4 replies to this topic

[HoosierInnovative]

Wow, what a lengthy title! I had a lot of trouble this morning upgrading to v4.2 and thought I would put together a small guide specifically for people using Windows 7 64 bit.

First, install (or upgrade to) .NET Micro Framework v4.2 SDK

Next, reset the Netduino by connecting +3.3V to the metal square below Digital I/O pin 0 while the Netduino is powered up.

Here's the part where I get messed up.

Dowloand SAM-BA 2.11 for Windows
When you finish installation, it will open up a notice by default. If you miss it, it should be located at C:/Program Files (x86)/ATMEL Corporation/sam-ba_2.11/doc/usb_notice.html

To install a driver, you need the inf file located in C:\Program Files (x86)\ATMEL Corporation\sam-ba_2.11\drv

You should install the driver exactly as it says in this notice rather than a generic COM driver like this: http://wiki.netduino...y-Netduino.ashx

I'm attaching a screenshot of what it will look like, but your COM port will likely be different. Take note of the COM port listed beside the newly installed driver, and you're ready to flash the bootloader as described in this post

When the bootloader has been successfully flashed, simply finish the installation of the 2 HEX files as described in this post

Attached Files

•  usb_notice.009.jpg   47.08KB   59 downloads

[Chris Walker]

Thanks for posting the helpful details, Ethan. BTW, there's a new version of SAM-BA out, v2.12. If you're running Win7 64-bit, you'll want the update. There was a glitch in SAM-BA v2.11 which slowed the application's startup to glacial paces on Win7 64-bit http://www.atmel.com...PROGRAMMER.aspx Chris

[HoosierInnovative]

I saw the new version of SAM-BA but was not brave enough to try it yet

[nakchak]

Nice write up Ethan

BTW, there's a new version of SAM-BA out, v2.12. If you're running Win7 64-bit, you'll want the update. There was a glitch in SAM-BA v2.11 which slowed the application's startup to glacial paces on Win7 64-bit

Awesome news, so my fix wont be needed http://forums.netdui...le-work-around/ which involved killing WOW64 process that was blocking sam-ba from opening...

Nak.

[SteveE]

Thanks for that info above, about SAM-BA v2.11 not running right on Win7 64-bit. It saved me from a more-frustrating experience.

Newbie Arduino users, like me (a few hours with Arduino, 10 minutes with NetduinoPlus, 10+ years with C#, 20+ years with C/C++), are going to hit the 4.2 upgrade issues above and at least for a moment experience past OpenSource/Linux/Eclipse dejavue flashbacks.

I loved that I had Arduino up and working in 10 minutes and had an IP console attached in a couple hours using the Ethernet shield (I don't yet have an LCD console, coming soon). I also had Netduino up in 10 minutes as well. Those clear and concise steps that I have seen posted in several places are great - IT pulls people in, no barrier to entry, the whole idea of all this, one could say.

I have a few newbie comments that I hope some of you will find humorous

Well I just spent an hour, slightly disappointed at first, dealing with the 4.1 to 4.2 NetduinoPlus firmware headaches. I think others will hit this if they don't read for a few hours in advance (like I neglected to do). I wanted the 4.2 update as I don't want to just play with 4.1 beyond flashing the LED to make sure it worked, I want to start with all of the 4.2 benefits.

The process involved these (humorous I hope) emotions:

• Starting the venture 4.1 to 4.2
• Hitting the walls of reality that it won't be as simple as it sounded, at first
• Finding this MFDeploy tool (newbies will wonder where the details are)
• Wondering why there is no ping a result as some listing imply there should be (seems to be some ambiguity there for a newbie)
• Resetting the board (and all that entails, some listings gloss over the details that a newbie would love to see)
• Registering with Amtel to get SAM-BA v2.11
• Getting the Amtel-provided USB driver installed (some ambiguity in some listings)
• Wondering why you launch SAM-BA v2.11, and the app never appears, but is in memory
• Repeating all the steps above (several times)
• Giving up for a moment, then realizing, this can't be, getting your determination back
• You start searching as you know that you can't be alone, the MS/Windows culture can't allow this
• You see that you are not alone
• You get SAM-BA v2.12, you start to install it
• Then you realize, oh, maybe I should uninstall v.211, and the same for that USB driver
• To be safe (thinking you might save hours of headache), you uninstall the USB driver that came with v2.11
• You go to uninstall v.211
• Oh wait, on the surface (Control Panel) there is no uninstall
• Oh good, they included one in the install target directory
• Uninstall SAM-BA v2.11
• Feel good
• Install SAM-BA v2.12
• Feel better
• I need to update that USB driver again, using the one included in the SAM-BA v.211 (as it might be different, and I preemptively uninstalled that SAM-BA v2.11 USB driver just to be safe anyway)
• Launch SAM-BA v2.12, and hope that you won't see a repeat of what you saw earlier (fingers crossed).
• It launched, yay, progress!
• I am now feeling much better that when I started and not fearing what I have seen for 10 years in the Linux OpenSource culture - which I have mixed feelings about as that dynamic has kept me gainfully employed using MS tools (not perfect but can't be compared).

I am hoping to have good experiences with the .NET MicroFramework and Netduino and hoping that the MS culture offers a little more attention to details that what many of us have experienced in the Linux world - where so much of the documentation and commentary (not just words and phrases) is so very abbreviated.

The forums here seem to have a lot of good information and attention to detail that I very much appreciate.

I am hoping to get a few others hooked on Netduino and Gadgeteer trend. I love wotking at the lower level as well, but C# and VS (some I owe my career to) as tools to keep you above that lower level, at times, seem like an awesome idea! I am planning on having some lunch-and-learn session with my development team (30+) at work, showing them basic Arduino and then how nice the Micro Framework can be. I am expecting that the topic will be warmly received leading to some interest in giving Netduino a shot.

Thanks for all of the helpful info that many of you post in these forums.