Unable to flash PCA10031 dongle with master emulator image

[Andy]

TLDR: My dongle has stopped functioning. I think something was corrupted during a j-link update. I'm trying to restore functionality to the device by reflashing the master emulator firmware. When trying to flash the MEFW_nrf51822_0.11.0_firmware_1M.hex image, I receive the error "Failed during parse". I have another dongle which still works fine.

• J-Link v5.12
• Master Control Panel 3.10.0.14
• The dongle is correctly identified in Windows Device Manager (JLink CDC UART Port)
• nRFgo Studio correctly finds the device. I used the "Erase All" command to erase the dongle
• Master Control panel only displays the device's COM port if "File > Options > Show all serial ports" is selected
• I'm using "File > Flash Programming..." in MCP to flash the device
• I've tried all available MEFW firmware images in the /firmware/pca10000/ directory. They all fail with the following message:

nrf6310_cli.exe -p "C:\Program Files (x86)\Nordic Semiconductor\Master Control Panel\3.10.0.14\firmware\pca10000\MEFW_nRF51822_0.11.0_firmware_1M.hex" -snr COM40

Programming started.

Failed during parse

UPDATE (SOLVED):

Following a suggestion below, I ran the following commands, one of which failed:

C:\Program Files (x86)\Nordic Semiconductor\nrf5x\bin>nrfjprog --memrd 0 -f nrf51

0x00000000: 20003140 |@1. |

followed by

C:\Program Files (x86)\Nordic Semiconductor\nrf5x\bin>nrfjprog --memwr 0 --val 0 -f nrf51

Parsing parameters.

ERROR: The area to write is not erased.

I tried programming via MCP again and received the same error, "Failed during parse". However, I then programmed the device with nrfjprog and, like previous attempts, it reported success, but this time the device was successfully recognized by MCP. I can't say for certain what exactly fixed the problem, but there it is.

nrfjprog --eraseall

nrfjprog --family NRF51 --program MEFW_nrf51822_0.11.0_firmware_1M.hex --verify

nrfjprog --pinreset

Output:

Erasing code and UICR flash areas.

Applying system reset.

Parsing hex file.

Reading flash area to program to guarantee it is erased.

Checking that the area to write is not protected.

Programing device.

Verifying programming.

Verified OK.

Applying pin reset.

[tesc]

Hi,

There are other options for installing the firmware than using Master Control Panel. Have you tried using both nRFgo studio and nrfjprog.exe for programming as well?

You can also try to recover the dongle using nrfjprog. From a cmd window:

nrfjprog.exe --recover

Regards, Terje

[Andy]

• The --recover command successfully completed; however, the device still failed programming via MCP ("Failed during parse")
• nRFgo studio can program the hex image; however, the device still fails to be recognized as a master emulator by MCP ("No response from master emulator")
• nrfjprog can program the hex image; however, the device still fails to be recognized as a master emulator by MCP ("No response from master emulator"):

C:\Program Files (x86)\Nordic Semiconductor\nrf5x\bin>nrfjprog --program MEFW_nr f51822_0.11.0_firmware_1M.hex --verify Parsing hex file. Reading flash area to program to guarantee it is erased. Checking that the area to write is not protected. Programing device. Verifying programming. Verified OK.

• I have verified that the problem is not specific to my PC. The dongle installs OK, but then fails to be recognized as a master emulator on other PCs.

[tesc]

The combination of nrf6310_cli.exe and MEFW_nRF51822_0.11.0_firmware_1M.hex is a little strange. Just to confirm, is the dongle you are using the PCA10000? In any case, what markings and version of dongle are you using?

[Andy]

PCA10031 V1.1.0 2014.50 The output I provided is directly from MCP.