WeAct BlackPill: Ocasional DFU problems in STM32CubeProgrammer on Windows 10

Shlapunov.Nicolai · ‎2025-01-28

Hi Everyone,

I have some problems with DFU on Windows 10. I use WeAct BlackPill boards based on STM32F411 MCU. This board has BOOT0 button which allow to update firmware using STM32CubeProgrammer and DFU mode.

Majority of the boards can be programmed in DFU mode using STM32CubeProgrammer with no issue. Recently I got couple boards that acts very weird: those boards enters DFU mode just fine, detects by STM32CubeProgrammer and able to connect, but as soon I try to erase or program those boards - STM32CubeProgrammer says "Connection lost" and that is it. After that those boards enters into DFU mode, STM32CubeProgrammer able to read serial number, but any attempt to connect failed:

  16:51:36 : STM32CubeProgrammer API v2.18.0 | Windows-64Bits 
  16:51:45 : UR connection mode is defined with the HWrst reset mode
  16:51:45 : USB speed   : Full Speed (12MBit/s)
  16:51:45 : Manuf. ID   : STMicroelectronics
  16:51:45 : Product ID  : STM32  BOOTLOADER
  16:51:45 : SN          : 337F33963134
  16:51:45 : DFU protocol: 1.1
  16:51:45 : Board       : --
  16:51:45 : Device ID   : 0x0431
  16:51:45 : UPLOADING OPTION BYTES DATA ...
  16:51:45 :   Bank          : 0x00
  16:51:45 :   Address       : 0x1fffc000
  16:51:45 :   Size          : 16 Bytes
  16:51:45 : UPLOADING ...
  16:51:45 :   Size          : 1024 Bytes
  16:51:45 :   Address       : 0x8000000
  16:51:45 : Read progress:
  16:51:45 : Error: Data read failed
  16:51:45 : Warning: Connection to device 0x431 is lost
  16:51:51 : Warning: Connection to device 0x431 is lost
  16:52:00 : Disconnected from device.
  16:52:00 : Disconnected from device.

If I use ST-Link to program those boards, I able to connect in DFU mode again... until I try to reprogram it. Then same problem with connection appears again.

I tried two different cables and three different laptops - same result.

But then I decided to try another PC with Windows 11 and it works! It works every single time on two different Windows 11 based laptops with no problems! STM32CubeProgrammer version is the same(2.18), so it is not that, it is something else. I wondering what it can be.

I really want this issue to be fixed, because I can't use those boards for my SmartPendant project to control CNC machines based on grblHAL controllers, since it will be impossible to update firmware under Windows 10, and even worse - attempt bricks device until it will be reprogrammed on Windows 11.

@Pavel A. wrote:
> since it will be impossible to update firmware under Windows 10
Windows 11 works better than Win10. Sometimes newer is better. Support of Windows 10 will end in October anyway. Time to update!

I wondering why some people give advices that doesn't helps at all.Не зря СССР называли "страна советов"...

I make those devices and sell them to hobbyists like me who converting benchtop mills/lathes into CNC. They can use different OS and I have no control of it. I couldn't just say "Oh, you have a problem? Time to update!". Beside, I tried it on Windows. Will it have same problem on MacOS? On a Linux? I don't know. But what I do know there some problems with some of MCU, because some boards work and some don't. And those problems potentially can be fixed on STM32CubeProgrammer side since it works flawlessly on Windows 11.

And questions I want to be answered:

1) If it bug in MCU, does it affect anything beside DFU? Crushing CNC machine is not fun.

2) Will it be fixed in STM32CubeProgrammer?

P.S. I reposted it from there: https://community.st.com/t5/stm32-mcus-embedded-software/ocasional-dfu-problems-in-stm32cubeprogrammer-on-windows-10/m-p/765994/

since this is more appropriate section. You can delete original topic. <-- Threads merged

Shlapunov.Nicolai · ‎2025-01-30

Update: Connection doesn't work when I connect board directly to one of USB ports on laptop itself, but works if I connect it to dock station connected to the same laptop via USB-C. I also noticed that there different Verbosity Levels in STM32CubeProgrammer. I set it to 3, and when it doesn't work, this is what it shows:

