EEVblog #411 - MiniPro TL866 Universal Programmer Review

[FrankBuss]

Tried to download 6.85 version today but Microsoft antivirus tells me that it has a Trojan: Occamy.C  I see that on a previous post another user also got a similar message for this version

Did you try to submit it to Microsoft for testing? Might be a false positive:

https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/wdsi/filesubmission

[texaspyro]

Also submit it to virustotal.com

[Dwaine]

I downloaded it last week and was ok.  No issue with Microsoft scanner on the file.

[ebastler]

I downloaded it last week and was ok.  No issue with Microsoft scanner on the file.

Well, that doesn't tell you much, does it? It merely suggests that Microsoft have added a new virus signature to their scanner since last week, which is triggered by some pattern in the TL866 software. Whether the TL866 software actually contains a trojan or whether it is a false positive (since the signature byte sequence just happens to be in there for innocent reasons) remains unknown.

[TERRA Operative]

I'm looking to get one of these programmers soon.
Does anyone have a legit link to buy a genuine TL866II Plus? Or should I just hit ebay?

[Willem52]

HSEC seems to deliver genuine goods, I got my TL866CS from them:

https://hsec12345.aliexpress.com/store/group/TL866II-Plus/534941_513497334.html

[Dwaine]

I'll check again tonight and see...

Dwaine

[octal]

Also submit it to virustotal.com

https://www.virustotal.com/#/url/869c8e83ccf13cc659981af158fab4a1bdde50764e3e230606feebe3ef51bef1/detection

[Wiljan]

Hi, I just bought the TL866II plus programmer.

Running windows 7 64bit and have downloaded Xgpro V 8.11 from your website since the CD supplied V7.08
When starting the software say's firmware should be updated.

Choosing tool and firmware update in the Xgpro v8.11, it does report Current FW V04.2.94
Pressing "Reflash" it does are fine quick erase and the start programming ...but it takes like 1 hour and then says it succeed

But FW stays on version 04.2.94 even after restarting the program and reconnected the programmer. and then it says firmware needs update again .

I tried to update 3 times (1 hour each) and still same result.

Please advise, thank you

[Willem52]

Please, contact autoelectric:

http://www.autoelectric.cn/en/ContactUs.html

This site has no relation with the autoelectric manufacturer.

Here are just users... trying to help eachother.

[shuvodutta]

I would like add my 2Cent on this topic. This is specifically reg. the Software (Xgpro TL866-II Plus).

I’ve acquired a TL866-II Plus (from banggood.com) recently after going through this Forum and after watching Dave’s Video Review on it.

Initial Impression was good (as Dave has already described.). I’ve installed the Programming Software (Xgpro TL866-II Plus) on Win7 Virtual Box Guest (Host: Ubuntu 16.04 L.T.S., U.S.B. Passthrough enabled for Win7 Enterprise;64bit Guest and works Flawlessly with other U.S.B. Instruments connected to the Host.). Installation went smoothly and I can’t remember it asking for any ‘Special Privilege Level’ (more on it later.). It detected the Programmer with ease and Self-Check on the Device completed successfully. However the Software prompted me to Upgrade the Programmer’s Firmware for which I’ve given permission and voila it failed (erasing part went fine, programmer disconnected from the Host; probably was performing actual Writing Operation and never got connected back to the Computer)! When I’ve disconnected and reconnected (by physically removing and reattaching the U.S.B. Cable) the Programmer, the Software was able to ‘See’ it but Self-Test started failing. ‘Firmware Upgradation’ Prompt was still being displayed but will not proceed further than what has happened before. I tried using different versions of the Software (Firmware Upgrade comes bundled with it.), even on a separate WinXP Laptop but to no avail. It was same everywhere and the Software was not helpful in giving any proper ‘Error Message’. I was about to hit the road end and exhausted all available options (even started getting doubt on insufficient Power Delivery to the Programmer over U.S.B. but it was not the case.). It was kind of Brick for me.

