EPICtm Plus PICmicro MCU Programmer 2.41beta README file
Copyright (c)2002 microEngineering Labs, Inc.

This software and accompanying documentation is copyright (c)
microEngineering Labs, Inc. and may only be used by owners of the
microEngineering Labs, Inc. EPIC Programmer.  Please contact
microEngineering Labs, Inc. to license this software.  Contact
information is listed at the end of this file.


This diskette contains the files the necessary for the construction and
operation of the EPIC Plus Programmer.  The files on this diskette should
include:

        EPIC.HTM                EPIC Windows HTML help file
        EPIC.INI                EPICC/EPIC Windows device data file
        EPICCFG.INI             EPIC Windows configuration file
        EPICWIN.EXE             EPIC Windows programming software
        NTINST.EXE              EPIC Windows NT/2000/XP driver install/remove program
        PICLPT95.VXD            EPIC Windows 95/98/ME driver
        PICLPTNT.SYS            EPIC Windows NT/2000/XP driver
        README.TXT              This file
        *.GIF                   Image files for help
        *.JPG                   Image files for help



Version Information

Version 2.4 of the EPIC Programmer software adds support for the PIC18Fxxx
devices.  The current version of the software and current engineering sample
devices do not allow setting Code Protect, Table Read Protect or Table Write
Protect.



PIC12C508(A)/509(A)/671/672/12CE518/12CE519/12CE673/12CE674/16C505 Notes:

These parts are not completely blank from the factory.  They contain a
calibration value in the last location.  Simply tell EPIC that it is OK
to program them anyway if it finds they are not blank.  Or check the box
for Skip Blank Check.

This also affects reading a programmed part and writing it back to a new
part.  If the calibration values for the two parts are not the same, EPIC
will report a programming or verify error at the last location.



EPROM/OTP Programming Notes:

The EPIC programming software defaults to a device type of 16F84.  You
must be sure to change this if the device is an EPROM or OTP part.  These
parts cannot be programmed using the '8x algorithm and may be damaged by
it.



PIC16F7x/18Fxxx Notes:

These parts must be erased before reprogramming.



Windows NT/2000/XP Driver Installation:

Usually, running the EPIC Windows programming software will automatically
load the required driver, PICLPTNT.SYS.  In some cases and with some
permissions, the driver may not be properly loaded under NT/2000/XP.  A
program, NTINST, is included with the EPIC software to install or remove
the EPIC Windows NT/2000/XP driver (you must be logged in as an
administrator).

To install the NT/2000/XP driver, from the EPIC subdirectory, enter:

        ntinst /install

If the EPIC programming software is reinstalled or moved to a different
directory, the Windows NT/2000/XP registry may try to start the PICLPTNT
service from the wrong directory.  To reset the registry key , from the
EPIC subdirectory, enter:

        ntinst /remove

You may receive an error, but it should remove the driver anyway.

If you can't remove the driver using this method, you can delete the
registry key using REGEDIT.  Editing the registry is an advanced operation
that should only be performed by those well versed in Windows operating
systems.

The key to delete is:
\HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CURRENTCONTROLSET\SERVICES\PICLPTNT



Assembler Notes:

The EPIC Plus Programmer is now shipping with version 4 of the PM Assembler.
It will not work with version 1.32 or earlier of the standard PicBasic
Compiler.  Later versions of the PicBasic Compiler can be used with version
3 or greater of PM.

PM now includes header files in both the Parallax and Microchip styles.
Include files starting with 'M' (e.g. M12C67x.INC) use Microchip register
naming.  Include files starting with 'P' (e.g. P16C71.INC) use the Parallax
style of register naming that previous versions of PM have used.  The
entire device name should be specified for the header file.

The default source file extension for PM is now ".ASM" (e.g. DEMO84.ASM).

PM does not support PIC18Xxxx devices.  Use Microchip's MPASM or MPASMWIN
instead.



EPIC for DOS Notes:

The code buffer in EPIC for DOS is not large enough to hold an entire
8K program.  It will only hold about 6 or 7K of it.  If the program is
larger than this size, use EPICC or EPIC for Windows 95/98/ME/NT/2000/XP.



EPIC for Windows 95/98/ME/NT/2000/XP Notes:

Many menu items are grayed out and are not selectable.  Some of these
items, such as Erase, are only available for use by certain devices.
These become enabled when the appropriate device is selected.

Be sure to check the configuration settings, particulary code protect,
immediately before programming a device.

See the file EPIC.TXT or EPIC Help for EPIC operation information.



PICmicro MCU support, EPICC / EPIC for Windows 95/98/ME/NT/2000/XP:

12C508(A), 12C509(A), 12CE518, 12CE519, 12C671, 12C672, 12CE673, 12CE674,
12F629, 12F675: Supported.

