XIAO esp32-c3 No Code Execution

Products & Technology XIAO
1

Hello,

I’ve been using the XIAO c3 board for awhile now and suddenly it stopped running code. I’m still able to upload the code successfully through esptool.py and have tried multiple methods to adleast bring back serial output but with no luck
The only output i was able to get was

ESP-ROM:esp32c3-api1-20210207

From serial when the board is plugged in
I’ve tried entering bootloader mode by using the RST and BOOT buttons with no luck

Here is the code i’ve been trying to run:

// Checking for any Serial Output

void setup() {
  Serial.begin(115200);
  delay(2000);
}

void loop() {
  Serial.println("Serial is working");
  delay(1000);
}

I’ve also ensured a working and non-damaged cable

Any help would be much appreciated
Thank you

2

Hi there,

and welcome here,

So sounds like your code Wacked the Bootloader…
if you hold reset button and plug it in what happens?

Does the windows machine see it?

STuff happens, you are not the first. Welcome to level two :grin: :v:

HTH
GL :slight_smile: PJ

Get the espressif flash tool (downloaded) ready if you need to restore it. what is your dev environment like?

3

Hi,
Thanks for your quick response

It seems like the board is detected by windows as a JTAG/Serial Debug unit as listed in device manager:
image
Sometimes i get a Windows notification that the device has malfunctioned after attempting to flash it with code but i don’t think this is much of an issue

As for my dev enviroment i’m using the latest version of Arduino IDE, I’ve also tried using Platform IO for more manual control with the underlying programmer esptool but with no luck

The flashing process seems to go smoothly until it has an issue resetting the board

Sketch uses 973622 bytes (74%) of program storage space. Maximum is 1310720 bytes.
Global variables use 37264 bytes (11%) of dynamic memory, leaving 290416 bytes for local variables. Maximum is 327680 bytes.
esptool.py v4.8.1
Serial port COM4
Connecting...
Chip is ESP32-C3 (QFN32) (revision v0.4)
Features: WiFi, BLE, Embedded Flash 4MB (XMC)
Crystal is 40MHz
MAC: 18:8b:0e:93:f1:5c
Uploading stub...
Running stub...
Stub running...
Changing baud rate to 921600
Changed.
Configuring flash size...
Flash will be erased from 0x00000000 to 0x00004fff...
Flash will be erased from 0x00008000 to 0x00008fff...
Flash will be erased from 0x0000e000 to 0x0000ffff...
Flash will be erased from 0x00010000 to 0x000fdfff...
Compressed 19520 bytes to 12595...
Writing at 0x00000000... (100 %)
Wrote 19520 bytes (12595 compressed) at 0x00000000 in 0.5 seconds (effective 337.2 kbit/s)...
Hash of data verified.
Compressed 3072 bytes to 146...
Writing at 0x00008000... (100 %)
Wrote 3072 bytes (146 compressed) at 0x00008000 in 0.1 seconds (effective 231.8 kbit/s)...
Hash of data verified.
Compressed 8192 bytes to 47...
Writing at 0x0000e000... (100 %)
Wrote 8192 bytes (47 compressed) at 0x0000e000 in 0.2 seconds (effective 417.1 kbit/s)...
Hash of data verified.
Compressed 973760 bytes to 597349...
Writing at 0x00010000... (2 %)
Writing at 0x0001c74f... (5 %)
Writing at 0x00026e6a... (8 %)
Writing at 0x0002eee2... (10 %)
Writing at 0x00037b69... (13 %)
Writing at 0x0003dc7a... (16 %)
Writing at 0x00043b69... (18 %)
Writing at 0x00049da0... (21 %)
Writing at 0x00050656... (24 %)
Writing at 0x00056e5c... (27 %)
Writing at 0x0005cfed... (29 %)
Writing at 0x00063376... (32 %)
Writing at 0x000693d0... (35 %)
Writing at 0x0006f936... (37 %)
Writing at 0x00075984... (40 %)
Writing at 0x0007bac1... (43 %)
Writing at 0x00081a08... (45 %)
Writing at 0x00087264... (48 %)
Writing at 0x0008c99d... (51 %)
Writing at 0x00092346... (54 %)
Writing at 0x000982bc... (56 %)
Writing at 0x0009e0df... (59 %)
Writing at 0x000a3b8b... (62 %)
Writing at 0x000a9690... (64 %)
Writing at 0x000af408... (67 %)
Writing at 0x000b522f... (70 %)
Writing at 0x000bb23f... (72 %)
Writing at 0x000c176a... (75 %)
Writing at 0x000c7cbf... (78 %)
Writing at 0x000cdb9a... (81 %)
Writing at 0x000d3b54... (83 %)
Writing at 0x000d9fda... (86 %)
Writing at 0x000e037f... (89 %)
Writing at 0x000e6342... (91 %)
Writing at 0x000ef602... (94 %)
Writing at 0x000f49dc... (97 %)
Writing at 0x000fa9d6... (100 %)
Wrote 973760 bytes (597349 compressed) at 0x00010000 in 9.7 seconds (effective 801.5 kbit/s)...
Hash of data verified.

Leaving...
Hard resetting with RTC WDT...
A serial exception error occurred: Cannot configure port, something went wrong. Original message: OSError(22, 'A device which does not exist was specified.', None, 433)
Note: This error originates from pySerial. It is likely not a problem with esptool, but with the hardware connection or drivers.
For troubleshooting steps visit: https://docs.espressif.com/projects/esptool/en/latest/troubleshooting.html
Failed uploading: uploading error: exit status 1

I’ve tried resetting the board manually after flashing but no luck :sweat_smile:

Thanks again for your support

4

The following steps may be helpful.

  1. Is “USB JTAG/serial debug unit” listed under “Universal Serial Bus Devices” in the Device Manager?
    Note: not “Ports (COM & LPT)”.
  2. If not, this method does not work.
  3. If so, right click “USB JTAG/serial debug unit” and “Update Driver”
  4. select “Browse my computer for drivers”
  5. select “Let me pick from a list of available drivers on my computer”
  6. select “USB Serial Device” and click “Next”

If you are lucky, it will be restored.

1 Like
5

Hi there,

Yes , actually it is, it is telling you the enumeration failed, so all bets are off from that. Fixx the driver issue from @msfujino should set you straight :+1:

HTH
GL :slight_smile: PJ :v:

6

Thanks for your response,

The device is listed under Universal Serial Bus devices, But i don’t seem to have the USB Serial Device Driver you mentioned

image
image748×630 26 KB

Thank you

7

You can try grounding or pulling up GPIO8/9 temporarily to see if boot behavior changes.

1 Like
8

Hi there,

Turn off the check mark and pick USB, as @msfujino indicated.
HTH
GL :slight_smile: PJ :v:

9

Hello,
I’ve unchecked the show compatible hardware checkbox i’m still unable to find the USB driver,

image
image776×569 47.1 KB

I’ve checked through the options, Perhaps the correct driver is not installed?

Anyhow i’ve tried booting the board with the strapping pin GPIO 8/9 as @ahsrabrifat requested and it worked!
The code runs normally now,

I think the issue was that the chip got stuck in download mode and was never booting into SPI? mode to actually run the code

Thank you so much for your help and support

I fixed it by pulling up GPIO 9

1 Like