Some questions for programming

[mister_e]

Make sure you do not try to use the MCLR pin as an input and use the Internal Oscilator at the same time This does not work for some reason and can make chips useless.

MIIP bad answer, there's no reason, no link between them. I use this setup often and never encounter any kind of problem.

PicStart is often bad when using in ICSP. Also he's very noise sensitive, so keep wires short, use the 10K+Diode... TADA no problem when doing it. In some case, if you set the weak-pull up it may cause you some erratic boot-up problem... but reset the whole thing will work. This problem doesn't seems to happen with a real ICSP capable programmer like BK Precision 844a (Elnec).

Go go go, use internal OSC, use MCLR as input but... have some respect to the hardware requirement.

In some case, PICStart ICSP will work better if you let him power your PIC... yeah it's a pain, close your external PSU, program, then turn on your power supply.... that's annoying but it's working.

[modifyit]

I will try and dig up the email I got from PBP support concerning using the MCLR Pin as an Input and the INTOSC at the same time. I fried a bunch of 12F675's trying to do it, and PBP support responeded to my questions saying that it was not recommended on the 12F675.