I was sure about one point at this moment that basic ‘Boot-Code’ is still intact and working fine (as P.C. Software was able to detect it.) and most probably the ‘Upgrade Routine’ is still there. As last resort before giving up, I’ve launched the Software (which came with the Programmer, same Virtual Box Environment) with ‘Elevated Privilege’ (‘Run as Administrator’ on Win7, although my User Account is with Administrative Privileges.) and tried to Upgrade the Firmware. This time it could complete the Process Successfully, Self-Test Passed and reported Correct Firmware Version (this was not there earlier.). To be doubly sure, I’ve disconnected and reconnected the Device few more times, performed self Tests and Programmed/Read few Micro-Controllers (Atmel and PIC), everything was Rock-Solid.

This Programming Software has never asked for any ‘Elevated Privileges’ during Installation or Start-Up. U.S.B. Communication was always working as the Software could detect the Programmer every time (even when the Firmware Upgrade was failing.). It could program the devices without running it as ‘Administrator’. It only got issues when upgrading the Firmware. Without using ‘Run as Administrator’, it’s not going to work and it’s nowhere documented (I’ve gone through the User Manual provided.)!

Hope this will be helpful for someone facing the same weird issue.
 
(Please bear with me if I was being naive with Windows, I’m not a native Windows User for long time. I’ll probably settle for the Linux Software, wanted to give it a Quick Try using it’s own Software.)

[ebastler]

Here are just users... trying to help eachother.

Which might include helping Wiljan? 
Strange reponse.

@Wiljan: I would recommend that you try
  - a different USB cable,
  - a different computer, and
  - a fresh download of the software.
If the error persists, something might be wrong with your TL866, and then you should contact the vendor or the manufacturer.

[shuvodutta]

Hi, I just bought the TL866II plus programmer.

Running windows 7 64bit and have downloaded Xgpro V 8.11 from your website since the CD supplied V7.08
When starting the software say's firmware should be updated.

Choosing tool and firmware update in the Xgpro v8.11, it does report Current FW V04.2.94
Pressing "Reflash" it does are fine quick erase and the start programming ...but it takes like 1 hour and then says it succeed

But FW stays on version 04.2.94 even after restarting the program and reconnected the programmer. and then it says firmware needs update again .

I tried to update 3 times (1 hour each) and still same result.

Please advise, thank you

Hi,

Your Issue looks Similar to mine. Can you give it a try by launching Xgpro with 'Run as Administrator'?

[Wiljan]

@ Willem52:  I'm a normal user and normal I help other users, I have already send a email to "autoelectric" but have got no answer yet.

@ shuvodutta:  The latest download of the Xgpro from the web are "XgproV811_Setup.rar" I did run on 2 different Windows7 64bit all as "Administrator" and I also did find and old Win7 32 bit PC... all same behavior: Says the FW should be updated and the current are 4.2.94
on all 3 PC's it takes like 15 sec to "erase" the programmer a the almost 1 hours to program ...  then it says are successful, apparently it's not since the same fw are still reported after a reconnect of the programmer and a restart of the software.

I also have software version 7.08 from the CD coming with the programmer, and 7.10 from the web they both claim they are to old and I should grab the latest from the the web... back to square one again.

So what version do you guys  run on the TL866II Plus Xgpro? and what FW?
How long time did it take to flash the new FW when you did it?

1 hour feels way wrong

Only thing I can think of, I do run a danish version of Windows and here the number separation are like this 1.000,00 and not 1,000.00 as the US
So lets say the timing in the programmer fails on this it might make sense

Are there any 3. party software supporting the plus model?

[supercilious]

Choosing tool and firmware update in the Xgpro v8.11, it does report Current FW V04.2.94
Pressing "Reflash" it does are fine quick erase and the start programming ...but it takes like 1 hour and then says it succeed

I had a similar issue with my TL866II where it would hang during the flash procedure. I left it overnight but it made no progress. I tried it a couple of more times, but I never waited more than about 10 minutes on those occasions before killing it.

The "solution" turned out to be using a different USB port. On my machine, the USB 3.0 ports did not work for flashing the firmware on the programmer, even though the programmer worked fine on those same ports once flashed. I simply moved it to a USB 2.0 port and the firmware upgrade finished in seconds, and the self test succeeded. I can only assume its a bug in the driver.

