Bootloader for STM32F746 for firmware and QSPI

FJB2069 · ‎2025-09-16

Apparently I can not easily update my application firmware for stm32F746 toughGFX app with just one Bin file.

I have written a bootloader for an SD card. It loads firmware at 0x08040000.

I am not sure I understand everything that is going on here, so feel free to correct me.

First issue I noticed was the Binfile created by stm32ide was 2G in size compared to the Hexfile that is 13M! I determined this is because it is padding data from internal flash to external QSPI flash starting at 0x90000000

So now I need to break file into two bin parts and load separately, One into internal flash and the QSPI into external? I think I could also use a hex file, but may have to customize it, and try to load that through my bootloader to do the same thing?

Not sure what I need to do, does anyone have any experience with this?

Pavel A. · ‎2025-09-16

> I need to break file into two bin parts and load separately

Yes, this can be done with objcopy and other tools. Hex file is not optimal (text file, too big). Everyone does what they prefer. You may split the QSPI data to several parts, and so on.