Unable to load into mass storage or upload new sketch

Hardware Nano Family Nano RP2040 Connect
1

EDIT: This is with an RP2040 Connect

Hey team, a sketch I have is crashing a few minutes after it starts running on the board. Unfortunately, I think that is blocking me from uploading a new sketch. I've had this happen on two boards, and am unable to upload from a Mac or a PC. Here's what I've tried so far

  • following the instructions to hold down the button before plugging in
  • trying to double press the button to enter mass storage mode after the board has been connected
  • jumping ground and reset (which does cut power, but when it comes back there's no difference)
    Wondering what else I can try, or why both of these boards are unable to get into mass storage mode to get some clean code running.
2

Welcome! That sounds like a serial flood, try this:
Take these steps:

Power off the board completely
Remove the USB cable
Hold down the Reset button
keep it held down (or, run a jumper wire from the RESET pin to the GND pin).
Still holding down Reset reconnect the USB cable.
Start uploading a sketch that does not have this problem (I use the Blink sketch).
When you see the Receive light blink, release the Reset button
Change your code and add a delay(3000), or more in setup(). This allows easy recovery from a serial flood.
Note: I have seen this happen several times when I flood the serial output. An indication is the TX light is stuck on.

4

Hey all, thanks for those tips.

Unfortunately holding down that button doesn't seem to make a difference. The steps I followed were

  • Remove USB
  • Hold button
  • Reconnect cable
  • Upload blink
  • Release at some point (I'm not seeing any lights blink unfortunately)

I've also tried every guide I can find to enter bootloader mode but haven't had any luck. Any other suggestions? Or pointers to where I can get in touch with the support team? EDIT: This is with an RP2040 Connect

5

Sorry I had assumed it was an Arduino. I do not have enough experience to help you with this,

6

Please try this experiment and then report back here with the results:

:exclamation: This procedure is not intended to solve the problem. The purpose is to gather more information.

  1. Disconnect the USB cable of the Nano RP2040 Connect board from your computer.
  2. Use a jumper wire to connect the pin marked "REC" on the board to the pin marked "GND" on the board.
  3. Connect the Nano RP2040 Connect to your computer with the USB cable.
  4. You might now see a notification from your operating system that a new drive named "RPI-RP2". If not, open your computer's file manager (e.g., Windows "File Explorer", macOS "Finder") and check to see whether a drive of that name is listed there.

Now please reply here on the forum thread with the answer to the following question:

  • Did a new drive named "RPI-RP2" appear on your computer after you performed the above instructions?

Please let me know if you have any questions or problems while following those instructions.

Note that it is the "REC" pin that must be grounded, not the "RST" pin.