Thingy:91 Flash fails oftenly.

[peng.cheng]

Hi,

My environment is Thingy:91 running Asset Tracker v2.

I am using nRF9160DK as an external debugger according to this doc https://developer.nordicsemi.com/nRF_Connect_SDK/doc/latest/nrf/working_with_nrf/nrf91/thingy91_gsg.html.

The issue is that, flash binary to Thingy:91 often fails, while if I disconnect the 2*5 SWD cable between Thingy:91 and nRF9160DK, then flash binary the Asset Tracker v2 to nRF9160DK, it never fails.

So must be something wrong with the Thingy:91?

D:\ncs\v2.2.0>nrfjprog -v
nrfjprog version: 10.19.0 external
JLinkARM.dll version: 7.80c

D:\ncs\v2.2.0>nrfjprog --log --program D:\ncs\test\asset_tracker_v2_origin\build\zephyr\merged.hex --sectorerase --verify -f NRF91 --snr 960070889
[ #################### ]  12.988s | Erase file - Done erasing
[error] [SeggerBackend] - JLinkARM.dll reported "-1", "An unknown error.".
[error] [SeggerBackend] - JLinkARM.dll reported "-1", "An unknown error.".
[error] [SeggerBackend] - JLinkARM.dll reported "-1", "An unknown error.".
[error] [SeggerBackend] - JLinkARM.dll reported "-1", "An unknown error.".
[error] [SeggerBackend] - JLinkARM.dll reported "-1", "An unknown error.".
[error] [  nRF91] - The write access failed, but no cause could be determined.
[error] [  nRF91] - It may be due to an unaligned access, accessing a nonexistent memory, or a communication issue.
[error] [  nRF91] - Failed writing to code!
[error] [  nRF91] - Failed to program flash
[error] [  nRF91] - Failed while programming file D:\ncs\test\asset_tracker_v2_origin\build\zephyr\merged.hex.
ERROR: JLinkARM DLL reported an error. Try again. If error condition
ERROR: persists, run the same command again with argument --log, contact Nordic
ERROR: Semiconductor and provide the generated log.log file to them.

Any help will be appreciated!

BR,

Peng

47562.log.log

[Øyvind]

Hello Peng,

The issue is that, flash binary to Thingy:91 often fails

Could you elaborate on how often this happens? Is it only the programming that fails? Is the Thingy:91 connected to USB/power, or on battery only?

then flash binary the Asset Tracker v2 to nRF9160DK, it never fails.

What version of the nRF9160 DK and the Thingy:91 are you using? 

Kind regards,
Øyvind

[peng.cheng]

Hi Øyvind ,

Thank you for your quick reply!

1. I would say very often, sometimes I have to flash it quickly after I power on the board, it will fail with a high possibility when the board runs for a while.

    What do you mean by saying `only the programming`? It works all right after programming successfully if this is what you mean.

    It doesn't matter if it is connected with only a battery or connects to USB/power.

2. Found these on the PCB, hope it is the correct one.

    nRF9160DK, PCA10090 2021.6 1.0.0

    Thingy:91, PCA20035 2022.49 1.6.0

BR,

Peng

    

[Øyvind]

Thanks for clarifying! 

I will need to forward to our HW team to get their input on the matter. Will get back to you. 

Kind regards,
Øyvind

[Øyvind]

Did you try to program the nRF91 alone or on the nRF52 as well? Are you seeing the same instability there? Have you tried using a new 10 pin cable to ensure that there is no bad connection in the wires?

[peng.cheng]

Just tried to flash nRF52, working well without any problem.

Switch back to nRF91, the issue pops up immediately.

So the 10-pin cable is good, I also tried to use the same cable to program another non-nRF board, works flawlessly.

[Øyvind]

Thanks for confirming. 

What happens if you run nrfjprog --recover and then try to program the device?

[peng.cheng]

Thanks!

This works! So what is the root cause of this which must erase the entire flash first?