe": "8.12c",
        "C:\\Program Files\\Nordic Semiconductor\\nrf-command-line-tools\\bin\\nrfjprog.exe": "10.24.2",
        "C:\\Users\\Razer\\nrfutil.exe": "7.13.0",
        "C:\\ncs\\toolchains\\b620d30767\\cmake": "3.21.0",
        "C:\\ncs\\toolchains\\b620d30767\\opt\\bin\\Scripts\\west.exe": "1.2.0",
        "C:\\ncs\\toolchains\\b620d30767\\opt\\bin\\python.exe": "3.12.4",
        "C:\\ncs\\toolchains\\b620d30767\\opt\\bin\\ninja.exe": "1.10.2",
        "C:\\ncs\\toolchains\\b620d30767\\opt\\bin\\gperf.exe": "3.1",
        "C:\\ncs\\toolchains\\b620d30767\\opt\\bin\\dtc.exe": "1.4.7",
        "C:\\ncs\\toolchains\\b620d30767\\opt\\bin\\gn.exe": "2202",
        "C:\\ncs\\toolchains\\b620d30767\\mingw64\\bin\\git.exe": "2.37.3.windows.1",
        "arm-gdbPath": "c:\\ncs\\toolchains\\b620d30767\\opt\\zephyr-sdk\\arm-zephyr-eabi\\bin\\arm-zephyr-eabi-gdb.exe",
        "riscv-gdbPath": "C:\\ncs\\toolchains\\b620d30767\\opt\\zephyr-sdk\\riscv64-zephyr-elf\\bin\\riscv64-zephyr-elf-gdb.exe"
      },
      "nrfutil": {
        "nrfutil-device": {
          "version": "2.7.9",
          "binPath": "c:\\Users\\Razer\\.vscode\\extensions\\nordic-semiconductor.nrf-connect-2025.1.127-win32-x64\\platform\\nrfutil\\bin\\nrfutil-device",
          "jlinkInfo": {
            "description": "This version of SEGGER J-Link is different from the J-Link version that was used to test nrfutil device commands",
            "expectedVersion": {
              "version": "JLink_V7.94i",
              "versionFormat": "string"
            },
            "name": "JlinkARM",
            "version": "JLink_V8.12c",
            "versionFormat": "string"
          }
        },
        "nrfutil-toolchain-manager": {
          "version": "0.14.4",
          "binPath": "c:\\Users\\Razer\\.vscode\\extensions\\nordic-semiconductor.nrf-connect-2025.1.127-win32-x64\\platform\\nrfutil\\bin\\nrfutil-toolchain-manager"
        }
      },
      "environment": {
        "westEnv": {
          "HOME": "C:\\Users\\Razer",
          "HOMEDRIVE": "C:",
          "HOMEPATH": "\\Users\\Razer",
          "PATH": "C:\\ncs\\toolchains\\b620d30767;C:\\ncs\\toolchains\\b620d30767\\mingw64\\bin;C:\\ncs\\toolchains\\b620d30767\\bin;C:\\ncs\\toolchains\\b620d30767\\opt\\bin;C:\\ncs\\toolchains\\b620d30767\\opt\\bin\\Scripts;C:\\ncs\\toolchains\\b620d30767\\opt\\nanopb\\generator-bin;C:\\ncs\\toolchains\\b620d30767\\opt\\zephyr-sdk\\arm-zephyr-eabi\\bin;C:\\ncs\\toolchains\\b620d30767\\opt\\zephyr-sdk\\riscv64-zephyr-elf\\bin;c:\\Users\\Razer\\.vscode\\extensions\\nordic-semiconductor.nrf-connect-2025.1.127-win32-x64\\platform\\nrfutil\\lib\\nrfutil-toolchain-manager;C:\\Program Files (x86)\\Razer Chroma SDK\\bin;C:\\Program Files\\Razer Chroma SDK\\bin;C:\\Program Files (x86)\\Razer\\ChromaBroadcast\\bin;C:\\Program Files\\Razer\\ChromaBroadcast\\bin;C:\\Windows\\system32;C:\\Windows;C:\\Windows\\System32\\Wbem;C:\\Windows\\System32\\WindowsPowerShell\\v1.0\\;C:\\Windows\\System32\\OpenSSH\\;C:\\Program Files\\Microsoft SQL Server\\120\\Tools\\Binn\\;C:\\Users\\Razer\\AppData\\Local\\Microsoft\\WindowsApps;C:\\adb;C:\\WINDOWS\\system32;C:\\WINDOWS;C:\\WINDOWS\\System32\\Wbem;C:\\WINDOWS\\System32\\WindowsPowerShell\\v1.0\\;C:\\WINDOWS\\System32\\OpenSSH\\;C:\\Program Files\\dotnet\\;C:\\WINDOWS\\system32\\config\\systemprofile\\AppData\\Local\\Microsoft\\WindowsApps;C:\\Program Files\\Git\\cmd;C:\\Program Files (x86)\\NVIDIA Corporation\\PhysX\\Common;C:\\Program Files\\NVIDIA Corporation\\NVIDIA app\\NvDLISR;C:\\Program Files\\Nordic Semiconductor\\nrf-command-line-tools\\bin\\;C:\\Users\\Razer;C:\\Python\\Scripts\\;C:\\Python\\;C:\\Users\\Razer\\Microsoft VS Code\\bin;C:\\msys64\\ucrt64\\bin;",
