Cannot Upload (flash_download_begin failed)

[circuitFlower]

Sorry if this is a repost, I've been following the issues for a while, and just can't seem to get this up and running. I've got this Arduino-esp IDE installed on Mac Yosemite. I'm using a serial to usb adapter from Adafruit https://www.adafruit.com/product/954... I also have an FTDI adapter. the serial adapter puts out 5v, so I'm using a voltage divider in between to knock the voltage down to 3.3v.

When I run the Arduino-esp IDE, I'm getting an error :

Sketch uses 208,276 bytes (39%) of program storage space. Maximum is 524,288 bytes.
/Users/aervin/Documents/Arduino/hardware/esp8266com/esp8266/tools/macosx/esptool -vv -cd none -cb 115200 -cp /dev/tty.usbserial -ca 0x00000 -cf /var/folders/yy/dqkcs2dj4lq8s4vk0h10kwmnvspy9l/T/build6296413658005645577.tmp/mDNS_Web_Server_home.cpp_00000.bin -ca 0x40000 -cf /var/folders/yy/dqkcs2dj4lq8s4vk0h10kwmnvspy9l/T/build6296413658005645577.tmp/mDNS_Web_Server_home.cpp_40000.bin
esptool v0.4.2 - (c) 2014 Ch. Klippel ck@atelier-klippel.de
setting board to none
setting baudrate from 115200 to 115200
setting port from /dev/tty.usbserial to /dev/tty.usbserial
setting address from 0x00000000 to 0x00000000
espcomm_upload_file
stat /var/folders/yy/dqkcs2dj4lq8s4vk0h10kwmnvspy9l/T/build6296413658005645577.tmp/mDNS_Web_Server_home.cpp_00000.bin success
opening port /dev/tty.usbserial at 115200
tcgetattr
tcsetattr
serial open
opening bootloader
resetting board
trying to connect
setting character timeout 0
done
setting character timeout 1
done
espcomm_cmd: sending command header
espcomm_cmd: sending command payload
espcomm cmd: receiving 2 bytes of data
setting character timeout 0
done
setting character timeout 1
done
espcomm_open
Uploading 37088 bytes from /var/folders/yy/dqkcs2dj4lq8s4vk0h10kwmnvspy9l/T/build6296413658005645577.tmp/mDNS_Web_Server_home.cpp_00000.bin to flash at 0x00000000
erasing flash
espcomm_cmd: sending command header
espcomm_cmd: sending command payload
setting timeout 5000
setting character timeout 50
done
setting timeout 1
setting character timeout 1
done
espcomm cmd: receiving 2 bytes of data
warning: espcomm cmd: no final C0
warning: espcomm_send_command(FLASH_DOWNLOAD_BEGIN) failed
closing bootloader

I read that there was an update to the platform.txt file, so I took a look. There's a closed issue, suggesting that this line be changed from

tools.pyesptool.program.pattern=python "{path}/{cmd}" {program.verbose} --port {serial.port} write_flash 0x00000 "{build.path}/{build.project_name}_00000.bin" 0x40000 "{build.path}/{build.project_name}_40000.bin"

to

tools.pyesptool.program.pattern="{path}/{cmd}" {program.verbose} --port {serial.port} write_flash 0x00000 "{build.path}/{build.project_name}_00000.bin" 0x40000 "{build.path}/{build.project_name}_40000.bin"

my platform.txt file does not have this line at all, nor does it reference pyesptool. do I have the wrong esptool installed? my platform.txt calls this

tools.esptool.upload.pattern="{path}/{cmd}" {upload.verbose} -cd {upload.resetmethod} -cb {upload.speed} -cp {serial.port} -ca 0x00000 -cf "{build.path}/{build.project_name}_00000.bin" -ca 0x40000 -cf "{build.path}/{build.project_name}_40000.bin"

which is a reference to the upload function, perhaps it's looking for the wrong esptool?

