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Step 3Using the Bootloader Software
By now, you're UPCB should be connected to the PC in bootloader mode, the bootloader driver is installed, and the UPCB software is extracted somewhere on your system, including the .HEX file you wish to upgrade to. Now we will use the bootloader software to do the actual flashing.
Navigate to where you extracted the UPCB files. You will find a subdirectory under UPCB called 'Pdfsusb'. Inside that directory is an executable called 'PDFSUSB.EXE'. Double-click to run it.
The 'PICDEM(TM) FS USB Demo Tool' window will appear. Click on the drop-down under 'Select PICDEM FS USB Board'; there should be an entry for 'PICDEM FS USB 0' or similar. This is the UPCB we want to upgrade, so select it. If this drop-down is empty, then there has been a problem. Either you are not in bootloader mode, the UPCB isn't plugged in, or the driver has not been properly installed. Please troubleshoot this until an entry appears in this drop-down.
Once we've selected the entry for our UPCB, all of the buttons that were previously grey will become active. We will now take a moment to make a backup of the firmware currently on the UPCB. In case there are any problems with the new firmware, you will always have the option of going back tot he current version you already have. Select the button marked 'Read Device'. This will read all of the programming currently on the UPCB into the bootloader software.
After the device has been read, the top-most message will be 'MESSAGE - Read Completed'. Select the button marked 'Save to Hex File'. You will be asked for a filename and location to save the current firmware as. It doesn't matter where you save it, or what you name. Just make sure you can find it if you ever need to downgrade. Once you've made your choice of name and location, click 'Save'. Your backup is now finished, so let's upgrade.
Select the button marked 'Load HEX File'.
A window will appear asking for you to select a .HEX file. Navigate to the '_output' directory of the UPCB; NOT the '_output' subdirectory of the Boot directory, just 'UPCB\_output'. Select the .HEX file you wish to upgrade to. If there are different configuration options, they will be shown with different .HEX files. Find the one that best matches your configuration, and click 'Open'.
When the .HEX file has been loaded, you will always get a warning about Configuration Data. This is normal. Just click 'Yes'.
The .HEX file is loaded and shown in the bottom section of the window. Click on the 'Program Device' button to write the firmware to the UPCB.
Please be patient while the programmer runs. The entire process should take less than 60 seconds, but do not be worried if it takes longer. If the main buttons are greyed out, then we know it is still working. If all goes well, you will see successfull message like the ones displayed in the last image. Just exit out of the PICDEM Demo Tool, unplug your USB cable, and you are done.
Note for users of Windows XP and later: It appears that the PFSUSB.EXE does not seem to properly run on some computers without setting up a compatibility mode for it. If the 'PIC 18F4550 Family Device' is showing up in the device manager, but is not showing up in the drop down box in PDFSUSB.EXE, then you should enable a compatibility mode. Exit out of PDFSUSB.EXE, right click the PDFSUSB.EXE file and select 'Properties'. Under the Compatibility tab, place a check in the 'Run this program in compatibility more' box, and select any of the operating systems listed. Click Ok, and then try these steps again. Once Compatibility mode has been set, you should not have to do it again on that system.
Navigate to where you extracted the UPCB files. You will find a subdirectory under UPCB called 'Pdfsusb'. Inside that directory is an executable called 'PDFSUSB.EXE'. Double-click to run it.
The 'PICDEM(TM) FS USB Demo Tool' window will appear. Click on the drop-down under 'Select PICDEM FS USB Board'; there should be an entry for 'PICDEM FS USB 0' or similar. This is the UPCB we want to upgrade, so select it. If this drop-down is empty, then there has been a problem. Either you are not in bootloader mode, the UPCB isn't plugged in, or the driver has not been properly installed. Please troubleshoot this until an entry appears in this drop-down.
Once we've selected the entry for our UPCB, all of the buttons that were previously grey will become active. We will now take a moment to make a backup of the firmware currently on the UPCB. In case there are any problems with the new firmware, you will always have the option of going back tot he current version you already have. Select the button marked 'Read Device'. This will read all of the programming currently on the UPCB into the bootloader software.
After the device has been read, the top-most message will be 'MESSAGE - Read Completed'. Select the button marked 'Save to Hex File'. You will be asked for a filename and location to save the current firmware as. It doesn't matter where you save it, or what you name. Just make sure you can find it if you ever need to downgrade. Once you've made your choice of name and location, click 'Save'. Your backup is now finished, so let's upgrade.
Select the button marked 'Load HEX File'.
A window will appear asking for you to select a .HEX file. Navigate to the '_output' directory of the UPCB; NOT the '_output' subdirectory of the Boot directory, just 'UPCB\_output'. Select the .HEX file you wish to upgrade to. If there are different configuration options, they will be shown with different .HEX files. Find the one that best matches your configuration, and click 'Open'.
When the .HEX file has been loaded, you will always get a warning about Configuration Data. This is normal. Just click 'Yes'.
The .HEX file is loaded and shown in the bottom section of the window. Click on the 'Program Device' button to write the firmware to the UPCB.
Please be patient while the programmer runs. The entire process should take less than 60 seconds, but do not be worried if it takes longer. If the main buttons are greyed out, then we know it is still working. If all goes well, you will see successfull message like the ones displayed in the last image. Just exit out of the PICDEM Demo Tool, unplug your USB cable, and you are done.
Note for users of Windows XP and later: It appears that the PFSUSB.EXE does not seem to properly run on some computers without setting up a compatibility mode for it. If the 'PIC 18F4550 Family Device' is showing up in the device manager, but is not showing up in the drop down box in PDFSUSB.EXE, then you should enable a compatibility mode. Exit out of PDFSUSB.EXE, right click the PDFSUSB.EXE file and select 'Properties'. Under the Compatibility tab, place a check in the 'Run this program in compatibility more' box, and select any of the operating systems listed. Click Ok, and then try these steps again. Once Compatibility mode has been set, you should not have to do it again on that system.
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