          "ZEPHYR_BASE": "c:\\ncs\\v2.9.0\\zephyr",
          "ZEPHYR_TOOLCHAIN_VARIANT": "zephyr",
          "ZEPHYR_SDK_INSTALL_DIR": "C:\\ncs\\toolchains\\b620d30767\\opt\\zephyr-sdk",
          "PYTHONPATH": "C:\\ncs\\toolchains\\b620d30767\\opt\\bin;C:\\ncs\\toolchains\\b620d30767\\opt\\bin\\Lib;C:\\ncs\\toolchains\\b620d30767\\opt\\bin\\Lib\\site-packages"
        },
        "inherited": {
          "HOME": "C:\\Users\\Razer",
          "HOMEDRIVE": "C:",
          "HOMEPATH": "\\Users\\Razer",
          "Path": "C:\\Program Files (x86)\\Razer Chroma SDK\\bin;C:\\Program Files\\Razer Chroma SDK\\bin;C:\\Program Files (x86)\\Razer\\ChromaBroadcast\\bin;C:\\Program Files\\Razer\\ChromaBroadcast\\bin;C:\\Windows\\system32;C:\\Windows;C:\\Windows\\System32\\Wbem;C:\\Windows\\System32\\WindowsPowerShell\\v1.0\\;C:\\Windows\\System32\\OpenSSH\\;C:\\Program Files\\Microsoft SQL Server\\120\\Tools\\Binn\\;C:\\Users\\Razer\\AppData\\Local\\Microsoft\\WindowsApps;C:\\adb;C:\\WINDOWS\\system32;C:\\WINDOWS;C:\\WINDOWS\\System32\\Wbem;C:\\WINDOWS\\System32\\WindowsPowerShell\\v1.0\\;C:\\WINDOWS\\System32\\OpenSSH\\;C:\\Program Files\\dotnet\\;C:\\WINDOWS\\system32\\config\\systemprofile\\AppData\\Local\\Microsoft\\WindowsApps;C:\\WINDOWS\\system32;C:\\WINDOWS;C:\\WINDOWS\\System32\\Wbem;C:\\WINDOWS\\System32\\WindowsPowerShell\\v1.0\\;C:\\WINDOWS\\System32\\OpenSSH\\;C:\\Program Files\\Git\\cmd;C:\\Program Files (x86)\\NVIDIA Corporation\\PhysX\\Common;C:\\Program Files\\NVIDIA Corporation\\NVIDIA app\\NvDLISR;C:\\Program Files\\Nordic Semiconductor\\nrf-command-line-tools\\bin\\;C:\\Users\\Razer;C:\\Python\\Scripts\\;C:\\Python\\;C:\\Users\\Razer\\AppData\\Local\\Microsoft\\WindowsApps;C:\\Users\\Razer\\Microsoft VS Code\\bin;C:\\msys64\\ucrt64\\bin;C:\\Users\\Razer;",
          "PATH": "C:\\Program Files (x86)\\Razer Chroma SDK\\bin;C:\\Program Files\\Razer Chroma SDK\\bin;C:\\Program Files (x86)\\Razer\\ChromaBroadcast\\bin;C:\\Program Files\\Razer\\ChromaBroadcast\\bin;C:\\Windows\\system32;C:\\Windows;C:\\Windows\\System32\\Wbem;C:\\Windows\\System32\\WindowsPowerShell\\v1.0\\;C:\\Windows\\System32\\OpenSSH\\;C:\\Program Files\\Microsoft SQL Server\\120\\Tools\\Binn\\;C:\\Users\\Razer\\AppData\\Local\\Microsoft\\WindowsApps;C:\\adb;C:\\WINDOWS\\system32;C:\\WINDOWS;C:\\WINDOWS\\System32\\Wbem;C:\\WINDOWS\\System32\\WindowsPowerShell\\v1.0\\;C:\\WINDOWS\\System32\\OpenSSH\\;C:\\Program Files\\dotnet\\;C:\\WINDOWS\\system32\\config\\systemprofile\\AppData\\Local\\Microsoft\\WindowsApps;C:\\WINDOWS\\system32;C:\\WINDOWS;C:\\WINDOWS\\System32\\Wbem;C:\\WINDOWS\\System32\\WindowsPowerShell\\v1.0\\;C:\\WINDOWS\\System32\\OpenSSH\\;C:\\Program Files\\Git\\cmd;C:\\Program Files (x86)\\NVIDIA Corporation\\PhysX\\Common;C:\\Program Files\\NVIDIA Corporation\\NVIDIA app\\NvDLISR;C:\\Program Files\\Nordic Semiconductor\\nrf-command-line-tools\\bin\\;C:\\Users\\Razer;C:\\Python\\Scripts\\;C:\\Python\\;C:\\Users\\Razer\\AppData\\Local\\Microsoft\\WindowsApps;C:\\Users\\Razer\\Microsoft VS Code\\bin;C:\\msys64\\ucrt64\\bin;C:\\Users\\Razer;"
        }
      },
      "terminal": {
        "defaultProfile": null
      },
      "config": {
        "nordic-semiconductor.nrf-connect": {
          "topdir": "${nrf-connect.sdk:2.0.0}",
          "toolchain": {
            "path": "PATH"
          },
          "ozonePath": "",
          "applications": [],
          "applicationOptions": {},
          "kconfig": {
            "interface": "kconfig"
          },
          "west": {
            "env": {
              "$base": "terminal"
            }
          },
          "boardRoots": [],
          "taskBindings": {},
          "buildTerminal": {