08:41:54:866 : UR connection mode is defined with the HWrst reset mode
08:41:54:924 : DFU status = 0 : OK
08:41:54:925 : DFU state = 4 : dfuDNBUSY
08:41:54:925 : Status: 0, State: 4
08:41:54:925 : sending an abort request
08:41:54:925 : DFU status = 0 : OK
08:41:54:925 : DFU state = 2 : dfuIDLE
08:41:54:925 : setting the address pointer to address: 0x08000000
08:41:54:925 : DFU status = 0 : OK
08:41:54:925 : DFU state = 4 : dfuDNBUSY
08:41:54:926 : DFU status = 0 : OK
08:41:54:926 : DFU state = 5 : dfuDNLOAD-IDLE
08:41:54:926 : Device Descriptor:
08:41:54:926 : |_bLength : 0x12
08:41:54:926 : |_bDescriptorType : 0x01
08:41:54:926 : |_bcdUSB : 0x0100
08:41:54:926 : |_bDeviceClass : 0x00
08:41:54:926 : |_bDeviceSubClass : 0x00
08:41:54:926 : |_bDeviceProtocol : 0x00
08:41:54:926 : |_bMaxPacketSize : 0x40
08:41:54:926 : |_idVendor : 0x0483
08:41:54:926 : |_idProduct : 0xdf11
08:41:54:927 : |_bcdDevice : 0x2200
08:41:54:927 : |_iManufacturer : 0x01
08:41:54:927 : |_iProduct : 0x02
08:41:54:927 : |_iSerialNumber : 0x03
08:41:54:927 : |_bNumConfigurations : 0x01
08:41:54:927 : Configuration Descriptor:
08:41:54:927 : |_bLength : 0x09
08:41:54:927 : |_bDescriptorType : 0x02
08:41:54:927 : |_wTotalLength : 0x36
08:41:54:927 : |_bNumInterfaces : 0x01
08:41:54:927 : |_bConfigurationValue : 0x01
08:41:54:927 : |_iConfiguration : 0x00
08:41:54:927 : |_bmAttributes : 0xc0
08:41:54:927 : |_bMaxPower : 0x32
08:41:54:927 : Interface Descriptor Alternate Settings: 0x00
08:41:54:927 : |_bLength : 0x09
08:41:54:927 : |_bDescriptorType : 0x04
08:41:54:927 : |_bInterfaceNumber : 0x00
08:41:54:928 : |_bAlternateSetting : 0x00
08:41:54:928 : |_bNumEndpoints : 0x00
08:41:54:928 : |_bInterfaceClass : 0xfe
08:41:54:928 : |_bInterfaceSubClass : 0x01
08:41:54:928 : |_bInterfaceProtocol : 0x02
08:41:54:928 : |_iInterface : 0x04
08:41:54:928 : Interface Descriptor Alternate Settings: 0x01
08:41:54:928 : |_bLength : 0x09
08:41:54:928 : |_bDescriptorType : 0x04
08:41:54:928 : |_bInterfaceNumber : 0x00
08:41:54:928 : |_bAlternateSetting : 0x01
08:41:54:928 : |_bNumEndpoints : 0x00
08:41:54:928 : |_bInterfaceClass : 0xfe
08:41:54:928 : |_bInterfaceSubClass : 0x01
08:41:54:928 : |_bInterfaceProtocol : 0x02
08:41:54:928 : |_iInterface : 0x05
08:41:54:928 : Interface Descriptor Alternate Settings: 0x02
08:41:54:928 : |_bLength : 0x09
08:41:54:929 : |_bDescriptorType : 0x04
08:41:54:929 : |_bInterfaceNumber : 0x00
08:41:54:929 : |_bAlternateSetting : 0x02
08:41:54:929 : |_bNumEndpoints : 0x00
08:41:54:929 : |_bInterfaceClass : 0xfe
08:41:54:929 : |_bInterfaceSubClass : 0x01
08:41:54:929 : |_bInterfaceProtocol : 0x02
08:41:54:929 : |_iInterface : 0x06
08:41:54:929 : Interface Descriptor Alternate Settings: 0x03
08:41:54:929 : |_bLength : 0x09
08:41:54:929 : |_bDescriptorType : 0x04
08:41:54:929 : |_bInterfaceNumber : 0x00
08:41:54:929 : |_bAlternateSetting : 0x03
08:41:54:929 : |_bNumEndpoints : 0x00
08:41:54:929 : |_bInterfaceClass : 0xfe
08:41:54:929 : |_bInterfaceSubClass : 0x01
08:41:54:929 : |_bInterfaceProtocol : 0x02
08:41:54:929 : |_iInterface : 0x07
08:41:54:930 : Functional Descriptor :
08:41:54:930 : |_bLength : 0x09
08:41:54:930 : |_bDescriptorType : 0x21
08:41:54:930 : |_bmAttributes : 0x0b
08:41:54:930 : |_wDetachTimeOut : 0xff
08:41:54:930 : |_wTransferSize : 0x0800
08:41:54:930 : |_bcdDFUVersion : 0x011a
08:41:54:930 : USB speed : Full Speed (12MBit/s)
08:41:54:930 : Manuf. ID : STMicroelectronics
08:41:54:930 : Product ID : STM32 BOOTLOADER
08:41:54:930 : SN : 337F33963134
08:41:54:930 : DFU protocol: 1.1
08:41:54:930 : Board : --
08:41:54:930 : Device ID : unknown
08:41:54:930 : DFU status = 0 : OK
08:41:54:930 : DFU state = 5 : dfuDNLOAD-IDLE
08:41:54:930 : Status: 0, State: 5
08:41:54:930 : setting the address pointer to address: 0x08000000
08:41:54:930 : DFU status = 0 : OK
08:41:54:931 : DFU state = 4 : dfuDNBUSY
08:41:54:931 : DFU status = 0 : OK
08:41:54:931 : DFU state = 5 : dfuDNLOAD-IDLE
08:41:54:931 : DFU status = 0 : OK
08:41:54:931 : DFU state = 9 : dfuUPLOAD-IDLE
08:41:54:931 : Status: 0, State: 9
08:41:54:931 : sending an abort request
08:41:54:931 : DFU status = 0 : OK
08:41:54:931 : DFU state = 2 : dfuIDLE
08:41:54:931 : setting the address pointer to address: 0x08000000
08:41:54:931 : DFU status = 0 : OK
08:41:54:931 : DFU state = 4 : dfuDNBUSY
