Flash programming "Auto Detect" failure

[Altera_Forum]

i am using the cyclone iii ep3c120 development kit. i can successfully program my .sof into the fpga directly via the usb blaster interface. 

 i followed the instructions in the development kit user guide (appendix a) to create a .pof file, and then to program the flash. at step 9 - "click auto detect" - no flash device is detected.   i should note that the very first time i tried to implement the design into flash, everything worked perfectly. now that i have updated the design, it does not.   can anyone suggest why this is the case?    thanks. 

[Altera_Forum]

The user guide doesn't talk about programming your file, but the supplied example design. If your design doesn't include a PFL instance, no flash can be auto-detected. You are still able to attach the flash manually, but you need a PFL instance in the FPGA design to perform the flash programming.

[Altera_Forum]

As far as I recall, one of the pre-programed(factory default) design in Flash does have PFL in it. I thought it was page 1 or 2... 

Or as Fvm mentioned, easiest way is just build PFL only design by yourself. Just instantiate PFL from Megacore, and hook up Flash pins to PFL.

[Altera_Forum]

Or even more simple, load ready-to-use pfl_ep3c120.sof from quartus\common\devinfo\programmer folder.