14C000: Supported using PIC14C000 ZIF Adapter.

16C432, 16C433: Supported using ICSP.

16C52, 16C54, 16C55, 16C56, 16C57, 16C58, 16HV540: Not supported.

16C505, 16C554, 16C558, 16C61, 16C620(A), 16C621(A), 16C622(A), 16CE623,
16CE624, 16CE625, 16F627, 16F628, 16C71, 16C710, 16C711, 16C712, 16C715,
16C716, 16C717, 16F83, 16C84, 16F84(A): Supported.

16C770, 16C771, 16C781, 16C782: Supported using 8/18/20 Pin ZIF Adapter.

16C62(AB), 16C63(A), 16C64(A), 16C642, 16C65(AB), 16C66, 16C662, 16C67,
16C72(A), 16F72, 16C73(AB), 16F73, 16C74(AB), 16F74, 16C745, 16C76, 16F76,
16C765, 16C77, 16F77, 16C773, 16C774, 16F870, 16F871, 16F872, 16F873,
16F874, 16F876, 16F877: Supported using 40/28 Pin ZIF Adapter.

16C923, 16C924, 16C925, 16C926: Supported using 68 Pin PLCC Adapter.

17C42(A), 17C43, 17C44: Not supported.

17C752, 17C756(A): Supported using 1768 PLCC Adapter.

17C762, 17C766: Supported using 1784 PLCC Adapter.

18C242, 18F242, 18F248, 18C252, 18F252, 18F258, 18C442, 18F442, 18F448,
18C452, 18F452, 18F458: Supported using 40/28 Pin ZIF Adapter.

18C601, 18C658: Supported using 1868 PLCC Adapter.

18C801, 18C858: Supported using 1884 PLCC Adapter.

18F6620, 18F6720: Supported using 1864 TQFP Adapter.

18F8620, 18F8720: Supported using 1880 TQFP Adapter.

PicStic1, PicStic1 2k, PicStic2, PicStic2 2k, PicStic3, PicStic3 2k,
PicStic4, PicStic4 2k, PicStic5: Supported using PicStic Adapter.



PICmicro MCU support, EPIC for DOS:

12C508(A), 12C509(A), 12CE518, 12C5E19: Supported.

12C671, 12C672, 12CE673, 12CE674, 12F629, 12F675: Not supported.

14C000: Supported using PIC14C000 ZIF Adapter.

16C432, 16C433, 16C52, 16C54, 16C55, 16C56, 16C57, 16C58, 16C505, 16HV540:
Not supported.

16C554, 16C558, 16C61, 16C620(A), 16C621(A), 16C622(A), 16CE623, 16CE624,
16CE625, 16C71, 16C710, 16C711, 16C84, 16F83, 16F84(A): Supported.

16C62(AB), 16C63(A), 16C64(A), 16C65(AB), 16C66, 16C67, 16C72(A),
16C73(AB), 16C74(AB), 16C76, 16C77: Supported using 40/28 Pin ZIF Adapter.

16C642, 16C662, 16C712, 16C715, 16C716, 16C717, 16C770, 16C771, 16C773,
16C774, 16C781, 16C782, 16F627, 16F628, 16F72, 16F73, 16F74, 16F76, 16F77,
16F870, 16F871, 16F872, 16F873, 16F874, 16F876, 16F877: Not supported.

16C923, 16C924, 16C925, 16C926: Supported using 68 Pin PLCC Adapter

17C42(A), 17C43, 17C44, 17C752, 17C756(A), 17C762, 17C766: Not supported.

18C242, 18F242, 18F248, 18C252, 18F252, 18F258, 18C442, 18F442, 18F448,
18C452, 18F452, 18F458, 18C601, 18C658, 18F6620, 18F6720, 18C801, 18C858,
18F8620, 16F8720: Not supported.


PicStic1, PicStic2, PicStic3, PicStic4: Supported using PicStic Adapter.

PicStic1 2k, PicStic2 2k, PicStic3 2k, PicStic4 2k, PicStic5: Not supported.



Note: The included software will also work with the original EPIC PICmicro
MCU Programmer.  The main difference is that the EPIC Plus PICmicro MCU
Programmer only has one LED and allows the programming of 8- and 14-pin
PICmicro MCUs in its 18-pin programming socket.  The original EPIC
Programmer requires the 8/18/20 Pin ZIF Adapter to program 8- and 14-pin
PICmicro MCUs.

Please read through the instruction files if you have any problems using
your EPIC Plus Programmer.  If you require assistance, please contact:

microEngineering Labs, Inc.
Box 60039
Colorado Springs CO 80960-0039
USA
(719) 520-5323
(719) 520-1867 fax
http://www.melabs.com
email: support@melabs.com

