Troubleshooting

Common issues and solutions for Banshee

Flashing Issues

Device Not Detected

Symptoms: Computer doesn’t recognize the device when plugged in.

Solutions:

  1. Use a data cable - Many USB cables are charge-only. Try a different cable that you know works for data transfer.
  2. Install drivers - Download and install the CP210x USB to UART driver.
  3. Try different USB ports - Front panel ports can be unreliable. Use a port directly on the motherboard.
  4. Check Device Manager (Windows) - Look for unknown devices or COM ports with warnings.

Flash Fails / Timeout

Symptoms: Flashing starts but fails partway through or times out.

Solutions:

  1. Enter bootloader mode properly:
    • Hold BOOT button
    • Connect USB cable
    • Release BOOT button after 1-2 seconds
  2. Close other serial applications - Make sure no other program is using the COM port.
  3. Disable antivirus temporarily - Some antivirus software blocks serial communication.
  4. Use a powered USB hub - Inconsistent power can cause flash failures.

Wrong Firmware

Symptoms: Device bootloops and display doesn’t work or GhostLink menu not visible.

Solutions:

  1. Ensure you flashed the correct firmware for each chip. C5 firmware goes on the display chip, S3 firmware goes on the other compute chip.
  2. Reflash both chips with the correct firmware.
  3. For firmware-specific issues, see the GhostESP FAQ.

Boot Issues

Boot Loop

Symptoms: Device continuously restarts, never reaching normal operation.

Solutions:

  1. Reflash firmware - The flash may have been corrupted.
  2. Check power supply - Use a quality USB cable and port that can supply adequate current.
  3. Erase flash and reflash - Use esptool to fully erase the flash before reflashing:
    esptool.py --chip esp32s3 erase_flash

Device Won’t Boot

Symptoms: No signs of life when connected.

Solutions:

  1. Check USB cable - Try a different data cable.
  2. Try different USB port - The port may not provide enough power.
  3. Look for physical damage - Inspect the board for visible damage or shorts.

Connectivity Issues

Can’t Connect to WiFi AP

Symptoms: Device AP doesn’t appear in your device’s WiFi menu.

Solutions:

  1. Wait for boot - The AP may take 10-15 seconds to start after power on.
  2. Try turning Wi-Fi on your device off and on again.
  3. Reset to defaults - Reflash the firmware with the erase flash setting enabled on https://espressoflash.com to reset the device to default settings.
  4. For WiFi-specific troubleshooting, see the GhostESP Wi-Fi basics.

Serial Issues

No Serial Output

Symptoms: Serial terminal shows nothing when connected.

Solutions:

  1. Check baud rate - Banshee uses 115200 baud.
  2. Verify COM port - Make sure you’re connected to the right port.
  3. Try different terminal - Some terminals have compatibility issues.
  4. Check TX/RX wiring - If using external UART adapter, TX and RX may be swapped.
  5. For command-line reference, see the GhostESP CLI documentation.

Garbled Output

Symptoms: Serial shows random characters instead of readable text.

Solutions:

  1. Verify baud rate - Must be exactly 115200 for the S3 chip or 460800 for the C5 (display connected chip).
  2. Check cable quality - Poor cables can cause data corruption.
  3. Reduce cable length - Long cables can cause signal degradation.

Getting Help

If you’ve tried the solutions above and still have issues:

  1. Gather information:

    • Which chip is having issues (C5 display or S3)
    • Firmware version
    • Exact error messages
    • Steps to reproduce

  2. Check the GhostESP FAQ for firmware-related issues.

  3. Try getting help in the GhostESP Discord