Starting with PBP: how to restart with PBP today

[Demon]

Have you tried contacting MeLabs support? Or asked on their forum (the answer might be already posted, maybe in FAQ?)

You still have access to the email address you used when buying PBP?

[HenrikOlsson]

The licence allows you to install on 3 computers. If you uninstall PBP from a machine you can use the license manager to reclaim/release/recover that instance of the license but in your case, where the machine doesn't start, you need to contact MeLabs. This applies to PBP3, if the version you have is older than that then I don't remember and you should consider upgrading to PBP3.

Any Windows version should work.
If what you have is any PBP3 version then I suppose you're good but I'd consider upgrading to the latest. If you're still on 2.x then consider upgrading.
I have no idea what you mean with Pro/Contro
MicroCodeStudio works fine for me (used to have issues with it crashing not for years now).
Personally I use PICKit3 with the Microchip IPE software for programming. Hardware level debugging with PBP is, unfortunately, useless.

[CipOne]

Anyone who can tell me the configuration you use?

- Operating System
- PBP version
- Editor
- Programmer/Debuger
- etc..

[Ioannis]

As Henrik posted, you can use PBP in any operating sytem.

But you have to use MPLABX 5.35 and not any newer than this.

I use Pickit2, Pickit3 programmers with the Standalone PickitPlus software for these programmers by Anobium https://pickitplus.co.uk/Typesetter/

Another programmer I use especially when I need serialization of the chips, is the Elnec BeeProg 2

https://www.elnec.com/en/products/un...mers/beeprog2/

Code is written on Microcode Studio Provided by the PBP.

The chips are configured by the Stand Alone Microchip Configurator.

Ioannis

[CipOne]

Thanks for the instructions.
Does everything work with Windows 11 pro?

[rsocor01]

Thanks for the instructions.
Does everything work with Windows 11 pro?

Like they told you already, it works with any new operating system. I personally have PBP3 installed in Windows 10 and 11 laptops. It works great with both. I strongly suggest that you upgrade to PBP3. If you can find the email with the proof that you bought an older version, I believe that you get a discount for PBP3.

[CipOne]

As they told you already, I bought the "PBP-4-UP" update in 2011; I have the activation code, but I don't understand why it's called that, if it's an update to PBP3 (3.09 or 3.010?).
I remember that I had abandoned everything because I always encountered new problems with MPLABX.
Thanks for the directions.
Now I'll try to install everything on a new partition with Win10 pro 64bit

[rsocor01]

There is no such thing as "PBP-4-UP". Here is a version history of PBP.

https://support.melabs.com/articles/pbp-version-history

[CipOne]

Have you tried contacting MeLabs support? Or asked on their forum (the answer might be already posted, maybe in FAQ?)

You still have access to the email address you used when buying PBP?

this is the unpleasant response from Melabs:

Hello
These activation codes from MicroCode Studio are only valid for one year from date of purchase and allow you to install it during that period. There is a free version that comes with our software but if you wish to install the Plus version you will need to log into your account and purchase a "refresh" key at a discounted rate. The discounted rate will not show up unless you log into the account that the full version was purchased under.

Personally I don't like this commercial policy:
after having just purchased the latest update of PBP 3.1.6.4, I discover that I have to purchase the old version of 5.0.0.5 MCSP again...

[richard]

after having just purchased the latest update of PBP 3.1.6.4, I discover that I have to purchase the old version of 5.0.0.5 MCSP again..

what do get out of mcsp thats of any value over plain mcs , the code level debugger is a joke and basically useless

[CipOne]

what do get out of mcsp thats of any value over plain mcs , the code level debugger is a joke and basically useless

After the MCSP installation error, I am stuck with MicroCode Studio version 5.0.0.5
If it is not essential to use the Plus version, I will follow your advice.

I have installed MPLAB X IDE v5.35
And I have the configuration



Can I start playing?

Thanks to everyone for the valuable advice.

[HenrikOlsson]

Yeah, that sort of policy sucks. I don't mind paying for good stuff but I don't like having to pay for the same thing more than once. And don't get me started on subscription licenses...

I've bought MCSP twice, it will not be a third time.

Looks like you're good to go!