pickit3 clone unbrick !?

[snapper]

Help, my Pickit3 clone is bricked!?
Programming a PIC16(L)F18875 with Pickit3
It looked promising at first, but then PICkitminus installed new firmware on the clone, and since then only the power LED is lit! I found this "hardware tool emergency boot firmware recovery" in MPLAB X IPE v5.35, but unfortunately, it's only for PICKit4! I was able to put the PICKit3 into boot mode (I think all three LEDs are on, and the blue one is flashing). Is there something like this for the PK3? Or does anyone have any ideas on how I can get it working again?
Now that I've opened the case, I've also noticed that the ISP connectors are in a different location. Does anyone know the pinout, and where can I find the appropriate firmware for this clone?

[MarkF]

Download the "PICkit 3 Programmer App and Scripting Tool v3.10"
from the Microchip Archives (Near the bottom of the page).

  https://www.microchip.com/en-us/tools-resources/archives/mplab-ecosystem

You can reinstall the PicKit 3 firmware and then switch the PICKit3 into MPLAB mode
from the 'Tools' dropdown menu.

[snapper]

How is that supposed to work? The Pickit is not recognized by the software or the USB port.

[Ian.M]

That only works if the bootloader is still OK.  If its managed to smash the bootloader (e.g. by a power glitch while writing FLASH) you would need to re-flash it by ICSP with a firmware that *includes* the bootloader, which is now difficult to find.  (It was 'leaked' circa 2014 in 2010, but I cant find the post since Microchip 'upgraded' their forum).  Edit: I think I've found it elsewhere and also at microchip.com. See https://www.eevblog.com/forum/microcontrollers/pickit-3-cannot-switch-to-mplab-mode/msg1279762/#msg1279762

N.B. Hold down the button while plugging in the USB to force bootloader mode.  Don't connect a target until it has finished all firmware updates and complains the target is not detected.

[voltsandjolts]

This might help;
https://github.com/Anobium/PICKitPlus/tree/master/ProgrammerFirmware%26Docs/Firmware/PICKit3/CurrentFirmware

[snapper]

LED bootloader mode: Power and status are on, activ blinking? If that's correct, what can I use to load the firmware?

[coromonadalix]

PICkit3 Programmer Application v3.10

Plug pickit3 in via usb, use

Tools-> Check communication to check that you're reading it.
Tools->Download PICkit operating system    it should do the job,   and you have in Tools -> the revert to MPLAB  mode ...


if pickitminus did upgrade yours     re use it ?   be sure to have the right fw files in it,  remove the others ?  BUT  minus was for  v2  not v3  if i recall ??
But it as  v3 files in it,    i just power it up,  but i dont have a v3
and on github it does support v3 ?


for the unbricking  you had  this :    and it does require another programmer ...
 
https://blog.mbedded.ninja/programming/microcontrollers/pic-and-dspic-family/how-to-unbrick-a-pickit-3/

or here
https://www.eevblog.com/forum/programming/pickit-3-bricked-by-mplabx-fixed/


get the other files here
https://github.com/ming-hai/PICkit3-Clone/tree/master/firmware

[MarkF]

FYI

When you install the PICkit3 Programmer Application v3.10 from the Microchip Archive, the
following hex files are installed in the app's folder:

  PK3BLV011405.hex
  PK3IMG020005.hex
  PK3OSV020005.hex

[snapper]

USBDeview.com indicates that something is connected, but "Tools" → "Check communication" can be clicked, but no output is displayed.

[coromonadalix]

well it seems you will need another programmer to recover this one ??