[Wiljan]

Still having trouble with the TL866II Plus and the FW update

Tried different USB2 ports and also via a HUB hub.. same result
Tried with an old win xp and the driver fails to install correctly.
Tried win 10 all started as administrator.. same result.

I do have a PICkit3 so if the fw could be extracted from the "updateII.dat" file it might be possible to program the pic directly

I would like to get feedback from people out there on what version FW you do have in your programmer and what windows version you did update with

Thank you

[supercilious]

I do have a PICkit3 so if the fw could be extracted from the "updateII.dat" file it might be possible to program the pic directly

You might be able to get the raw firmware image by sniffing the USB traffic using Wireshark with USBPcap? That's usually my first step when reverse engineering any USB based device.

[Wiljan]

Ok some progress 

If I load old software says it need to use a newer version, I guess due to the FW in the programmer
The one on the webpage is 8.11 and that one will ask for upgrade of the FW in the programmer

On the http://www.xgecu.com/en/TL866_main.html you can see the release log on the software versions
If you open the link for the 8.11 download and change http://www.xgecu.com/MiniPro/XgproV811_Setup.rar that for the version you want it's still online (very slow)

I now do have several version downloaded 7.08 (from the CD) 7.10, 7.35, 7.38, 8.00, 8.01, 8.02, 8.05, 8.08, 8.11
And the Magic one which does work with the FW 4.2.94 are 8.01 

I still have no clue why the FW upgrade does not work for me..
I have listen on the USB with WireShark and can see small packet send like every 10 sec, for now I have not used any time to figure out how to make a hex file and use the PICkit3 to program the PIC.
I also have the feeling that only a part of the chip should be reprogrammed since it's doing the USB comm at the same time while reprogram itself.

[supercilious]

And the Magic one which does work with the FW 4.2.94 are 8.01 

This opens up a new avenue to get the newest firmware if you can dump the existing image from the chip you can compare it to the v8.01 files looking for those bytes. That will tell you where the image is in the newer version? That assumes the firmware isn't write-only on the chip itself.

As for the USB packets, it seems like the update process is not getting acknowledgements for its writes and waiting for a 10 second timeout before continuing. That would explain the extremely slow flash procedure and the lack of changes afterwards.

[Southerner]

 you can compare it to the v8.01 files looking for those bytes.

How do you compare the two files?  What do you use to compare the files?

[supercilious]

Just the standard command line utilities like strings and grep and diff. Use strings to find a unique substring in the firmware dumped from the chip. Then search for it in the progam files using grep. Then diff the existing version with the new one. (Sorry for the typos, I'm on my phone)

[BrianG61UK]

How do you compare the two files?  What do you use to compare the files?

This maybe: https://www.prestosoft.com/ps.asp?page=edp_examdiff

Or if you want to pay for something better this:
https://www.scootersoftware.com/

[Wiljan]

This opens up a new avenue to get the newest firmware if you can dump the existing image from the chip you can compare it to the v8.01 files looking for those bytes. That will tell you where the image is in the newer version? That assumes the firmware isn't write-only on the chip itself.

The microcontroller in the TL866II plus does have 100 pins and the label of the chip are removed.

If I try to connect the PICkit3 to the internal programming connection ICSP and set it for eg. PIC18F96J60 which does have 100pins and allow 3v from the PICkit3 then the LED's on the TL does start up and flicker like when USB are connected.

Asking the PICkit to read the PIC does turn off the LED and after short time  and error comes up and says the ID are equal to 0x00 and does not fit the PIC18F96J60.

Here I assume the PIC are read protected or it's not a PIC 

[Wiljan]

Here is a video showing the FW update, it does only take 10 sec in total.


What I do see which are different from the above video is when I press "Reflash"  and it starts to Erase then immediately there comes a pop-up telling "Please reflash the firmware" like if the USB was disconnected / reconnected shortly.

[Marcustv]

I have a problem with my TL866 A.
I do not read the devices.
If I try to update the software with the new version 6.85, when I run the patch (with the resistor on pin 35 as shown) I go into boot mode, but then tells me it can not flash.
If I run the self check test from the program, everything is OK, but in the GND test I get an error in No. 25
What can you depend on?