What else might be throwing the

warning: espcomm cmd: no final C0
warning: espcomm_send_command(FLASH_DOWNLOAD_BEGIN) failed
closing bootloader

If I run esptool.py from command line, I can do a few things, like read_mac, though some of the other commands return errors, probably because I don't know how to use them.

Want to back this issue? Post a bounty on it! We accept bounties via Bountysource.

[circuitFlower]

UPDATE: also changed title to reflect new issue.

I removed my the original Arduino software and the Arduino-esp software, and built and installed this: https://github.com/unreality/Arduino/tree/e59d27654c0ae523666623d4cb5bc2a07802b1b4 by @unreality. It's supposed to include the pyesptool, rather than the esptool. Now I'm getting a null pointer exception (same problem I ran into when trying to run this on Linux).

Sketch uses 210,612 bytes (40%) of program storage space. Maximum is 524,288 bytes.
java.lang.NullPointerException
at cc.arduino.packages.uploaders.SerialUploader.uploadUsingProgrammer(SerialUploader.java:246)
at cc.arduino.packages.uploaders.SerialUploader.uploadUsingPreferences(SerialUploader.java:75)
at processing.app.debug.Compiler.upload(Compiler.java:157)
at processing.app.Sketch.upload(Sketch.java:1259)
at processing.app.Sketch.exportApplet(Sketch.java:1201)
at processing.app.Sketch.exportApplet(Sketch.java:1173)
at processing.app.Editor$DefaultExportHandler.run(Editor.java:2432)
at java.lang.Thread.run(Thread.java:745)

Is this because there are basic system tools missing, now that I uninstalled the original Arduino?

[circuitFlower]

UPDATE: I switched the programmer option to pyesptool option, and then received this error:

Sketch uses 210,612 bytes (40%) of program storage space. Maximum is 524,288 bytes.
python /Applications/Arduino-esp/build/macosx/work/Arduino.app/Contents/Java/hardware/tools/esp8266/esptool.py --port /dev/tty.usbserial write_flash 0x00000 /var/folders/yy/dqkcs2dj4lq8s4vk0h10kwmnvspy9l/T/build2390947998494800588.tmp/mDNS_Web_Server.cpp_00000.bin 0x40000 /var/folders/yy/dqkcs2dj4lq8s4vk0h10kwmnvspy9l/T/build2390947998494800588.tmp/mDNS_Web_Server.cpp_40000.bin
Connecting...
Traceback (most recent call last):
File "/Applications/Arduino-esp/build/macosx/work/Arduino.app/Contents/Java/hardware/tools/esp8266/esptool.py", line 473, in
esp.connect()
File "/Applications/Arduino-esp/build/macosx/work/Arduino.app/Contents/Java/hardware/tools/esp8266/esptool.py", line 151, in connect
raise Exception('Failed to connect')
Exception: Failed to connect

I also tried connecting to it through my terminal window, using the esptool, and now that won't work. It's not supposed to use the esptool here, correct? it's supposed to use pyesptool?

I also tried switching to my Linux Virtual Machine, and received this error:

[igrr]

The last screenshot looks like a successful upload to me.

[igrr]

Also if esptool.py doesn't work for you, but the upload is successful from a Linux VM, i suggest you check the drivers on OS X. For example the FTDI driver bundled with OS X is known to have some issues. Installing the FTDI-supplied driver from their website resolved upload issues for me.
Same goes for the Prolific-based usb-serial converters...

[duncan-a]

Hey, that's what we've been seeing with the Windows version - see here
#95 (comment)

On 28 April 2015 at 21:06, Ivan Grokhotkov notifications@github.com wrote:

Also if esptool.py doesn't work for you, but the upload is successful from
a Linux VM, i sugges you check the drivers on OS X. For example the FTDI
driver bundled with OS X is known to have some issues. Installing the
FTDI-supplied driver from their website resolved upload issues for me.
Same goes for the Prolific-based usb-serial converters...