08:41:54:931 : DFU status = 0 : OK
08:41:54:931 : DFU state = 5 : dfuDNLOAD-IDLE
08:41:54:931 : DFU status = 0 : OK
08:41:54:931 : DFU state = 5 : dfuDNLOAD-IDLE
08:41:54:931 : Status: 0, State: 5
08:41:54:931 : setting the address pointer to address: 0x1fffc008
08:41:54:931 : DFU status = 0 : OK
08:41:54:932 : DFU state = 4 : dfuDNBUSY
08:41:54:932 : DFU status = 0 : OK
08:41:54:932 : DFU state = 5 : dfuDNLOAD-IDLE
08:41:54:932 : receiving packet nbr: 0
08:41:54:932 : DFU status = 0 : OK
08:41:54:932 : DFU state = 5 : dfuDNLOAD-IDLE
08:41:54:932 : sending an abort request
08:41:54:932 : DFU status = 0 : OK
08:41:54:932 : DFU state = 2 : dfuIDLE
08:41:54:932 : UpLoading data
08:41:54:932 : DFU status = 0 : OK
08:41:54:932 : DFU state = 9 : dfuUPLOAD-IDLE
08:41:54:932 : Database: Config 0 is active.
08:41:54:932 : DFU status = 0 : OK
08:41:54:932 : DFU state = 9 : dfuUPLOAD-IDLE
08:41:54:932 : Status: 0, State: 9
08:41:54:932 : sending an abort request
08:41:54:932 : DFU status = 0 : OK
08:41:54:932 : DFU state = 2 : dfuIDLE
08:41:54:932 : setting the address pointer to address: 0x08000000
08:41:54:932 : DFU status = 0 : OK
08:41:54:932 : DFU state = 4 : dfuDNBUSY
08:41:54:933 : DFU status = 0 : OK
08:41:54:933 : DFU state = 5 : dfuDNLOAD-IDLE
08:41:55:115 : DFU status = 0 : OK
08:41:55:115 : DFU state = 9 : dfuUPLOAD-IDLE
08:41:55:115 : Status: 0, State: 9
08:41:55:115 : sending an abort request
08:41:55:115 : DFU status = 0 : OK
08:41:55:115 : DFU state = 2 : dfuIDLE
08:41:55:115 : setting the address pointer to address: 0x08000000
08:41:55:115 : DFU status = 0 : OK
08:41:55:115 : DFU state = 4 : dfuDNBUSY
08:41:55:115 : DFU status = 0 : OK
08:41:55:115 : DFU state = 5 : dfuDNLOAD-IDLE
08:41:55:115 : UPLOADING OPTION BYTES DATA ...
08:41:55:115 : Bank : 0x00
08:41:55:115 : Address : 0x1fffc000
08:41:55:115 : Size : 16 Bytes
08:41:55:115 : DFU status = 0 : OK
08:41:55:115 : DFU state = 5 : dfuDNLOAD-IDLE
08:41:55:115 : Status: 0, State: 5
08:41:55:115 : setting the address pointer to address: 0x1fffc000
08:41:55:115 : DFU status = 0 : OK
08:41:55:115 : DFU state = 4 : dfuDNBUSY
08:41:55:115 : DFU status = 0 : OK
08:41:55:115 : DFU state = 5 : dfuDNLOAD-IDLE
08:41:55:115 : receiving packet nbr: 0
08:41:55:115 : DFU status = 0 : OK
08:41:55:115 : DFU state = 5 : dfuDNLOAD-IDLE
08:41:55:115 : sending an abort request
08:41:55:116 : DFU status = 0 : OK
08:41:55:116 : DFU state = 2 : dfuIDLE
08:41:55:116 : UpLoading data
08:41:55:116 : DFU status = 0 : OK
08:41:55:116 : DFU state = 9 : dfuUPLOAD-IDLE
08:41:55:116 : UPLOADING OPTION BYTES DATA ...
08:41:55:116 : Bank : 0x00
08:41:55:116 : Address : 0x1fffc000
08:41:55:116 : Size : 16 Bytes
08:41:55:116 : DFU status = 0 : OK
08:41:55:116 : DFU state = 9 : dfuUPLOAD-IDLE
08:41:55:116 : Status: 0, State: 9
08:41:55:116 : sending an abort request
08:41:55:116 : DFU status = 0 : OK
08:41:55:116 : DFU state = 2 : dfuIDLE
08:41:55:116 : setting the address pointer to address: 0x1fffc000
08:41:55:116 : DFU status = 0 : OK
08:41:55:116 : DFU state = 4 : dfuDNBUSY
08:41:55:116 : DFU status = 0 : OK
08:41:55:116 : DFU state = 5 : dfuDNLOAD-IDLE
08:41:55:116 : receiving packet nbr: 0
08:41:55:116 : DFU status = 0 : OK
08:41:55:116 : DFU state = 5 : dfuDNLOAD-IDLE
08:41:55:116 : sending an abort request
08:41:55:116 : DFU status = 0 : OK
08:41:55:116 : DFU state = 2 : dfuIDLE
08:41:55:116 : UpLoading data
08:41:55:116 : DFU status = 0 : OK
08:41:55:117 : DFU state = 9 : dfuUPLOAD-IDLE
08:41:55:117 : UPLOADING ...
08:41:55:117 : Size : 1024 Bytes
08:41:55:117 : Address : 0x8000000
08:41:55:117 : Read progress:
08:41:55:117 : DFU status = 0 : OK
08:41:55:117 : DFU state = 9 : dfuUPLOAD-IDLE
08:41:55:117 : Status: 0, State: 9
08:41:55:117 : sending an abort request
08:41:55:117 : DFU status = 0 : OK
08:41:55:117 : DFU state = 2 : dfuIDLE
08:41:55:117 : setting the address pointer to address: 0x08000000
08:41:55:117 : DFU status = 0 : OK
08:41:55:117 : DFU state = 4 : dfuDNBUSY
08:41:55:118 : DFU status = 0 : OK
08:41:55:118 : DFU state = 5 : dfuDNLOAD-IDLE
08:41:55:118 : receiving packet nbr: 0
08:41:55:118 : DFU status = 0 : OK
08:41:55:118 : DFU state = 5 : dfuDNLOAD-IDLE
08:41:55:118 : sending an abort request
08:41:55:118 : DFU status = 0 : OK
08:41:55:118 : DFU state = 2 : dfuIDLE

