Hello heres what i have:
Pocket programmer 2
Using Atmel AT29C256 eeproms

I am very new to this whole game so bear with me!
I just finished up going through my scans from my autoxray and making some changes to my bin using Tuner Cat. anyways i open the pp2 program to burn the chip. i assume since there is no button to erase the prom it doesnt need to be erased correct?? so i loaded my file into the buffer, i clicked "program device" i also have auto verify ON (which i believe makes sure that what you have programmed on the prom matches whats in the buffer CORRECT??). so anyways i clicked the program device button and it programs fine except when it tries to verify it it comes up and says device NOT verified. there is a whole list of errors and i cant figure out why, unless the eeprom is bad, is that possible?? has anyone had any problems like this???

 

Also i have the vpp set to 5 and the bytes to 8 which i am pretty sure is correct?

 

You have to erase the chip before programming it. Use the 'Erase Device' button at the upper left corner of the software. It is only visible if you have an electrically erasable device selected.

 

I have a button called "blank check" but no "erase device"

???

 

Strange ... I use a 27SF256 eeprom and when I select that I get an Erase Device button. With the AT29C256 I don't get it.

 

That is very strange, especially since last year this time i burned a eprom with the same exact chip and program and it worked fine, but i cant seem to figure out why i cant get this to work!!

 

Right under the Program button, mine has a erase button.
Normally I just reprogram, thou as the chips get older they sometimes need refreshed with using the erase mode.

Also be sure nothing else is running in the background.
Alt/Control/Delete and click off what you're not using.

 

No erase button and no programs running in the background, i also dont move the mouse like the readme says to do. i'm stumped

 

Under the DOS version when erasing a 29C256 I had to burn a file of all FFs to the device as there was no "erase" function.

 

I also don't have to erase mine before programming. If you click on the "verify device" button, will it verify it then?

Maybe invest another $15 or so on a few more chips. It's good to have some extras laying around just incase

 

i also tried to do that and it still didnt work. i just ordered a couple new eeproms from moates. ill have to give them a try

 

What version of software are you running?.
I have 1.97 and other then an error message when it first looks for the programming it's been dead on realiable.

 

i am using 1.83 (it's what came with the programmer)

 

i went through just to make sure of something. i open pp2 program. i clicked fill buffer with "FF" which is an empty cell (termonology?) which means the prom is blank. clicked program device (w/auto verify on). prom programmed fine and also verified okay. then tried it with a bin i just downloaded (just to make sure for some off chance that my bins were bad?) device programmed but did not verify, same as before. my question is: if something were bad with the prom would it still program "FF" in all locations? if so that means somethings wrong with the program??

 

i dont know if this means anything to anyone. but in the middle window in the pp2 program where it says Location then "EXPECTED-3B FOUND-00" all the entries found "00." anyone know what that could mean??

 

Are you absolutely sure you have the prom seated well. I have seen a similar situation when i had a faulty contact.

 

yes i am sure, i have checked all connections and made sure even the wires were not near anything

 

It means that just those entries didn't program.

ie the code for an entry of 3B, but when the PP went to verify the prom, it saw a 00, there.

 

oops

 

I had the same issue, I selected fill buffer on left bar and selected fill with FF. I than selected save buffer and hit program device. I was able to than do a blank check and it passed.
fyi,
Mark