Is it possible to copy content of MCU to other MCU?

[Fliz]

- 2 identical MCU's
- one is full and other one is blank
would it be possible just to copy/past content from one to another MCU?

Thanks

[AndyC_772]

Possibly, depending on the type of MCU and whether or not it has any of its code protection bits set.

[Psi]

You can't link some pins together and have one mcu copy to another (unless the firmware was written to do that.)

However, as said above, if there's no protection enabled you can "download" the firmware from one mcu to a PC and then "upload" it from the PC onto another mcu.

MCUs in purchased products will almost certainly have the protection enabled to stop other companies copying their firmware and quickly selling a competing product.  (Since a significant percentage of the development cost in a product is writing the code)

Note: You may have to copy both the firmware and the eeprom for the new chip to work the same as the original.

[Fliz]

MCU type is Atmel Attiny13A
Idea is to read content of one chip using USBASP programmer (that I have) and then just write that content without any changes to another Attiny13A!
How will I know If there is a protection? I will not be able to read content of mcu or if I succeed writing that content to new mcu it will not function properly!

Thanks for replies

[ptricks]

If the content is protected it will either error out on the read or you will get a read composed of FF or 00.

[ben_r_]

Are you trying to steal someone elses code?

[Fliz]

I ordered soic 8 pin clip for this job but unfortunately it's going to take a while while it gets here :/

Are you trying to steal someone elses code?

You could say so but I couldn't get to the source code anyway, it's all converted to hex code.
Actually I am trying to make another instance of excellent product that has been discontinued long time ago, unfortunately :/