Cyclone III - Flash Loader IP not loaded

[AWann1]

Hello all.

I am trying to program a Cyclone III LS with a new .jic file. 

I made modifications to the code and compiled it in Quartus 13.

However, these boards were built relatively recently and have EPCQ64A memory on them.

So I used Quartus 18 to convert the .sof into a .jic

But the lab laptop has Quartus 20.1 on it. I use that to try and program the Cyclone III LS boards.

I successfully go through the steps to reset the Cyclone III to factory, using ,tcl scripts, in order to get around the security settings.  But once Quartus starts to program the FPGA with the SFL image, it says:

Flash Loader IP not loaded on device 1

I am using a USB Blaster, Rev C

Can anyone see where I might be going wrong?

[YuanLi_S_Intel]

Can you try to compile and convert the JIC in the same quartus version?

[AWann1]

Unfortunately, the last Quartus version that supported Cyclone III compilation was 13, and the earliest Quartus that supported the EPCQ64A is 18. So I can't compile and convert in the same Quartus software version

[AWann1]

I've heard there is a patch for Quartus 13, 13.1.4 patch 4.70r

This is supposed to add functionality to version 13 to allow it to convert files to work with EPCQ64A

Is there a link to this patch or can someone email it to me? Thanks!

[YuanLi_S_Intel]

Sure. I have sent you privately.

[AWann1]

Thank you!

I installed the patch, selected the EPCQ64A for the .jic memory, And created the new file in my patched Quartus 13.

But I still get the error: "Flash Loader IP not loaded on device 1" when I attempt to program it using the Programmer on the lab laptop.

[YuanLi_S_Intel]

Can you check if the device part number is selected correctly in the quartus design? Also, the device part number and flash part number EPCQ64A is correct during JIC generation.

[AWann1]

Yes, I confirmed the FPGA Device is correctly selected, EPC3LS70, and the memory is set to EPCQ64A.

I also checked the box in the convert programming file window that says "Disable EPCS ID check"

[YuanLi_S_Intel]

So you are using EPC3LS70, and you select EPCQ64A in the setting? I don't think it work that way.

[AWann1]

In the Convert Programming File window, I have the Configuration device selected as EPCQ64A (the memory) and the Flash Loader as EPC3LS70 (the FPGA)

[YuanLi_S_Intel]

It is possible to share me the screenshot of your programmer? meanwhile can you try to reduce the TCK frequency of USB Blaster II to 6MHz?

[AWann1]

I am using a USB Blaster, Rev C, I think it's only TCK frequency is 6MHz

 Attached is the Programmer screenshot.

I did an experiment: 

I found that we had some old EPCS64SI16N memory in our inventory. I removed the EPCQ memory, and put the EPCS in its place. I remade the programming file to work for that memory. But I still get the same error: Flash Loader IP not loaded on device 1

[YuanLi_S_Intel]

From the screenshot, seems like programming is successful with the EPCS64SI16N. So can i confirm that with EPCQ, you have the problem and with EPCS, no issue?