User's Guide
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PICLoader Software
- MPLAB Development Environment
- MPASM User Guide
- PICLoader assembly language source
- PICLoader compiled HEX file
Notes
If your PIC is marked with a blue dot at pin 1, then Rick Farmer's PICLoader boot loader has been flashed into the PIC. You can always reflash the PIC to remove this code.PICLoader documentation and links (source code, etc.) can be found at http://www.dontronics.com/rfarmer.html. Read this carefully - especially the part about how to configure HyperTerminal to talk to your Mark III Controller Board. The only two functional differences between what that web page says and the version provided with the Mark III Kit are:
- The Mark III version communicates at a baud rate of 38400 (not 9600 as mentioned)
- The Mark III version needs user input within 5 seconds (not 15 seconds as mentioned) to prevent PICLoader from jumping to user code
- PICLoader reserves the first three memory locations and requires you to place a GOTO at 0x0003 to jump to the start of your code.
- PICLoader uses the last page of memory, so you cannot put code in locations 0x1800 or higher.
- You cannot set any fuses in your code, as PICLoader controls these values. Fuse locations start at 0x2007 - if PICLoader tells you "MemoryProtection err @ 2007h" then this is an indication that your code is trying to set a fuse. Remove the fuse setting from your code and recompile.
- Note that PICLoader has set the watchdog timer fuse OFF.
I also discovered that, contrary to the instructions on the web site, MPLAB does not automatically output hex files in the INHX8M format - you have to specify this explicitly on the MPASM command line. You can fix this by choosing "Edit Project...", selecting your .hex project file, and clicking the appropriate box in the "Node Properties..." menu. PICLoader will only accept INHX8M format - other formats will give you an "Invalid record type" error from PICLoader.
