i know no one is bashin me... im just jokin around a bit... when nothing is on the board, it works great, as soon as i add the PIC, i get problems. almost nothing is soldered to the board yet, just the essentials to get the pic running.. the reg, plcc socket, mclr stuff, the OSC and a header for ICSP...

i might go back to photoetching my boards, i just got a laser printer, so i thought i would give it a try for the toner transfer method.. this board came out ok for a first attempt at it, but it takes so long to get the paper off after its heated... i do like how i can see the design before i etch it, and if its not good, i just use a bit of acetone and start over... no transparencies (i dont have to go to staples to get them either), less nasty chemicals, ability to start over fairly easily and cheaper boards (because they arent presensitized.. i also dont have to worry about timing and stray light..

reading how others have done it, i used staples photo paper, and it took forever to get off the board. i tired using regular paper, and it seemed to work just as good, so i might experiment with it a bit more too...

it was a late night last night when i was soldering this stuff on... upon closerr inspection, im pretty sure it has to do with my MCLR stuff.. it looks like i might have confussed Vdd and Vss, so i think my resistor goes to ground when i think it should go to Vdd right??? im still in my van workin, so when i get home im going to check all the MCLR connections and make sure i got it right... but im almost positive thats where the problem is.. i cant see any shorts on the board, and everything works great without the PIC..