hi ROB

"I'm playing with the 16f876 and having problems getting the icsp working."

just sample question
1. wich programmer do you use for ICSP?
2. Do you try to short to ground PGM pin when programming
3. are the PGD,PGC loaded by something else
4. do you use the following *circuit*
http://www.melabs.com/support/icsp.htm


for all my ICSP apps, i use PICStart. i've never have any problem with ICSP.

If you want to use BOOTLOADER, you can implement it realy simple in MicroCode Studio with a really simle circuit based on 1 MAX232 and few cap+resistor. See this link

http://www.mecanique.co.uk/code-stud...20Requirements

This program, *shell*, provide few others interesting option, serial communication windows (like hyperterm), ICD (16f628 for free version) and such.

let me know what are your problem now!!!