How to troubleshoot programmer issues:

• Run Windows’ Device Manager.  You should see:
  
  If you don't see the USB-Blaster:
  • If the POWER LED on the USB-Blaster is off then the programmer is probably not connected.
  • If it's on, then programmer may have failed.  Try another one.

• In the Device Manager window, right-click on “Altera USB Blaster” select Properties and click on the “Driver” tab.  Do you have the following version installed?

   

  
  If you have a different version, the you probably haven't installed the drivers from the course web site.
  

• Then run Tools > Programmer and click on “Hardware Setup”.  You should be able to select the USB-Blaster:

  
• Click on Auto Detect and you should see the following:
  
  
  If you don't see the EPM240 device then:
  • disconnect the coaxial power connector and check that the LED on the CPLD board is on, if not then check that the programmer is plugged into the CPLD board
    
  • if the LED on the board is on, then CPLD board or the CPLD itself may have failed, try another CPLD board (this is relatively rare)