CubeProgrammer does not acknowledge clone ST-Link v hardware [Black Pill]

[XKSteve]

Title edited to flag that this relates to a Black Pill & Clone ST-Link

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After much too much time searching and following advice from for the most part, outdated forum posts I have been unable to resolve my issue with win 11.

I have a windows 11 machine (Microsoft Surface) up to date as of 28th January 26.

ST Link Utility installed and woking

StCubeProgrammer 2.21.0 and working (apart from not seeing the STLink v2.0 hardware).

Both installed as Administrator.

Cube Programmer however refuses to acknowledge the STLink v2 when connected even though the driver reports it is working and indeed it shows up in Device Manager. I did try reinstalling and the other common resolve I see is to switch to Shared Enabled in the right hand panel.

The odd bit is it just works on my Mac M2 Tahoma without any issues and displays the correct serial number

I would like to get it working on my Surface laptop as well as all my programming is normally done on that machine (XGecu T48).

Here are some screen shots.

Any suggestions as to what to do to get CubeProgrmmer to see the ST-Link v2.0 hardware on Windows 11.

[TDK]

Looks connected to me. It reports a target voltage. Can’t do that without it being detected. Connect button can be clicked.

Fake ST links often have a bogus serial number but may otherwise work okay.

[XKSteve]

Thanks TDK, I think your fake assumption might well be on the money.

This project is turning into a nightmare for me, supplier issues, orders cancelled by supplier, lost parcels, fakes etc....

Anyway. I have ordered new (5) Black pill boards and a STlinkv2 from Mouser in the USA as I figure they having such a good repartition, the items MUST all be genuine products. 

Before I go further could someone please kindly confirm that I have this set up correctly please before I connect genuine items from Mouser (due in a couple of days) 

Please note STlink in the pictures is, I now believe, FAKE.

Kind regards Steve

[Andrew Neil]

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@XKSteve wrote:

I think your fake assumption might well be on the money.

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Did you see How to recognize a genuine ST-LINK/V2 versus a cloned one ?

In particular, look at the rear of the ST-Link.

 

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@XKSteve wrote:

I have ordered new (5) Black pill boards Kind regards Steve

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Note that any coloured "Pill" board is not an ST Product, and is likely to contain a fake STM32 - especially if it's an STM32F1, but there are also clone F4s; eg, see this thread.

The best way to avoid these kinds of issues and frustrations is to use a genuine ST board; eg, a Nucleo or Discovery.

 

PS:

I think this diagnostic tool only covers STM32F103C8T6 clones - not F4 - but there might be something similar out there...?

 

PPS:

This post suggests at least two STM32F4 clones

 

#STM32F4Clone #STM32F1Clone #STM32Clone

[XKSteve]

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@Andrew Neil wrote:

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@XKSteve wrote:

I think your fake assumption might well be on the money.

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Did you see How to recognize a genuine ST-LINK/V2 versus a cloned one ?

In particular, look at the rear of the ST-Link.

 

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@XKSteve wrote:

I have ordered new (5) Black pill boards Kind regards Steve

---

Note that any coloured "Pill" board is not an ST Product, and is likely to contain a fake STM32 - especially if it's an STM32F1, but there are also clone F4s; eg, see this thread.

The best way to avoid these kinds of issues and frustrations is to use a genuine ST board; eg, a Nucleo or Discovery.

 

PS:

I think this diagnostic tool only covers STM32F103C8T6 clones - not F4 - but there might be something similar out there...?

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Yes I saw that article you mentioned and that is what lead me to believe it's a fake.

Obviously I understand that black pills are dev boards that have STM32F411 MCUs on a board but I am trying to build an Open source project designed by someone who used these Black Pill F411 chipped boards so don't have the option for Nucleo etc. 

All I want to do is install their code on these boards. 

Using one of those really fake ST-LINK devices (mini thing) I am able to communicate and read / write to the Pill successfully on my Mac but not the Windows. I darn't connect this (pictured earlier) ST Link V2 in case it fries my black pills.

