[PIC] Mplab, PIC16F88 debugging using internal clock issue..

[jpdesroc]

I'm programming a PIC16F88 using an ext 8mhz oscillator
connected to OSCI pin and I'm able to debug and program the chip
thru MPLAB v8.9 and Hitech PRO v9.83. So there are no hardware problems in my target board.
BUT I'm doing this because I've never been able to debug it
using it's internal clock programmed at the same freq. (8mhz)
Everything is connected to my working ICD2 with an external
power supply...

I Tried the internal clock and set the config bits as follow:
MCLR pin as master clear (with pullup 10k, no cap)
RA6/OSC2, RA7/OSC1 are free pins (nothing connected)
_CONFIG ( INTRC_IO & CPD_OFF & CP_OFF & DEBUG_ON & LVP_OFF & MCLR_ON & PWRTE_ON & WDT_OFF & WRT_PROTECT_OFF & BODEN_OFF);

and I set OSCCON = 0b01111000 (8mhz)
But no success.. After many tries of mplab answers like:

" Programming...
Programming/Verify complete
The target device is not ready for debugging.
Please check your configuration bit settings and program the device before proceeding. "

I gave up and connected an external 8mhz oscillator.
Then everything started to work (but losing RA6,7 for other uses).

The ICDE pin used are:
MCLR pin as master clear
RB6,7 are free pins to the ICD connector
No use of VLP (off)

Microchip site keeps on saying its possible to debug a 16F88
using its internal clock mode but I did not found any "SOLVED"
posts about that issue on any forums on the web..
Did you ?

Do Pickit3, ICD3 or Realice work on this ?

 

[Aussie Susan]

DO NOT set the DEBUG config setting yourself! EVER.
The IDE will set this bit for you depending on whether you have a release or debug build.
The error message you are getting is telling you that the debugger cannot establish communication with the device. This can be caused by the oscillator not running (unlikely for the internal oscillator) or the communication between the IDE and the Debug Kernel code not being established.
Susan