—
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#141 (comment).

[circuitFlower]

@igrr hmm, well, I didn't think that was correct, because I was uploading the mDNS_Web_Server example, and when I navigated to http://esp8266.local, I didn't get anything.

I did get it to erase the flash at one point, then it just hung, and now I get the below error on both the Linux VM, and Yosemite. I can no longer connect to the board using esptool.py in my Unix terminal either. same error. @duncan-a is this what you were referring to? I tried to erase flash using the terminal, and got the same failure to connect error. I'm looking into it now. oh, and I did try installing Prolific's mac drivers and restarting my computer.

Sketch uses 210,612 bytes (40%) of program storage space. Maximum is 524,288 bytes.
python /Applications/Arduino-esp/build/macosx/work/Arduino.app/Contents/Java/hardware/tools/esp8266/esptool.py --port /dev/tty.usbserial write_flash 0x00000 /var/folders/yy/dqkcs2dj4lq8s4vk0h10kwmnvspy9l/T/build6955321294746670421.tmp/mDNS_Web_Server.cpp_00000.bin 0x40000 /var/folders/yy/dqkcs2dj4lq8s4vk0h10kwmnvspy9l/T/build6955321294746670421.tmp/mDNS_Web_Server.cpp_40000.bin
Connecting...
Traceback (most recent call last):
File "/Applications/Arduino-esp/build/macosx/work/Arduino.app/Contents/Java/hardware/tools/esp8266/esptool.py", line 473, in
esp.connect()
File "/Applications/Arduino-esp/build/macosx/work/Arduino.app/Contents/Java/hardware/tools/esp8266/esptool.py", line 151, in connect
raise Exception('Failed to connect')
Exception: Failed to connect

[igrr]

Re mDNS not working for you: this was fixed in a commit yesterday, so perhaps you can pull the updated code and check again.

[duncan-a]

Amanda

Yes, just what we've been getting - appears to upload correctly but refuses
to run...

On 28 April 2015 at 22:05, Amanda Ervin notifications@github.com wrote:

@igrr https://github.com/igrr hmm, well, I didn't think that was
correct, because I was uploading the mDNS_Web_Server example, and when I
navigated to http://esp8266.local, I didn't get anything.

I did get it to erase the flash at one point, then it just hung, and now I
get the below error on both the Linux VM, and Yosemite. I can no longer
connect to the board using esptool.py in my Unix terminal either. same
error. @duncan-a https://github.com/duncan-a is this what you were
referring to? I tried to erase flash using the terminal, and got the same
failure to connect error. I'm looking into it now.

Sketch uses 210,612 bytes (40%) of program storage space. Maximum is
524,288 bytes.
python
/Applications/Arduino-esp/build/macosx/work/Arduino.app/Contents/Java/hardware/tools/esp8266/esptool.py
--port /dev/tty.usbserial write_flash 0x00000
/var/folders/yy/dqkcs2dj4lq8s4vk0h10kwmnvspy9l/T/build6955321294746670421.tmp/mDNS_Web_Server.cpp_00000.bin
0x40000
/var/folders/yy/dqkcs2dj4lq8s4vk0h10kwmnvspy9l/T/build6955321294746670421.tmp/mDNS_Web_Server.cpp_40000.bin

Connecting...
Traceback (most recent call last):
File
"/Applications/Arduino-esp/build/macosx/work/Arduino.app/Contents/Java/hardware/tools/esp8266/esptool.py",
line 473, in
esp.connect()
File
"/Applications/Arduino-esp/build/macosx/work/Arduino.app/Contents/Java/hardware/tools/esp8266/esptool.py",
line 151, in connect
raise Exception('Failed to connect')
Exception: Failed to connect

—
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#141 (comment).

[circuitFlower]

@igrr I can't upload anything now, so I can't test a new sketch. for the record though, I dumped the whole thing and reinstalled @unreality 's example with the pyesptool update. so if the new mDNS example was included in that, then yes, I got it.