  08:41:55:118 : UpLoading data
  08:41:55:119 : libusb control transfer error [-9] : LIBUSB_ERROR_PIPE  
  08:41:55:119 : Error: Data read failed
  08:41:55:245 : Warning: Connection to device 0x431 is lost
  08:42:00:459 : Warning: Connection to device 0x431 is lost
  08:42:09:606 : Disconnected from device.
  08:42:09:647 : Disconnected from device.

I probably should done it earlier. Search this error shows that I am not alone:

Error - libusb control transfer error [-9] : LIBUSB_ERROR_PIPE

STM32CubeProgrammer 2.14.0 firmware update error over USB in Windows 10 64 bit

STM32CubeProgrammer DFU instable

I highly doubt that everyone in those topics has fake MCUs. I assume ST will not resolve this issue.

@Andrew Neil wrote:
It seems that @Shlapunov.Nicolai has the PCB design resources - so why not just put the SMT32 straight onto the PCB? Why the plug-in board at all?

It is an hobby project, it started with all off the shelf modules. Then I decided to make a board to make it smaller. Initial idea was to use BlackPill connected to the board which will allow to replace it if it will be damaged, but turns out that while round connectors smaller than regular squire ones, it still make device too thick. My board contains only two layers, BlackPill has more. I am not sure if it can be done in two layers. More layers - more expensive board. Then placement fees, other parts cost and with volume of 10-30 boards it just doesn't give any benefits for this hustle.

And even if I'll do all this, when something will go wrong, some ST Employee probably will say "LCSC and JLCPCB is Chinese companies, may be they sourced fake STM32s" :D