            "condensedProgress": true
          },
          "debugging": {
            "flash": true,
            "bindings": {},
            "justMyCode": false
          },
          "activeAppFollowActiveEditor": true,
          "flash": {
            "softreset": false,
            "erase": false,
            "recover": false
          },
          "enableTelemetry": true,
          "thirdpartyIntegration": {},
          "toolchainManager": {
            "indexURL": null,
            "installDirectory": null
          },
          "nrfutil": {
            "home": null
          },
          "defaultOpenAction": "ask",
          "terminalProfile": {
            "shell": null
          },
          "welcome": {
            "showOnStartup": false
          },
          "deviceProvider": "nrfjprog"
        },
        "nordic-semiconductor.nrf-terminal": {
          "terminalMode": "character"
        },
        "marus25.cortex-debug": {
          "variableUseNaturalFormat": true,
          "liveWatchRefreshRate": "300",
          "armToolchainPath": null,
          "armToolchainPrefix": "arm-none-eabi",
          "gdbPath": null,
          "objdumpPath": null,
          "JLinkGDBServerPath": null,
          "openocdPath": null,
          "pyocdPath": null,
          "PEGDBServerPath": null,
          "stutilPath": null,
          "stlinkPath": null,
          "stm32cubeprogrammer": null,
          "enableTelemetry": true,
          "dbgServerLogfile": null
        }
      },
      "extensions": {
        "internal": {
          "nordic-semiconductor.nrf-connect": {
            "version": "2025.1.127",
            "path": "c:\\Users\\Razer\\.vscode\\extensions\\nordic-semiconductor.nrf-connect-2025.1.127-win32-x64",
            "isActive": true
          },
          "nordic-semiconductor.nrf-terminal": {
            "version": "2024.9.14",
            "path": "c:\\Users\\Razer\\.vscode\\extensions\\nordic-semiconductor.nrf-terminal-2024.9.14",
            "isActive": true
          },
          "nordic-semiconductor.nrf-devicetree": {
            "version": "2024.12.15",
            "path": "c:\\Users\\Razer\\.vscode\\extensions\\nordic-semiconductor.nrf-devicetree-2024.12.15",
            "isActive": true
          },
          "nordic-semiconductor.nrf-kconfig": {
            "version": "2024.12.13",
            "path": "c:\\Users\\Razer\\.vscode\\extensions\\nordic-semiconductor.nrf-kconfig-2024.12.13",
            "isActive": true
          }
        },
        "external": {
          "marus25.cortex-debug": "1.12.1",
          "ms-vscode.cpptools": "1.24.5",
          "ms-vscode.js-debug": "1.97.1",
          "ms-vscode.js-debug-companion": "1.1.3",
          "ms-vscode.vscode-js-profile-table": "1.0.10",
          "GitHub.copilot": "1.297.0",
          "GitHub.copilot-chat": "0.26.3",
          "mcu-debug.debug-tracker-vscode": "0.0.15",
          "mcu-debug.memory-view": "0.0.25",
          "mcu-debug.peripheral-viewer": "1.4.6",
          "mcu-debug.rtos-views": "0.0.7",
          "ms-vscode.cmake-tools": "1.20.53",
          "ms-vscode.cpptools-extension-pack": "1.3.1",
          "ms-vscode.cpptools-themes": "2.0.0",
          "ms-vscode.vscode-serial-monitor": "0.13.1",
          "trond-snekvik.gnu-mapfiles": "1.1.0",
          "twxs.cmake": "0.0.17"
        }
      }
    }
    
    

  • Hi Simon, building with sysbuild and flashing using the UI works intermitently on my side. That being said, when flashing the devboard fails, it's often successful on a second attempt.

  • For me, it appears to fail in the same way whether I open a separate terminal or not:

    Opening new terminal:

    Flashing from extension:

Related