@duncan-a is there someplace I can follow fixes for this?

I noticed the Linux version is up and running again, cool. I was just gonna say this is super frustrating, because my friend and I are working on this, and he has this up and running on his Linux setup, so I'm dragging my feet here.

[duncan-a]

Amanda

See here: #95 (comment)

I haven't got the 'fix' to work, but things did spring back to life briefly
today. I'm not particularly techie, as will become clear when you read the
thread...

Buena suerte - good luck

On 28 April 2015 at 23:58, Amanda Ervin notifications@github.com wrote:

@igrr https://github.com/igrr I can't upload anything now, so I can't
test a new sketch. for the record though, I dumped the whole thing and
reinstalled @unreality https://github.com/unreality 's example with the
pyesptool update. so if the new mDNS example was included in that, then
yes, I got it.

@duncan-a https://github.com/duncan-a is there someplace I can follow
fixes for this?

I noticed the Linux version is up and running again, cool. I was just
gonna say this is super frustrating, because my friend and I are working on
this, and he has this up and running on his Linux setup, so I'm dragging my
feet here.

—
Reply to this email directly or view it on GitHub
#141 (comment).

[circuitFlower]

oh, thanks @duncan-a. I tried that already, but it did not bring things back to life. thanks though. I'm still stuck on the can't connect issue, can't even connect with the esptool in terminal, so no reflashing

[duncan-a]

Amanda
Is the ESP in the correct mode? Earlier in that topic there's a thing about
the header message that the ESP puts out as it boots - that may give you
some clues.

It's all a bit beyond me...

On 29 April 2015 at 00:18, Amanda Ervin notifications@github.com wrote:

oh, thanks @duncan-a https://github.com/duncan-a. I tried that already,
but it did not bring things back to life. thanks though. I'm still stuck on
the can't connect issue, can't even connect with the esptool

—
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#141 (comment).

[onkelfunny]

I have the same issue with my mac and ck-esptool:

espcomm cmd: receiving 2 bytes of data
warning: espcomm cmd: no final C0
warning: espcomm_send_command(FLASH_DOWNLOAD_BEGIN) failed
closing bootloader

I have tried many 5 esp-modules. I can only flash this with the esptool.py

[linagee]

Windows - works very nicely (CH340, no extra drivers needed), except for the 350MB download and 1GB extracted directory size.

Linux - works very nicey (CH340, no extra drivers needed), it was only 78MB or so download

Mac - I wouldn't wish this on my worst enemies. Struggled for hours with CH340 drivers, found I had to go to a .cn site, download them, do some terminal thing for yosemite (Mac people hate having to go to terminal, it would be hard for me to ask a friend to do it), found my USB TTL didn't want to work with the USB extension cable I had (blue light always flashing), found that Arduino/esp8266 didn't want to flash for all of the reasons listed above, esptool problems. Still got it to work using lots of workarounds from other bug posts. But by that time, I was 5+ hours into the problem. Not a good overall experience. ;-) I'd just tell people to fire up a Linux VM, skip the Mac uglyness.

Now I'm also wondering if the native Arduino IDE has the 78MB/350MB difference in size for Windows versus Linux. edit: On the non-esp8266 Arduino IDE, 40MB versus 133MB. I guess there is a price to pay for using an OS like Windows no matter what. ;-)

[circuitFlower]

Hey, so I got it working. I'm still working through the specific code, but I got the mDNS example to work. I switched to a brand new esp8266 board. I'm thinking when I ran the pyesptool version, it erased my flash to 100%, then hung, and maybe got stuck somewhere? I'm not sure if my instincts are accurate, but maybe it didn't actually erase the whole thing, and when the IDE was looking for certain header info, it either couldn't find it, or couldn't write to it because something else was there, maybe? Anyway, I've got it up and running on my Ubuntu VM, just working out the bugs in my code now.