Particle Core stuck at blinking blue

Developer Tools CLI
1

Hi, my Spark Core (yeah, it was Spark back then) is stuck at blinking blue (waiting for WiFi) but it’s not projecting any WiFi, not even after firmware reset.

I wanted to try a CLI connection, but I’m having huge difficulties in installing the particle-cli version 2, the last one reported to be compatible with my old device. My main environment is Windows, but I can switch to Linux if that’s the culprit.

In particular I’m stuck at installing dfu-utils, even downgrading from version 3 isn’t working.

So, while I understand I’m dealing with an old device (I have two Core) I also hope I don’t have to throw them in the bin, especially considering they were quite expensive devices at the time.

2

You should not need to have dfu-util installed to just set the Wi-Fi credentials on the Core with CLI v2. Because the Core uses a monolithic build (Device OS is part of the user firmware), there is no need for DFU to upgrade Device OS.

These instructions for installing a specific version of the CLI don't include dfu-util. Which instructions are you following?

3

I’m running npm install -g particle-cli@2, followed by particle device doctor and this is the output I get:


The Device Doctor will put your device back into a healthy state
It will:

Upgrade system firmware

Flash the default Tinker app

Reset the device and server keys

Clear the Wi-Fi settings
The Doctor didn't complete successfully. SerialPort.list is not a function

Please visit our community forums for help with this error:
https://community.particle.io/

I then tried to issue a particle usb list and got into the dfu-util missing deps, but I agree that is just the bottom of my personal rabbit hole :smiley:

4

While reading yuour answer I understood I have to downgrade my nodejs installation to version 8… doing it now

5

The particle device doctor does not work on the Core.

Use particle serial wifi to set the Wi-Fi credentials with the Core in listening mode (blinking dark blue).

If that doesn't work, you will probably need to manually install dfu-util.

Put the Core in DFU mode by holding down both the RST and MODE buttons, releasing RST and continuing to hold down MODE until it blinks yellow and issue the commands below, in order.

After completing some of the steps the color may change to something else; if so note what color/pattern it is, then use the button combination to get back to blinking yellow. The Core should be blinking yellow before each of the commands listed below is entered.

particle flash --factory tinker
particle flash --usb deep_update_2014_06
particle flash --usb tinker
particle flash --usb cc3000
particle flash --usb tinker

Put the Core back into Listening mode (blinking blue) by holding down MODE until it blinks blue. Then issue the CLI command:

particle serial wifi
6

So, here is the process that I can confirm worked for me.

First of all, I had to install NodeJS 8. Then I installed particle-cli version 2 with:

npm install -g particle-cli@2 --force

After that hte suggested serial wifi command did work properly and my Core is now breathing cyan.

Hope this helps other old lads like me :smiley:

7

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