Connections are simply VCC, GND, DIO and SCLK.

So from what you're saying the ST Link v2 (Genuine) does not work with STM32F411. So that's another bunch of wasted time and money.

 

 

[AScha.3]

Ok, it shows the serial "bad" , but what happens if you click connect ?

+

Did you try "firmware upgrade"  st-link ?

 

[XKSteve]

Umm good question :)

WINDOWS

1st ST-LInk I brought. (a mini red one)

Reports no ST-Link Detected

2nd ST-Link I brought. (a mini blue one)

The CubePrg Read button goes dim, the log says UR connection mode is defined... etc and then it hangs the software. 

3rd ST-Link I brought (the Big white one (pictured above)) does have a serial number ???? of sorts! genuine number, who knows?

Reports no ST-Link Detected

MAC

1st ST-LInk I brought. (red one)

Works but it trashed the black pill (ST LINK and Black Pill fakes)

2nd ST-Link I brought. (blue one)

Works as expected but not FULLY tested as it is a fake and I can not afford another trashed Black Pill given they are £15.00 each from Mouser so not tried to program via it.

3rd ST-Link I brought 

Is seen but won't connect to pill... so I scoped the pins (pin 1 dead, pin 7 is has a noisey signal and goes low on read and then stays there, pin 9 is high and stays high on read. Pins 12 and 13 are shorted together and two Gnds are not connected at all so as expected it's also a fake and it has the rear label as shown in:

https://community.st.com/t5/stm32-mcus-boards-and-hardware/how-to-verify-st-link-v2-original-or-fake/td-p/301470

Going to wait and see what comes via FedEx next week when everything will be from a respected source. 

 

 

[AScha.3]

Wow , big funny story. (maybe not so funny for you...)

btw

Dont give up on some "...this dont work on first try " !

So i use CubeProgrammer V 2.19.0  ; try download this (as i know, it works.).

For Win choose ...32 or 64 bit version, as your system is.  (I am on Linux....but at work on Win11 .)

Then try your "fake" links...try also upgrade firmware, maybe need unplug/plug the st-link on USB.

And try different cables...if "no link detected" , some USB cables dont work.

It HAS to work....even with "fakes" .

Tell...

[XKSteve]

Well, It has been a long road full of rabbit holes.

JUST FOR CLARIFICATION AND NOT A CRITICISM ....

My issue of not working on Windows has nothing to do with Black Pill. The issues exists on my NuCleo as well and even with nothing connected to the programmer. It Does however have everything to do with the ST Link v2. So the title change is incorrect as evident if you read my OP. I just want to make this clear for others in the future.

That said. The original comment about Fakes WAS bang on the money.

The picture below shows the programmers I have.

from left to right:
Blue and Red mini sized things, as pointed out to me in another post, are just copies but at least they are obvious about it and was recommended to me by the project developer and at the time of buying I was not aware of the "white" type. First (left most) White STLink V2 is in my opinion a counterfeit with many subtle differences. (led, pin header opening, colour, rear label, weight, text colour and moulding) 

All of those mentioned thus far work fine on a Mac but not on ether of my Windows Laptops or my neighbours machine. (No ST Link found or hangs on connection to a target (NuCleo))

The White one on the far right is Genuine from Mouser and works on Mac, Linux and Windows faultlessly.

So if you are looking to buy a programmer/debugger make sure to get it from a recognised distributor. it's not worth the £2-3.00 saving. (I have even spotted the words "Compatible with STLINKv2" on a couple of online shops, so be careful)

I am going to mark the post that mentioned "Fakes" as the "Accept as Solution" but a massive heart felt thank you to all for your input and sorry it took so long to get everything in stock to research this further  (Bad weather and an issue with delivery resulted in this taking a long time to comment further.)

Dr.S

 

 

[Andrew Neil]

Thanks for the feedback - title updated.