IFI loading problems

[railerobotics]

I used a flashdrive to install the new ifi loader to our laptop. I dragged all of the files to the desktop before I installed them and unplugged me flashdrive. Now when my flashdrive is not connected and I try to download a new program IFI loader tells me that its not connected but when I plug in my flashdrive the program downloads. Please Help. It will be a pain during competition to have to plug in my flashdrive everytime I want to download a new program.

[steven114]

Uninstall, and use the flash drive to copy the entire installer (not just the program itself) and run the installer on your laptop.

[railerobotics]

I tried that. It still wont connect. I even completely wiped the program from the laptop and installed ifi loader from the internet and it still didn't work.

[bear24rw]

Originally Posted by railerobotics

...when I plug in my flashdrive the program downloads...

To ask the obvious, is the program on the flashdrive? lol

[railerobotics]

No, It has been installed on the laptop

[bear24rw]

Originally Posted by railerobotics

No, It has been installed on the laptop

No, not the IFI loader program, I mean the program that you compiled with MPLAB

[railerobotics]

Originally Posted by bear24rw

No, not the IFI loader program, I mean the program that you compiled with MPLAB

It's also on the laptop

[steven114]

Could you please post the entire error message verbatim? It could be entirely unrelated to the flash drive... Also, do you have the latest version?

[railerobotics]

I am using the latest version. There isn't really an error message. At the bottom of Ifi loader where the amount of memory displayed is shown it says not connected when I try to download a program to the robot without my flashdrive inserted but when I insert my flashdrive the program downloads.

[Ryan M.]

I would try uninstalling and then reinstalling.

[railerobotics]

Originally Posted by Ryan M.

I would try uninstalling and then reinstalling.

I have tried that at least 10 times. I have even deleted all files out of windows explorer.

[Cuog]

out of curiosity how old is the laptop and what operating system is it using there may be a problem with the OS that it cannot validate the Serial port unless there is something plugged into USB, before the regional i would recomend updating all of your hardware drivers on the laptop itself

[steven114]

You might try a different flash disk, to determine if it is specifically that device that it requires...

[railerobotics]

Ok I tried a new flashdrive, a very old one that I reformatted and it worked. The program downloaded correctly. That is very wierd. So its not a file on the flashdrive that it needs it has something to do with the port itself. Any help?

[Rickertsen2]

can you open a connection to the robot in hyperterminal and view the output from printf statements without the thumb drive? You will need to set the settings to:
115.2K baud
data bits: 8
parity: none
stop bits: 1
flow control : none

If you can do this then you know it is an ifiloader problem and not something stranger.

What model is you laptop? I have a suspicion that maybie you do not have a "normal" serial port.

I think eko's explanation is the most likely