Flashing a Flight Controller and using the DFU/Boot button to rescue a 'bricked' FC

INAV For Beginners 2020 series: • INAV for Beginners (2020)
Thank you for taking the time to watch the video. You can find me on social media at / painless360 and / painless360
Want to support the work I do here creating content and answering questions? Please consider subscribing and supporting the channel by visiting / painless360 or you can support me by donating using paypal.me/painless360. Where-ever you can support your local R.C resellers and shops. They need your support more than ever.
If you liked this you can see more R/C related videos on the channel - / painless360 , use the playlists to find entire series on topics you might find interesting.
Be aware that any comments that are rude, disrespectful or use bullying or threatening language will be deleted. Pedantry isn't encouraged either. This channel is all about helping others and passing on advice and ideas so please comment in that spirit. Comments that don't adhere to these simple rules will be deleted.
Thanks again for watching, support each other and the hobby as we have enough external drama without making more for ourselves.
LIKE and SUBSCRIBE and above all - Happy Flying!

[@jamesemery1]

Brilliant info as always. Stay safe Lee

[@mrj2003]

Thanks for this instructive video.

[@z2kk]

This is a great video and very helpful. I wanted add some additional info in an effort to help other readers here. In my case: the FC requires that both ports "USB VCP" and "UART1" have the "MSP" switch enabled. This is not mentioned anywhere in the manual. In fact the manual shows a GPS configuration on UART1 with MSP turned off (which is what I did on my build). I did have MSP enabled on USB VCP, but not on UART1. After making that change I was able to use this video to get back on track and flash iNav 6.0 RC. I thought I would mention Bardwell's' DFU short form video. He discusses that having peripherals on USB1 or USB3 can disable DFU on some FC boards and to try powering down or removing them. His video did not mention checking the MSP setting though. I guess in retrospect something that set my problem apart from what I see in this video is that the COM port never said "DFU" for me (no matter the approach I took).

[@shyamkachhadiya4964]

very very nice video brother... it solved my problem completely.... i thank you very very much.... i gone through many sites/videos/blogs didnt worked out ... but this did....

[@pilotmiami1]

thenks.

[@bomberaustychunksbruv4119]

I have to confess, most of my frustrations are to do with DFU and my computer not recognising the FC. My latest meltdown was caused by a USB lead that was a charge only lead and not a Data one!. I have bought myself a nice new one now.

[@Painless360]

That happen more than you'd think. About half of the time, that's the reason.. Happy flying

[@mattwilson1305]

I bought a Fettec f7 a while back and it will not connect to kiss gui. My pc chimes when plugged in. I've ran impulserc driver fixer. I've tried different usb cables to no avail.

[@Ullf_M]

Nice video, I have had problems updating Matek FC in existing aircraft. Could not in any way get it into DFU mode, try everything, but when I disconnect the GPS, then jump it into DFU mode. It happened on two different planes

[@Painless360]

Hi Ulf, happy to help you with this on Patreon...

[@vincentking17]

Hi what would you advice to do when the DFU button broke ? My fc doesn't respond when i connect it to my mac but it does take and make the ESC motor sounds when i plug it to a Li-Po.

[@Painless360]

I would look to see what traces the DFU button shorts out and then short those out with a bit of wire if you can't reboot the FC via the computer.. Best of luck

[@MCsCreations]

Great tips, Lee! Thanks a lot! 😊 Stay safe there with your family! 🖖😊

[@IgnoranceParanoia]

I've somehow corrupted the board on an Iflight f7, I think it failed a flash of Emu. Nothing works to connect to it, including driver fixers. Are there any other more invasive ways to rescue it?

[@Painless360]

Pressing and holding the DFU button will force it into Bootloader mode - never failed here..

[@johncarold]

Hi Mr. P Great video on the reboot system and how to set your F.C up. Well I guess I did it again. I just received a new F.C and I found it was on 3.4 in Betaflight and I decided to flash it. But now I guess I'm the first to blow up a F.C from flashing. Because now that I flashed it, it won't let me connect to the USB. I can only use the DFU. Thanks again for the video and information

[@Painless360]

I'd confirm the target you need and check the forums in case the FC you have has issues with the version of Betaflight you're trying to use. Once you're set, I'd re-flash. Best of luck!

[@emanuelmross8488]

is there something i can do, if my flightcontroller always starts in boot mode, because the bootloader button is damaged and always pressed?

[@Painless360]

The boot button is a simple momentary switch so removing it may help... Best of luck

[@dakzer55]

Hi , thank you for this video. Although slightly different. I am using Betaflight 10.7.2. Is it possible to get into DFU mode by pressing the boot button on the FC but instead power the FC by connecting the Lipo instead of via the USB power because I think my 5v line is a bit funny so not reliable.

[@Painless360]

The FC needs to be powered from 5v from somewhere. Normally it is the USB cable that provides that so it can be flashed. Powering from a LIPO, the FC will be powered from 5v that is created from the battery voltage on the flight controller. Both work but I'd watch things like '5v is funny' as that could point to a problem or loose connector.. Best of luck!

[@dakzer55]

@@Painless360 Thank you for confirming the 5v supply can be from lipo for DFU. I ended up not using DFU, and just turned off lipo and disconnected, then reconnected the usb while still in update firmware connection in betaflight. Then was able flash to latest 4.2.11 firmware on my HGLRC Zeus F722 mini FC. I think I may have broke the 5v line on the usb port when I was soldering the SDA, SCL on the opposite side of FC. So confirms usb connection data line is ok, but I will need to check why 5v on usb connector has no power. At first I thought it maybe the latest betaflight version that prevents powering up an FC using usb from computer, as I heard some fpv behave this way. Thanks again for the informative videos 👏

[@BarakNevo]

Hi i have a Q to painless about something else , I'm looking for flight controller for Y6 drone supported by inav or betaflght.

[@Painless360]

Not sure, I've never tried to make something like that - let me know what you use... Best of luck