Fel problem (ubuntu)

[loicbonino]

I have the same error with ubuntu, the chip is in FEL mode ( the pins are connected) it’s in a usb2 port with a working cable, but it keeps saying : waiting for Fel:.......... timeout

[Thore-Krug]

Ok please remove the old repo with rm -r *Path to Folder *
then run git clone -b Thore-Krug1 https://github.com/Thore-Krug/Flash-CHIP.git
( This downloads a slightly changed version )
Insert your Chip to your PC make sure u have a wire between Ground and FEl.

then change into the Folder cd Flash-Chip
make the file executeable sudo chmod +x Flash.sh
run the script sudo ./Flash.sh
If the error still appears run lsusb before and after u pluged in your Chip and look if a new device show up ( for example Tablet in Flashing mode or USB composit gadet ) . Then run dmesg too and attached the output here as File.

[Thore-Krug]

@loicbonino Any Progress ? Otherwise i consider to close this issue.

[loicbonino]

My chip is dead i think, you can close this, i thank you for trying

[96fps]

I'm afraid I'm encountering this aswell with two of my CHIP's, it used to be one but after my CHIP's sat in a box for months I unsuccessfully tried to flash from a Linux VirtualBox machine on windows by sharing USB devices. Now both fail on a native Ubuntu 19.04 machine.

Edit: will be trying different cables to see if that has any effect

[Thore-Krug]

Did u connected a wire between FEL and Ground ? Did u double checked your cable ? Disabled power saving ? What does the command lsusb output when the chip is plugged into your PC ?

[96fps]

I am shorting the FEL header with ground, the cable is a data cable. I'm using a powered hub and even plugged the chip into the battery of a disassembled pocketchip after reading another thread.
lsusb lists the chip as Bus 002 Device 014: ID 1f3a:efe8 Onda (unverified) V972 tablet in flashing mode

[96fps]

one of my chips passes this step and is tripped up immediately after with error -7

 Installing CHIP-tools
Already up to date.
== Pocketchip selected ==
== preparing images ==
== Local/cached probe files located ==
== Staging for NAND probe ==
Image Name:   detect NAND
Created:      Mon Jul 15 15:28:35 2019
Image Type:   ARM Linux Script (uncompressed)
Data Size:    97 Bytes = 0.09 KiB = 0.00 MiB
Load Address: 00000000
Entry Point:  00000000
Contents:
   Image 0: 89 Bytes = 0.09 KiB = 0.00 MiB
waiting for fel...OK
usb_bulk_send() ERROR -7: Operation timed out

but my other seems to get stuck at waiting for fel...........

[96fps]

I'm using a new wire to short to fel, and power-cycled the chip once more, now it also reaches error -7

[Thore-Krug]

Error -7 is a libusb problem which is mostly caused by bad cables unfortunately the chip is quit sensitive. And are u Shure your USB port can deliver enough current ? Also use usb2 usb3 causes a lot of problems

[bestouff]

What if I have only USB3 ports ?

[Thore-Krug]

You can try a Usb2 hub or just give it a shot on USB3

[bestouff]

Well I have this exact same problem:

waiting for fel......OK
usb_bulk_send() ERROR -7: Operation timed out

I'll try to find a hub somewhere.

[Emzy]

Same here. Also with a powered hub. And different cables.
Also same on 3 different C.H.I.P's and on a Debian VM and a Raspbery PI4

[bestouff]

Yeah, it didn't work for me with a usb2 hub also.

[Emzy]

Yeah, it didn't work for me with a usb2 hub also.

Fix: #21 (comment)

[Thore-Krug]

The Chip is very finiky about cables and USB timing a VM is very suboptimal. Also I created a Live Linux to flash your Chip from multiple people tried it and it worked flawlessly. Will put the link and instructions here soon.

[bestouff]

Yeah, it didn't work for me with a usb2 hub also.

Fix: #21

Indeed ! Did someone open a bugreport against sunxi-tools ?

[DYoshihiro]

I'm not sure you guys are still here, but I solved this issue.

Error -7 is a libusb problem which is mostly caused by bad cables unfortunately the chip is quit sensitive. And are u Shure your USB port can deliver enough current ? Also use usb2 usb3 causes a lot of problems

Well I have this exact same problem:

waiting for fel......OK
usb_bulk_send() ERROR -7: Operation timed out

I'll try to find a hub somewhere.

I had a same problem, so I tried following method,

https://medium.com/@0x1231/nextthingco-pocket-c-h-i-p-flashing-guide-3445492639e

but I got following errors.

fatal error: stdint.h: No such file or directory
fatal error: assert.h: No such file or directory
fatal error: ctype.h: No such file or directory

so I did this sudo apt install --reinstall build-essential

...and I got another errors.

fatal error: fatal error: zlib.h: No such file or directory
fatal error: libusb.h: No such file or directory

...so I did these.

sudo apt-get install zlib1g-dev
sudo apt-get install libusb-1.0-0-dev

Finally, -7 error is solved and Flash-CHIP is working for me, I can use my Pocket C.H.I.P. again!!

optional:
I also tried these but I'm not sure if it's necessary.

sudo apt-get install avr-libc
sudo apt install --reinstall gcc-5.4

[DYoshihiro]

oh and I was using USB3 without battery

[satish-hsk]

I had the same issue "usb_bulk_send() ERROR -7: Operation timed out"
Following the above mentioned link https://medium.com/@0x1231/nextthingco-pocket-c-h-i-p-flashing-guide-3445492639e also solved and recovered my CHIP. (after being in my closet for more than one year)

[necarnot]

The Chip is very finiky about cables and USB timing a VM is very suboptimal. Also I created a Live Linux to flash your Chip from multiple people tried it and it worked flawlessly. Will put the link and instructions here soon.

Hello @Thore-Krug ,
As I'm facing the same issue (FEL timeout) and though I've tried every proposed workaround to no avail, I'd be glad to know if you could provide the Live Linux you were talking about?

Thank you

Nicolas