User manual

Error Messages
© 2008 Microchip Technology Inc. DS51616B-page 95
Top Reasons Why You Can’t Debug
1. The oscillator is not working. Check your Configuration bits setting for the
oscillator.
2. The target board is not powered. Check the power cable connection.
3. The MPLAB REAL ICE in-circuit emulator has somehow become physically dis-
connected from the PC. Check the USB communication cable connection.
4. The emulator has somehow become physically disconnected from the target
board. Check the communications cable connection.
5. The device is code-protected. Check your Configuration bits setting for code pro-
tection.
6. You are trying to rebuild the project while in Release mode. Select Debug in the
Build Configuration drop-down list on the project toolbar, then rebuild the project.
7. The emulator is selected as a programmer, and not as a debugger, in MPLAB
IDE.
8. Emulator to PC communications has somehow been interrupted. Reconnect to
the emulator in MPLAB IDE.
9. The target application has somehow become corrupted or contains errors. For
example, the regular linker script was used in the project instead of the emulator
version of the linker script (e.g., 18F8722.lkr was used instead of 18F8722i.lkr).
Try rebuilding and reprogramming the target application. Then initiate a
power-on-reset of the target.
10. Other configuration settings are interfering with debugging. Any configuration
setting that would prevent the target from executing code will also prevent the
emulator from putting the code into debug mode.
11. The emulator cannot always perform the action requested. For example, the
emulator cannot set a breakpoint if the target application is currently running.
Other Things to Consider
1. It is possible the error was a one-time glitch. Try the operation again.
2. There may be a problem programming in general. As a test, switch to program-
mer mode and program the target with the simplest application possible (e.g., a
program to blink an LED.) If the program will not run, then you know that
something is wrong with the target setup.
3. It is possible that the target device has been damaged in some way (e.g., over
current.) Development environments are notoriously hostile to components.
Consider trying another target device.
4. Microchip Technology Inc. offers myriad demonstration boards to support most
of its microcontrollers. Consider using one of these applications, which are
known to work, to verify correct MPLAB REAL ICE in-circuit emulator
functionality. Or, use the Loop-Back Test board to verify the emulator itself
(Section 12.8 “Loop-Back Test Board”.)
5. Review emulator debug operation to ensure proper application setup (Chapter
2. “Operation”.)
6. If the problem persists contact Microchip.