Intermittent MCLoader Connection

[skimask]

I'm using a laptop with USB to serial cable, RS232 converter, PBP, and MCStudio Plus.

I've had problems in the past with laptops, intermittent programmer connections, etc.etc....
In my case, the fix was to disable the temperature/fan/voltage monitoring programs that ran under Windows.
I noticed that whenever those programs updated (every 5 seconds, 10 seconds, whatever), the connection would dump.
Usually, I never had a problem because I'd disable that stuff. Every once in awhile, I'd have a swarm of problems. Come to find out, it was usually right after the wife would use the laptop and actually turn it off when she was done with it rather than hibernate it...hence those programs restarting!

[Bruce]

I'm betting it's your USB/Serial converter. I had one that caused me a lot grief on a laptop. Same symptoms. If you can, try to find one with an FTDI chip-set.