Quartus II and USB Blaster

[Altera_Forum]

Hi All, 

 Pleeeeeeeeeeeeease help. I installed Quratus II on my new laptop, Windows 7 OS. However, it doesn't recognize USB Blaster. I tried everything said in the forum and with no luck. I tried "login as adminstrater" and everything esle. Here are my settings:   OS: Windows 7, Service Pack 1. 64-bit OS Quratus II : 11.1sp2_259_quartus_free_windows Hardware: DE2 Board with Cylcone II   when I go to Device Manger in the Control Panel, it shows me that ALTERA USB-Blaster under ( Universal Serial Bus Controllers). However, when I go to Quartus II it doesn't see the USB Blaster?   Please help, Thanks

[Altera_Forum]

did you install the device drivers?

[Altera_Forum]

When you say it "doesn't see the USB Blaster", what exactly do you mean? You should invoke the Programmer, choose "Hardware Setup", then "Currently Selected Hardware". Choose "USB Blaster", then "Close".

[Altera_Forum]

I've tired that already. The programmer doesn't have any USB-Blaster in the selections.

[Altera_Forum]

--- Quote Start ---  did you install the device drivers?  --- Quote End ---     How do I install the device derivers?  When I physically connect the USB Blaster, I check "Device Manger" from "COntrol Panel" and it says "ALTERA USB Blaster" works fine. Do I need to do anything else?

[Altera_Forum]

You can always try uninstalling the driver from the Device Manager. Let Windows find the driver again next time you plug in the Blaster. I'm running a configuration virtually identical to yours and have no problem.

[Altera_Forum]

I vaguely recall a thread in which the poster could not get Quartus Web Edition 11.1SP2 working with the USB-Blaster. 

 I have 11.1SP1 working under Windows XP, 7, Linux Centos 6.2 and Ubuntu 11.10. I'd recommend starting with that.  Could you please post back if that gets the USB-Blaster working for you.  Thanks!  Cheers, Dave

[Altera_Forum]

I've tried to uninstall and then install the driver, no luck. 

 But I didn't try downloading 11.1sp1, where can i find it? Thanks

[Altera_Forum]

I fixed the probelm by going back to the 9.1 version and it worked.. However, i still don't know what happened with version 11.1sp2 ?!!!!

[Altera_Forum]

--- Quote Start ---   But I didn't try downloading 11.1sp1, where can i find it?   --- Quote End ---    The releases are usually here:  ftp://ftp.altera.com/outgoing/release/  However, 11.1sp1 does not appear to be there.  Try installing an earlier version and see if that helps. I think that once you have the driver working, it won't get broken by installing 11.1sp2, since Windows will already have the driver installed (so you won't get the new hardware detected dialog when you plug in the USB-Blaster).  Cheers, Dave

[Altera_Forum]

FWIW, and somewhat beside the point, I find ver 9.1 to be preferable to 11.1 and always use it unless there's some new device it doesn't support.

[Altera_Forum]

--- Quote Start ---  FWIW, and somewhat beside the point, I find ver 9.1 to be preferable to 11.1 and always use it unless there's some new device it doesn't support.  --- Quote End ---    What do you find different?  I have 9.0sp2 (for FLEX10K/ACEX), 10.1 (for the S4GXDK Board test GUI), and 11.1sp1 installed.  I use 11.1sp1 for most work, and then use 10.1 for comparison tests.  I tend to steer clear of any x.0 release, but the x.1 releases have all been ok.  Cheers, Dave

[Altera_Forum]

Well, one big thing is that they dropped the simulator after 9.1, which I find very handy. I know, I should grow up and use Modelsim, but I've poked at it and found it non-intuitive. The Quartus simulator is simple and easy to use. 

 My other complaints are pretty nit-picky, but everywhere I turn in 11.1 I've lost some nice feature and found an intermittent bug in its place. When I invoke 11.1, for example, it opens my last open project but doesn't open my top level design. I tend to do my top level in schematic form, and code the various functional blocks in Verilog. The schematic entry tools are buggy, copy/paste doesn't always work correctly. Double-clicking on a top level entity doesn't always bring up the underlying code, pop-up windows are sized inappropriately so that you have to use scroll bars to reach the various buttons. There are numerous other annoying "features" that make me curse it every time I use it.

[Altera_Forum]

I see, I don't use these features, so have not noticed the issues. 

 Personally I find Modelsim significantly more productive for simulation. A testbench should issue sequences to a design and check for an expected response, and you could not do that with the Quartus II or MAX+Plus II simulator.  I code my top-levels in HDL in an editor external to Quartus II so haven't experienced any of the GUI issues you mention.  Again, if you start to use Modelsim, then you'll want all of your files in one language (for Modelsim-ASE), so it helps to have the top-level in an HDL as well.  Cheers, Dave

[Altera_Forum]

Yes, I understand that a schematic top level is not conducive to use with Modelsim. The thing is, it's an extremely handy way of documenting a design that get's updated "automatically" every time you make a change because it IS the design. I'm loathe to give this up. Truth be told my designs are simple enough that I can simulate the various elements with the Quartus simulator, then connect them together with confidence that they will "play together" correctly. Things are headed for ever greater complexity, though, and I know I'll be forced to join the Top Level HDL/Modelsim crowd before too long.

[Altera_Forum]

--- Quote Start ---   I know I'll be forced to join the Top Level HDL/Modelsim crowd before too long.  --- Quote End ---    Ask for an example when you do, and I'll try to help make it painless :)  For example, here's one:  http://www.alterawiki.com/wiki/using_the_usb-blaster_as_an_sopc/qsys_avalon-mm_master_tutorial  Cheers, Dave

[Altera_Forum]

Thanks, I will. And thanks for your frequent contributions to this forum.

[Altera_Forum]

--- Quote Start ---  The releases are usually here:   ftp://ftp.altera.com/outgoing/release/   However, 11.1sp1 does not appear to be there.   Try installing an earlier version and see if that helps. I think that once you have the driver working, it won't get broken by installing 11.1sp2, since Windows will already have the driver installed (so you won't get the new hardware detected dialog when you plug in the USB-Blaster).   Cheers, Dave  --- Quote End ---     Thank you so much Dave, I dowloaded Quartus WE 9.1 and my USB Blaster was seen by it.  I went back to 11.1sp2 and it still cannot see the USB Blaster. i really believe there is a BUG in 11.1sp2 Thanks

[Altera_Forum]

--- Quote Start ---   I dowloaded Quartus WE 9.1 and my USB Blaster was seen by it.  I went back to 11.1sp2 and it still cannot see the USB Blaster. i really believe there is a BUG in 11.1sp2   --- Quote End ---    Could you file a service request with Altera and let them know. Hopefully they can fix it and release 11.1sp3!  Cheers, Dave

[Altera_Forum]

--- Quote Start ---  Could you file a service request with Altera and let them know. Hopefully they can fix it and release 11.1sp3!   Cheers, Dave  --- Quote End ---     Thanks Dave,  Yes, I did file a service request, and hopefully they'll fix it :)

[Altera_Forum]

there is already a solution available I think: 

look in altera / support / kdb / solutions/ rd03062012_414 . html