well, went to a new pc with a fresh install of mplab and the ipe, just using the pickit3, no other usb ports being used.

and this after trying to simply connect --

Now Downloading new Firmware for target device: PIC16F88
Downloading bootloader
Bootloader download complete
Programming download...

and it hangs here. been a half hour.

anyway, probably my own fault for buying a pickit3 clone unless someone knows of one that really performs. don't know how much the oem one is but can't do big dollars now. (where do you buy it anyway?!) searched.

bottom line the programmer is flaky. hit and miss, lot's of weird error messages etc.

I may end up buying another cheapo and consider it disposable after 20 or so uses which is about how long mine lasted.

really sucks -- I'm an "occasional" pic hobbyist and don't know why they can't make a damn standalone programmer that just burns the hex file and keeps it simple.