Utility to reflash firmware / obtain installer plf with ease

[svyat]

My lights behave the same as absolutelj's. However, I do see the device in device manager and can install the driver. But I still cannot flash as usb_flash keeps trying to connect at the bootloader stage until it fails. Thus, I don't even get a chance to install the Gadget device. Any advise would be greatly appreciated.

Could it be the case that there are drones with different VID's and PID's? My usb device's PID and VID differ from those that usb_flash seems to be looking for.

UPDATE: Ok, it looks like it was another unknown device after all So I have the exact same problem absolutelj does. The red board light goes off after connecting the battery and the device does not show up.

[boxsmiley]

PLEASE help with this issue. I'm the third one on this thread that connects to the drone with usb from PC (win7 or xp), gets a red light on the motherboard, then plugs in the battery and the light goes out. The red lights on the "wings" stay on, but nothing happens on the pc as far as a hardware discovery.

I'm begging for help on this one as I have a bricked drone.

[ShellDude]

You could try sending me your drone. I've got a bit of experience in this space and don't mind helping if you cover shipping to/from me.

Keep in mind that if you have a bad main board no amount of flashing is going help.

Sent from my GT-I9000 using Tapatalk

[boxsmiley]

thank you. i can send it out to you this wknd if you pm me the address. i've been following your work for a while, so i feel ok about sending it.

as far as a bad main board, i thought that was the problem. however, i've got access to to another drone and it has the exact same behavior. that drone is not bricked and still flies, so it is either something subtle about the procedure or parrot has changed the drone somehow to render the previous procedure void.

[ShellDude]

PM sent

Sent from my Xoom using Tapatalk

[svyat]

ShellDude, it would be great if you could share your experience with boxsmiley's mainboard. It might help others having the same issue. How far from each other do you guys actually live? Just wondering when to expect an update on this, if at all.

[boxsmiley]

i am in so california and shipping it out tomorrow....

[ShellDude]

I'll take a look at boot logs, etc and post anything I see that is notable. It could be as late as this time next week before I have an update. The drone is traveling from Cali to Eastern PA.

[boxsmiley]

sounds good shelldude. i am also including the cable i was trying to flash it with. i made several with the same result each time, so i am pretty sure it isn't that, but just for completeness.

[ShellDude]

The good news (don't get too excited).

Your cable works fine.

Code: Select all

A.R. Drone Flasher
(c) scorpion2k
!!USE AT YOUR OWN RISK!!


Version: 0.0.1

1. Connect your drone via USB to your PC
2. Connect the Battery to your Drone
3. Ensure the drivers are installed and the device shows up in devmgr
4. Press any key to continue
Press any key to continue . . .


*** VERIFICATION ***
Verifying ardrone_usb_bootloader.bin
Verifying ardrone_installer.plf
Verifying ardrone_update.plf


*** BOOTLOADER INSTALLATION ***
Try [00/10] to connect to VID: 0x19cf PID: 0x1000
Found a possible device:
- Manufacturer: Parrot SA
- Product: P6 USB Stage1
- Serialnumber: ?
- Number of configurations: 1
Sending bootloader (0x5b20 bytes)
 - Send Hello P6 (0xA3)
Success!!!

Checksum returned: 0x5256 Expected: 0x5256 => OK
Starting the bootloader...

*** INSTALLER INSTALLATION ***
Closing usb connection...
Try [00/10] to connect to VID: 0x19cf PID: 0x1000
Found a possible device:
- Manufacturer: Parrot SA
- Product: P6 USB Stage1
- Serialnumber: ?
- Number of configurations: 1
loading installer
Uploading file: ardrone_installer.plf
Error Code returned: 0x00000000  ==> OK


*** FIRMWARE INSTALLATION ***
Closing usb connection...
Try [00/10] to connect to VID: 0x19cf PID: 0x1000
Try [01/10] to connect to VID: 0x19cf PID: 0x1000
Try [02/10] to connect to VID: 0x19cf PID: 0x1000
Found a possible device:
- Manufacturer: Parrot SA
- Product: Gadget Serial v2.4
- Serialnumber: not defined
- Number of configurations: 1
loading firmware
Uploading file: ardrone_update.plf
Error Code returned: 0x00000000  ==> OK
 *** INSTALLATION DONE ***

The bad news. Your motherboard is toast. The above log is from my drone with your cable. I'm going to try a couple different things but it doesn't look good. Your drone doesn't get past the boot loader.

[boxsmiley]

thanks for the update. sounds like bad news. the puzzling thing is that i don't get good results with a known good motherboard that i have here. i can still send it back to parrot or i will just suck it up and buy a new motherboard is suppose....

[Markus Unread]

I'm now trying to use the usb_flash-0.1.0-win32 tool. On a win-XP machine, does anyone know what's going on if the P6 USB Stage1 driver loads but I never get any prompt for the follow-up Serial driver to load? The load fails with "usb_bulk_write failed".

[Markus Unread]

When I said "load fails" I meant the ardrone_update load fails.

[bartlanz]

I reg'd on this form for one main reason!

I wanted to say THANK YOU!!!

I was getting the Flash_KO error and the solution in this thread was able to fix it!

The only thing I'd add is that it took trying and failing three times and power cycleing the drone each time, unplugging it from the pc each time to get it to work, and each time it got progressively further in the process!

Once I used this batch file I was able to use the standard android software to update it to 1.7.4 as well

I also did the 2.5 IDE/PATA hard drive adapter trick and I took it one step further. I cut the 4 slots I needed off the larger connector using my bandsaw (and pliers to keep my fingers safe) and I then soldered the wires to the little tabs

2011-09-05_12-36-52_562.jpg

AGAIN THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!!!!!

[rollus]

I'm now trying to use the usb_flash-0.1.0-win32 tool. On a win-XP machine, does anyone know what's going on if the P6 USB Stage1 driver loads but I never get any prompt for the follow-up Serial driver to load? The load fails with "usb_bulk_write failed".

Hi all,

After an unsuccefull firmware flashing, I've semi-bricked my drone.
During previous flash last day, ardrone_update.plf hasn't been erased, and today, while trying to pair with my phone, I've unplugged the battery, and when I saw the red light, it was too late..

Now I'm trying to flash through USB.

I have the exactly same error: "usb_bulk_write failed"

Is there any solution?