How to erase external flash using STM32_Programmer_CLI.exe and flash loader?

FU · ‎2024-02-07

When I use STM32Programmer IDE I can erase external flash sector by sector.

When I use STM32_Programmer_CLI.exe I cannot erase the external flash.

Board info:

I get following error from STM32_Programmer_CLI.exe:

STM32_Programmer_CLI.exe -c port=swd -e all -el C:\Program Files\STMicroelectronics\STM32Cube\STM32CubeProgrammer\bin\ExternalLoader\N25Q128A_STM32L476G-DISCO.stldr
      -------------------------------------------------------------------
                       STM32CubeProgrammer v2.15.0
      -------------------------------------------------------------------

ST-LINK SN  : 0671FF565588494867121539
ST-LINK FW  : V2J43M28
Board       : 32F746GDISCOVERY
Voltage     : 3.22V
SWD freq    : 4000 KHz
Connect mode: Normal
Reset mode  : Software reset
Device ID   : 0x449
Revision ID : Rev Z
Device name : STM32F74x/STM32F75x
Flash size  : 1 MBytes
Device type : MCU
Device CPU  : Cortex-M7
BL Version  : 0x90
Debug in Low Power mode enabled


Mass erase ...

Error: Mass erase operation failed.
Please verify flash protection

Since the erase fails I cannot program the device either.

STM32_Programmer_CLI.exe -c port=swd -el C:\Program Files\STMicroelectronics\STM32Cube\STM32CubeProgrammer\bin\ExternalLoader\N25Q128A_STM32L476G-DISCO.stldr -d C:\work\STM32F746DiscoveryCmakeTemplate\build\STM32F746DiscoveryCmakeTemplate.hex
      -------------------------------------------------------------------
                       STM32CubeProgrammer v2.15.0
      -------------------------------------------------------------------

ST-LINK SN  : 0671FF565588494867121539
ST-LINK FW  : V2J43M28
Board       : 32F746GDISCOVERY
Voltage     : 3.22V
SWD freq    : 4000 KHz
Connect mode: Normal
Reset mode  : Software reset
Device ID   : 0x449
Revision ID : Rev Z
Device name : STM32F74x/STM32F75x
Flash size  : 1 MBytes
Device type : MCU
Device CPU  : Cortex-M7
BL Version  : 0x90
Debug in Low Power mode enabled



Memory Programming ...
Opening and parsing file: STM32F746DiscoveryCmakeTemplate.hex
  File          : STM32F746DiscoveryCmakeTemplate.hex
  Size          : 590.28 KB
  Address       : 0x08000000


Erasing memory corresponding to segment 0:
Erasing internal memory sectors [0 5]
Erasing memory corresponding to segment 1:
Erasing external memory sectors [0 3]
Error: failed to erase memory


Error: failed to erase memory

I need STM32Programmer_CLI.exe to work since I want to be able to program the board with scripts. IDE does not work for me.

Here is a log from failing flash/erase step:

Erasing external memory sectors [0 3]
Init flashloader...
halt ap 0
w ap 0 reg 0 R0   0x00000001
w ap 0 reg 1 R1   0x00000000
w ap 0 reg 2 R2   0x00000000
w ap 0 reg 3 R3   0x00000000
w ap 0 reg 4 R4   0x00000000
w ap 0 reg 5 R5   0x00000000
w ap 0 reg 6 R6   0x00000000
w ap 0 reg 7 R7   0x00000000
w ap 0 reg 8 R8   0x00000000
w ap 0 reg 9 R9   0x00000000
w ap 0 reg 10 R10  0x00000000
w ap 0 reg 11 R11  0x00000000
w ap 0 reg 12 R12  0x00000000
w ap 0 reg 13 SP   0x00000000
w ap 0 reg 14 LR   0x20000001
w ap 0 reg 15 PC   0x200006D3
w ap 0 reg 16 xPSR 0x01000000
w ap 0 reg 17 MSP  0x20001D98
w ap 0 reg 18 PSP  0x00000000
run ap 0
halt ap 0
r ap 0 reg 0 R0   0x48001000
Init function fail
r ap 0 reg 16 xPSR 0x01000003
Loader sector erase...
Error: failed to erase memory

How can I do that please?

I looked forums and communities and I have to say the info is rather hopeless.

How come same flash loader works in the IDE but does not work in the CLI?

Maryem · ‎2024-02-14

Hello @FU and welcome to the ST Community,

Sorry for my late replay.

The file "N25Q128A_STM32L476G-DISCO.stldr" you are using is an external loader file for the STM32L476G-DISCO board. Could you please try with this file instead "N25Q128A_STM32F746G-DISCO.stldr"

Maryem.

FU · ‎2024-02-14

Hi,

Thank you for your reply. I am sorry but I could not really understand your suggestion.

@Maryem wrote:
The file "N25Q128A_STM32L476G-DISCO.stldr" you are using is an external loader file for the STM32L476G-DISCO board.

Spot on. Sharp eye you have.

@Maryem wrote:
Could you please try with this file instead "N25Q128A_STM32F746G-DISCO.stldr"

Well... Are you sure N25Q128A_STM32F746G-DISCO.stldr will work? Shouldn't I use N25Q128A_STM32F746G-DISCO.stldr instead? Or maybe I shall try N25Q128A_STM32F746G-DISCO.stldr?

I am sorry, I could not resist the joke.

The problem I think is not in the external flash loader since when that is called by GUI programmer it seems to be doing the job.

I think the problem is in Programmer CLI which somehow does not call external flash loader correctly.

But since I do not have the source code of the CLI nor the GUI of the Programmer it is quite hard to me to narrow down the problem.