Datasheet

MPLAB
®
REAL ICE
IN-CIRCUIT
EMULATOR USERS GUIDE FOR
MPLAB X IDE
2013 Microchip Technology Inc. DS52085A-page 81
Chapter 8. Troubleshooting First Steps
8.1 INTRODUCTION
If you are having problems with MPLAB REAL ICE in-circuit emulator operation, start
here.
The 5 Questions to Answer First
Top Reasons Why You Can’t Debug
Other Things to Consider
8.2 THE 5 QUESTIONS TO ANSWER FIRST
1. What device are you working with? Often an upgrade to a newer version of
MPLAB IDE is required to support newer devices. That is, yellow light = untested
support.
2. Are you using a Microchip demo board or one of your own design? Have you fol-
lowed the guidelines for resistors/capacitors for communications connections?
See Chapter 3. “Operation”.
3. Have you powered the target? The emulator cannot power the target.
4. Are you using a USB hub in your set up? Is it powered? If you continue to have
problems, try using the emulator without the hub (plugged directly into the PC.)
5. Are you using the standard communiction cable (RJ-11) shipped with emulator?
If you have made a longer cable, it can have communications errors. If longer
cables are required, you should consider using high-speed communications. See
Section 3.4.2 “High-Speed/LVDS Communication (Performance Pak)”.
8.3 TOP REASONS WHY YOU CAN’T DEBUG
1. The oscillator is not working. Check your Configuration bits setting for the
oscillator. If you are using an external oscillator, try using an internal oscillator. If
you are using an internal a PLL, make sure your PLL settings are correct.
2. The target board is not powered. Check the power cable connection.
3. The Vdd voltage is outside the specifications for this device. See the device
programming specification for details.
4. The emulator has somehow become physically disconnected from the PC and/or
the target board. Check the communications cables’ connections.
5. Emulator to PC communications has somehow been interrupted. Reconnect to
the emulator in MPLAB IDE.
6. The device is code-protected. Check your Configuration bits setting for code
protection.
7. You have not programmed your part in Debug mode.
8. You are trying to debug a production device that doesn't have debugging capa-
bilities. Use a debug header instead. (See “Processor Extension Pak and
Header Specification (DS51292)” in “Recommended Reading”.)