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Problem programming Propeller — Parallax Forums

Problem programming Propeller

Bobb FwedBobb Fwed Posts: 1,119
edited 2013-02-15 10:59 in Propeller 1
I have a computer that won't program propellers in our project. It gives the error, "No serial ports found".
It takes forever to install the USB serial port driver, and it just says "search preconfigured driver folder", and at the end fails and asks where to get the drivers.

We use an on board FTDI chip to program the propeller, and we have never had a problem with them before. The other computers in our office can program the propellers just fine.

I reinstalled Propeller Tool in an attempt to reinstall the drivers (I already had the latest version). But it did nothing.

So my question is where can I find the drivers for the FTDI chip on the computer to uninstall them so I can attempt a reinstall.
And is there any other ideas to help solve this problem.
The other issue is that because we program so many propellers with on board FTDI chips, we were in to the hundreds of COM ports, it would be nice to be able to reset that (this may even be the problem, we were in the mid 200s; maybe we hit some bit limit -- say 256 -- for the COMs).

Any help would be appreciated.

Comments

  • MacTuxLinMacTuxLin Posts: 821
    edited 2013-02-15 09:27
    I suspect, like you've said, your comm ports are all used up. You can see them in RegEdit.exe's HKey_Local_Machine/System/ControlSet001/Enum/FTDIBUS. Maybe you could open your Control Panel, go to Hardware & Sound then Devices & Printers. You should see lots of FT232R USB UART devices. Try uninstalling one of them & see if it works programming one more board.
  • blittledblittled Posts: 681
    edited 2013-02-15 09:29
    Have you checked the FTDI site http://www.ftdichip.com/FTDrivers.htm? They have many utilities at http://www.ftdichip.com/Support/Utilities.htm which may help you.
  • Bobb FwedBobb Fwed Posts: 1,119
    edited 2013-02-15 09:58
    MacTuxLin wrote: »
    I suspect, like you've said, your comm ports are all used up. You can see them in RegEdit.exe's HKey_Local_Machine/System/ControlSet001/Enum/FTDIBUS. Maybe you could open your Control Panel, go to Hardware & Sound then Devices & Printers. You should see lots of FT232R USB UART devices. Try uninstalling one of them & see if it works programming one more board.
    I'm using Windows Vista, I don't see Devices & Printers, printers doesn't have any coms and device manager doesn't have any coms except the ones that are plugged in (on working computers, on the broken computer nothing shows up).

    And I if I try to rename or delete one of the registry keys it just says I cannot, "error while deleting key".
  • Bobb FwedBobb Fwed Posts: 1,119
    edited 2013-02-15 10:59
    blittled wrote: »
    Have you checked the FTDI site http://www.ftdichip.com/FTDrivers.htm? They have many utilities at http://www.ftdichip.com/Support/Utilities.htm which may help you.
    Thanks. I had to get the "CDM Uninstaller" from the support utilities page and uninstall the FTDI device. It reset my COM ports back to 3 and all is working now. I don't know if I needed to, but I reinstalled Propeller Tool again to get the drivers.
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