We have been using the TI MSPF5438 (non a) chip on several products for several years. Since most of our products are (relatively speaking) low volume, we have been using the on-chip bootstrap loader to install our software. Once we ironed out a few wrinkles, this has worked very well. We are using the IAR workbench, latest full version and are installing the hex file in TI.txt format via the bootstrap loader.

Recently we have moved to the MSPF5438(A) chip because TI says the non-A version should not be used for new projects. We took this to mean that TI probably will not produce or support the non-A version in the future. We have navigated the fairly modest changes necessary to change from non-a to a versions and all works well.

However, we have not been able to use the bootstrap loader to load software onto the A chip. I know from TI’s literature that the bootstrap loader on the A chip is modifiable whereas the non-A chip has a fixed bootstrap loader. So, the first question is whether the loader is even on the A chip and, if so, is it the same as the non-A? Are there differences that will have to be accommodated before we can use it to download a Hex file in the TI.txt format to the F5438A chip?

If the bootstrap loader is NOT already on the A chip, what is the procedure to install it, and should it then work as it did no the non-A chip? Has anyone had experience with this problem or have suggestions to help us find a solution for loading our software onto the MSPF5438A chip?
Thanks,
Mike Raines Start a New Thread

:

> If the bootstrap loader is NOT already on the A chip, what is the
> procedure to install it, and should it then work as it did no the non-A
> chip? Has anyone had experience with this problem or have suggestions
> to help us find a solution for loading our software onto the MSPF5438A
> chip?
>

Do you already know slau391f from ti.com?

M.

Start a New Thread

Matthias,

Thanks so much for your reply. I had been using the old slau265 from TI. Yesterday, I discovered the slau319f that you just mentioned. I was not aware they had radically changed the bootstrap loader procedures. After reading and experimenting with the new ways, I experienced success programming a non-a chip and was surprised at how easy it was. Of course, I then tried to do the same on the F5438A chip and it completely failed from the first commands. Later, it seems I was successful on another project using the same chip, but the jury is still out as the second project does not have much of a user interface and no display. TI tech support informed me that revisions G, E, and D of the F5438A chip have defect SYS 10 described in their errata, and thus cannot be programmed via the bootstrap loader. Sure enough, the chip I failed on is rev E so that is probably the problem. Again, thanks for the help, and thanks to TI for making the bootstrap loader more user-friendly.
Mike Raines

________________________________
From: m... [mailto:m...] On Behalf Of Matthias Weingart
Sent: Tuesday, October 22, 2013 7:57 AM
To: m...
Subject: [msp430] Re: Using bootstrap loader on MSPF5438A chip

:

> If the bootstrap loader is NOT already on the A chip, what is the
> procedure to install it, and should it then work as it did no the non-A
> chip? Has anyone had experience with this problem or have suggestions
> to help us find a solution for loading our software onto the MSPF5438A
> chip?
>

Do you already know slau391f from ti.com?

M.

size=1 width="100%" noshade color="#a0a0a0" alignter>
No virus found in this message.
Checked by AVG - www.avg.com
Version: 2014.0.4158 / Virus Database: 3614/6769 - Release Date: 10/21/13 Start a New Thread