PPK2 Not Working

[Jay Yang]

I have a PPK2 on hand.

Here is what happened:

 

1. When I first connected it to my Windows 11 PC, the Power Profiler app in nRF Connect for Desktop detected the device and showed “PPK2” under “Select device.”

 

2. I selected the PPK2, and a pop-up window appeared. I instinctively assumed it was a firmware update prompt, so I clicked “Program” (yes, I didn’t carefully check what the dialog said). After a while, I noticed that the PPK2 stopped responding, and in Device Manager it was listed as “Unknown device.”

 

3. I suspected that something went wrong during the firmware update, so I downloaded the HEX file from GitHub (github.com/.../firmware). I then used a J-Link through the P3 connector and tried flashing it using the nRF Connect for Desktop Programmer app.

 

4. Unfortunately, the situation became even worse. Now the device no longer appears even as an “Unknown device.”

 

I also tried the TP34 recovery method, but there was no reaction.

 (devzone.nordicsemi.com/.../ppk2-stop-functioning-after-firmware-update)

What should I do next?

Thank you!

[dejans]

Hi,

Please note that using J-Link on any of our kits voids all warranties.

Connecting J-Link is expected to destroy bootloader which will make recovery efforts ineffective and recovery will not work. If you have functional PPK2, you could try to read out its memory (using J-Link or Programmer app) and then use J-Link to program this file to a non-working PPK2.  

Best regards,
Dejan

[Jay Yang]

Hi Dejan,

So does that mean the firmware from GitHub that I used in step 3 has no effect?
If it has no effect, shouldn't Nordic release a firmware that can recover a PPK2 in this kind of bricked state, as you described?

Thanks!
Jay

[fegyizoli]

I think you overwritten the bootloader, but I've never done such a thing before, so take this with a grain of salt.

Not sure if you have the same device (PCA63100), but you should try out the merged firmware in Edvins post here:PPK2 Power Profiler Bricked?  
The original poster did somewhat similar steps what you did.

I assume you can flash it with JLink too, hope it'll help.

I stepped on the somewhat same mine with the BLE software today too, but for me the T34 method worked, so I did not have to do with JLink anything.

[Jay Yang]

Wow! That’s great, you saved my PPK2.
I flashed the firmware from the link you provided, and it’s now working normally.
Thank you very much for your help.

[fegyizoli]

I'm glad it worked!
Cheers

[PaKa]

Glad it worked but as a closing statement for anyone finding this ticket: Never  ever use a jlink to try to reprogram kits unless this is listed as an option in the kits user guide, likelihood of ending up with a bricked tool is significant. The PPK2 is an outlier that can be recovered.