Issue with Flashing using nRF Connect Exentions in VS Code

[Karim_Os]

Hi there,

I'm encountering an issue while trying to flash a PWM example built with NCS v2.9.0 on Windows 11 (using Python 3.10). The build completes successfully and generates the merged.hex file, but flashing fails with a Python DLL conflict error. Here's the relevant output:

pgsql

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-- west flash: using runner nrfutil -- runners.nrfutil: Flashing file: merged.hex Traceback (most recent call last): File "runpy.py", line 196, in _run_module_as_main return _run_code(code, main_globals, None, File "runpy.py", line 86, in _run_code exec(code, run_globals) File "nrfutil.exe\__main__.py", line 4, in <module> File "site-packages\nordicsemi\__main__.py", line 43, in <module> import click File "site-packages\click\__init__.py", line 7, in <module> from .core import Argument as Argument File "site-packages\click\core.py", line 16, in <module> from . import types File "site-packages\click\types.py", line 8, in <module> from ._compat import _get_argv_encoding File "site-packages\click\_compat.py", line 518, in <module> from ._winconsole import _get_windows_console_stream File "site-packages\click\_winconsole.py", line 13, in <module> from ctypes import byref File "ctypes\__init__.py", line 8, in <module> from _ctypes import Union, Structure, Array ImportError: Module use of python312.dll conflicts with this version of Python.

What I've tried so far:

1. Reinstalled the toolchain, SDK, VS Code extensions, and VS Code itself.
2. Installed and uninstalled Python 3.12.
3. Used the nRF Connect Desktop Programmer, which successfully flashed the board.
4. Verified nrfutil version: 7.13.0

It seems that nrfutil is attempting to use python312.dll, causing a conflict with my Python 3.10 setup.

Any suggestions on how to resolve this would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks!
Karim

[Priyanka]

Hi Karim,

Installed and uninstalled Python 3.12.

When you installed the Python3.12 version, did you get the issue when flashing?

Regards,

Priyanka

[Karim_Os]

Issue us persistence before / after installing python 3.12 
it seems the conflicted python312.dll is already in the toolchain folder 2.9.0 

[Priyanka]

Hi Karim,

Maybe it could be because the nrfutil is using some other python version which might be created by the SDK. We can check if this is the case. Could you tell me what you get when you try:

where python312.dll

This will tell us the location of the python which is being used.

[Karim_Os]

Hi Priyanka,
AppData\Local\Programs\Python\Python312\python312.dll
Thanks 

[Priyanka]

It looks like it's using the python installation outside the toolchain directory. Could you also try:

where nrfutil

where python

Basically they should both be in the same path, i.e. the python that's installed by your NCS toolchain should be the one that's being used.

If it's not, then please uninstall the python found in the "AppData/Local....." location. You can go to the control panel and uninstall it there. Then please try running. Because then the other Python might be used.

-Priyanka

[Karim_Os]

Hi Priyanka,
I ran the command the output showed the path of the 2 python versions, 

which version to unintsall ? 3.12 or 3.10 ? 
If 3.12 is to be removed (As the nrfutil is not in its directory) then,  I face the same issue that ends with

"  File "\AppData\Local\Programs\Python\Python310\lib\ctypes\__init__.py", line 8, in <module>
ImportError: Module use of python312.dll conflicts with this version of Python."

and the python312.dll is inside the toolchain bin folder

Thanks,
Karim Osama

[Priyanka]

Hi Karim,

Your issue is mostly because of this mix of python versions in the same location. I would suggest you to try uninstalling both the versions (3.10 and 3.12) and then re-install the required 3.12. The install the nrfutil in that path too.

I understand that it's hectic, apologies, but the confusion in the paths is the problem.

-Priyanka

[Karim_Os]

Hi.
It worked!
Thanks