Waveshare e-Paper ESP32 Driver Board won't flash

Development Tools Uploading
1

Background:
I purchased an e-paper 4.26" display, an e-Paper ESP32 driver board, and an e-paper adapter from Waveshare. All three were plugged together and connected to my trusty Mac with the same micro USB cable used to program many ESP32 devices in the past. The IDE and all libraries are updated.

Simple code compiles, but when I upload, I get this:

Sketch uses 230493 bytes (17%) of program storage space. Maximum is 1310720 bytes.
Global variables use 20968 bytes (6%) of dynamic memory, leaving 306712 bytes for local variables. Maximum is 327680 bytes.
esptool.py v4.5.1
Serial port /dev/cu.usbmodem54E20353551
Connecting.....
Chip is ESP32-D0WDQ6 (revision v1.1)
Features: WiFi, BT, Dual Core, 240MHz, VRef calibration in efuse, Coding Scheme None
Crystal is 40MHz
MAC: 3c:e9:0e:71:d5:44
Uploading stub...

A fatal error occurred: Failed to write to target RAM (result was 01070000: Operation timed out)
Failed uploading: uploading error: exit status 2

I'm using ESP32 Dev Module Board on Port /dev/cu.usbmodem54E20353551 Serial Port (USB)

I can connect up a HiLetgo ESP-WROOM-32 ESP32 ESP-32D Development Board
ESP32 Dev Module Board on Port /dev/cu.usbserial-0001 Serial Port (USB)

And everything works as expected, with no problems.

With the Waveshare board that fails, I've tried holding boot when uploading, En and Boot, then releasing En; I tried standing on one foot when uploading, but nothing works. Oh, and there are two micro dip switches on the Waveshare driver board. The directions say 2 needs to be on to load, and for teh 4.26" display board, B was selected, but I've tried all combinations, no joy.

Last thoughts: I guess it could be the USB-to-Serial port, but IDE picks it up when I plug the boards in; it appears to read the board info before the upload attempt, and it does connect. And I'm running the latest version of MAC OS.

2

Not sure if its related but I found this:

Turn on the serial port module: Toggle the No. 2 switch to "ON", this switch controls the power supply of the USB to the UART module. When you don't need to use it, you can manually turn off the module to save power (if switch 2 is in the OFF state, you cannot upload the program.

See further info here:

Maybe you need to turn switch 2 on to activate the UART chip?

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Thanks for the feedback, but switch 2 in on. If it's off, you won't see the serial port.

4

Just realised that's actually in your comment. Was going to suggest another USB cable but you said you can program another ESP. Are the ePaper display and/or shield/adapter board disconnected when you try to program the Waveshare board?

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Yes, everything is disconnected from the ESP32 display board. Doesn't matter either way.

6

Did you ever find a solution?

I am experiencing (kind of) the same issue and am unable to flash the board using espflash.

7

After installing the latest CH341 driver (and rebooting my MacBook) things started working for me (Apple M3 Pro running macOS Sonoma).

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