PICLOADER Reloader v1.01 README

WARNING
-------
Messing with your PIC's bootloader by not following these directions
exactly can render your PIC unusable!  If this happens to you,
you will need to get someone that owns a PIC programmer to
reprogram the bootloader for you.

New
---
New to this version: I've developed two versions of the reloader.
One can be loaded by Rick's bootloader 1.1, and the other can be
loaded by the CCS bootloader 1.3.  Now you can switch between the
two.

Also new: the reloader(s) are now compatible with PICLoader 
(v1.02 and above)!  Just be sure to hit "Scan Ports" when done
uploading and jumping to the reloader to get PICLoader to detect
the mode change.  PICLoader must indicate "Found PICLoader reloader"
in the port window or else uploading of a new bootloader will fail.

You also need to hit "Scan Ports" after the reloading process
completes, to make sure PICLoader goes back to "loader" mode instead
of "reloader" mode.

Another new feature is that the bootloader reloader now checks for
the destination address of each byte it is told to program, and
protects itself against overwrites.  This helps prevent the easy
mistake of sending the reloader the wrong hex file from rendering
the old bootloader inoperative.

Files in this Zip File
----------------------
cloader.c - the CCS C program that does the reloading

cloader.lst - the listing output from CCS C

ccs_reloader.hex - the hex output file from CCS C; compatible with
the CCS bootloader (v1.3)

rf_reloader.asm - the listing file converted to MPLAB assembler by
CLst2Asm

rf_reloader.hex - MPLAB's assembled version of rf_reloader.asm,
compatible with Rick's bootloader (v1.1)

picldr13.hex - the CCS bootloader v1.3

picldr11.hex - the CCS bootloader v1.1


Intro
-----
I was thinking this morning, hey, why bother having people ship back the  
PICs to have them reprogrammed with a new bootloader for CCS C?  Why 
can't there be a program written which Rick's bootloader will load, and
which is ITSELF a bootloader?  The answer is, there can be, and I've 
done it.

1. Rewrote an example bootloader in CCS C to be a Bootloader Reloader
1a. converted the listing file from CCS C to a .asm file
[NOTE: since then, I wrote clst2asm to make this automatic!]
1b. modified it by hand to conform to Rick's bootloader 1.1 startup code
    requirements (nothing at location 0; goto at location 3)
[also now automatic with clst2asm]
1c. assembled it with MPLAB
1d. uploaded it to the PIC (that has the stock Bootloader 1.1 on it) using
    my new PICLoader

2. Ran the new "Bootloader Reloader" and uploaded to it from Hyperterminal
   a copy of the CCS bootloader (1.31)

3. It worked!

4. confirmed it worked by uploading a stock CCS C .hex file to it, which
   worked too.

Hurray!

So, now, I can post "RF_RELOADER.HEX", which is the Bootloader Reloader for
Rick's bootloader 1.1, "CCS_RELOADER.HEX" which is the same but can be loaded
by the CCS bootloader 1.3, and "PICLDR13.HEX", which is the CCS loader.

This stuff is posted here:
http://www.yahoogroups.com/minisumomarkiii/

Directions
----------
0. using PICLoader, PICLdrCmd, or Hyperterminal, upload "RF_RELOADER.HEX" using
 Rick's Bootloader v1.1 or "CCS_RELOADER.HEX" using the CCS bootloader 1.3x
1. switch to running Hyperterminal at 38400 baud, 8 data bits, 1 stop bit, no
parity, XON/XOFF handshaking (Rick's uses no handshaking) (first close PICLoader
if it is open) OR do it with PICLoader or PICLdrCmd 1.02 or above!
2. after loading the Bootloader Reloader, hit reset and wait 5 secs for Rick's
bootloader to jump to the Bootloader Reloader:
E.G.:

> PIC>##############
> Jumping to user code
> Bootloader Reloader v1.01
REPIC>
3. a signon message "Bootloader Reloader v1.01" will appear
4. it is ready for a hex file; on the Hyperterminal Menu, hit Transfer -> 
Send Text File, then browse to and select "PICLDR13.HEX"
5. # characters will slowly walk across the screen as the 
transfer occurs; after about 250 spades appear, it will automatically jump to
the new bootloader
6. you should see this appear on the screen:

> 8K PICLOADER v1.31
> İR.Farmer/R.Perdriau 1999
> No user code loaded
> Press ? for help
> PIC>


7. you're done!

Enjoy!

-Pete Skeggs