Proper tool to flash bricked Replicator board

[wumpusjagger]

I added on to one of my old posts, but I bricked my Replicator. Can someone shoot me the link to the proper flasher? Or the one they have purchased and had success with?

[Chuck Joga]

If it's showing 2 black bars on the LCD, use RepG (37) to connect and upgrade the firmware.

-Chuck

[wumpusjagger]

I tried that...I really did, but the port will not connect. So it is not flashing again. tips to trying it again on the repG37?

[wumpusjagger]

it took 20-30 tries, but that DID finally work.

[Dan Newman]

On 4 Nov 2012 , at 7:42 AM, wumpusjagger wrote:

> it took 20-30 tries, but that DID finally work.

Are you perchance using Windows? I ask since it seems that on Windows
this is a particularly tricky thing to do. (In part because the Windows
USB/serial system seems just a tiny bit slower than Linux and Macs in
making the USB device available to RepG/avrdude after a device reset.
That, in turn, can make it hard to get the timing just right.)

I ask since perhaps a future suggestion to folks in your situation is
to suggest that they find someone with a Mac or Linux system and try the
upgrade from that system. Installing RepG is fairly simple making it
something easy to attempt on a friend, associate, or neighbor's computer.

Dan

[Jetty]

For next time, it's all about timing.

First, this will help (trying to press a recessed black button on time
with a pen is pretty difficult)

http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:27141

Then, the following process works reliably:

1. Go through the firmware upload screens until you get to the last
one with the "Upload button"

2. Position your mouse over the Upload button

3. Hit the reset button the replicator

4. WIthin 0.5seconds, hit the Upload button

5. Wait, you'll get no progress indication and it takes a while.
If it doesn't take you'll get a Timeout message in which case try
again.

Generally if you follow the above, it works first time. If it isn't
working for you after a few tries,
close RepG, disconnect the USB from the computer or bot, and restart
your computer. Then reconnect
the USB and try again. (sometimes the USB driver will lock up
preventing firmware update).

And after you've successfully updating the firmware, you'll need to
restart RepG to connect to the bot.
(at least on a Mac you do)

[mtbsw]

Since timing is apparently so critical for this process I came up with a slightly different approach that works very well for me.

When ready to upload:

First place the mouse cursor over the upload button on the screen then press and HOLD the mouse button

Second, press and HOLD the reset button on the card

Third I give myself a quick 3 count and release both buttons at the same time.

I find it much easier to release both buttons simultaneously then to press two different buttons, which have entirely different feels and may be in awkward positions, at exactly the same time.   So far this method has worked practically first time, every time I've done it.  FWIW

[66tbird]

I'm hooked to an old laptop and I hit reset then upload. For me it's worked within a couple times each time.

[Brian]

The application seems to try to connect a number of times then will time out. The mcu/Arduino reboots almost instantly on reset. What casually works on my two systems, Vista and XP, is to casually start the upkiad/update of firmware. Then within a second or two press the reset button. The app has been trying ti connect with a handshake. The application gets its connection response  from the reset Arduino then uploads.

To repeat, like johnz...,  Start upload, wait, press re-set, sit back and it usually syncs and uploads.