Bootloaders:

chipKIT avrdude Bootloader

Note that by default, chipKIT boards automatically reset the MCU when the FTDI COM port is first opened by the host computer.  This behavior can be disabled (which is how I run) by cutting the trace under JP1 on the Uno32 or JP5 on the Max32, and then installing a removable jumper.  If you have cut this trace, you will need to manually reset the board immediately before running avrdude, below, or temporarily install the jumper on the board.  If you have not cut the trace, then every time you subsequently connect the terminal emulator to the board, the MCU will be reset.  During the 4 seconds following reset, you must not enter any input on the terminal emulator or the bootloader will crash!  After 4 seconds with no input from the terminal emulator, the bootloader will automatically transfer control to StickOS and then you can then press <Enter> to get a command prompt.

  1. Download the avrdude program for Windows and the avrdude configuration file and possibly the libusb0.dll (.EXE, .CONF, .DLL for chipKIT Uno32 and Max32)
  2. Connect the board to the host computer.
  3. Determine the COM port used by the FTDI chip:
  4. Download the appropriate avrdude bootloader image file from the CPUStick™ and StickOS® -- Downloads page.
  5. Reset the board (only needed if you have cut the trace under JP1 or JP5, above), and then immediately invoke the command below.
  6. In a command prompt, invoke avrdude as follows, with your particular COM port and avrdude bootloader image file specified:

        avrdude -C avrdude.conf -c stk500v2 -p pic32-360 -P COMX -U flash:w:StickOS.XXX.hex

    Note that if you receive a flash verification error from avrdude, you likely have an old bootloader running on a new chip -- the old bootloader is incompatible with PIC32's with date codes beyond 1101 or so, as the PIC32 flash timing requirements actually changed in newer silicon, and so it fails to write flash correctly!  See StickOS Revision History and Known Bugs (the same bug affected StickOS, but StickOS has been fixed as of v1.92 -- but the bootloader can be broken independently).
  7. StickOS should be running, with the heartbeat led blinking slowly.
  8. Remember to configure your terminal emulator for XON/XOFF flow control since behind the FTDI COM port is a traditional UART on the MCU!
  9. Remember that if you have not cut the trace under JP1 or JP5, above, then every time you subsequently connect the terminal emulator to the board, the MCU will be reset.  During the 4 seconds following reset, you must not enter any input on the terminal emulator or the bootloader will crash!  After 4 seconds with no input from the terminal emulator, the bootloader will automatically transfer control to StickOS and then you can then press <Enter> to get a command prompt.

avrdude USB Bootloader (CUI32Stem, etc.)

  1. Before connecting the board to a Windows USB host computer, install the stk500v2.inf file by saving it to a file, right-clicking on the file, and selecting "Install"; you can ignore warnings about an unsigned driver package -- the driver is straight from Microsoft, and only the INF file itself is unsigned. The INF file allows Windows to bind a human readable name, "Stk500v2", to the USB VID/PID presented to the host by the avrdude bootloader. The latest version of the stk500v2.inf file can always be found at: https://github.com/rtestardi/StickOS/Stk500v2.inf
  2. On boards with a PRG switch, hold down the PRG switch while powering up the board to permanently enter the bootloader.
  3. Continue here.
  4. The source and binary for the bootloader is here: https://github.com/rtestardi/PIC32-CDC-ACM-Stk500v2-Bootloader

Microchip HID Bootloader

  1. Download the Microchip HIDBootLoader for Windows (.EXE, for CUI32 and UBW32).
  2. Connect the board to the host computer while holding down the PROG or PRG button on the board.
  3. Launch the Microchip HIDBootLoader for Windows; verify that the device is attached:
  4. Download the appropriate StickOS HID bootloader image file from the CPUStick™ and StickOS® -- Downloads page.
  5. Press "Open Hex File" and browse to the HID bootloader image file.
  6. Press "Program/Verify".
  7. Disconnect the board from the host computer and reconnect it while not holding down any buttons on the board.
  8. StickOS should be running, with the heartbeat led blinking slowly.

Freescale DemoKit/Badge Board MST Bootloader

  1. For the Badge Board, enter bootloader mode by connecting the board to the host computer and then pressing F4;
    for the DemoKit, enter bootloader mode by pressing SW1 and then connecting the board to the host computer.
  2. Verify that a new USB MST removable disk shows up on your host computer:
  3. Download the appropriate MST bootloader image file from the CPUStick™ and StickOS® -- Downloads page.
  4. Drag and drop the S19 file to the new removable disk exposed by the board.
  5. Once the Explorer window responds, the firmware should be updated.
  6. Disconnect the board from the host computer and reconnect it while not pressing or holding down any buttons on the board.
  7. StickOS should be running, with the heartbeat led blinking slowly.