connecting issue to older 4.0.6 firmware spracingf3 drones

[goofyseeker311]

Describe the bug

I assumed all newer configurator versions should be able to connect to older betaflight firmware drones.
I have a working drone connected to usb at com7 (windows auto-detects the com-port),
and its autodetected on betaflight configurator, but the connect fails.
com7 is using the cp210 universal windows drivers.

do I have to use some specific older version of the configurator to work with 4.0.6 firmware drones?
I'm not sure its exactly 4.0.6 firmware but its the latest firmware that is supported on spracingf3, because of the firmware changes.

I'm currently on win11 not using the browser version but the pre-compiled windows installable version.
I think I previously connected using the browser version, and that worked. now desktop version does not work.
nothing on the drone has changed on the firmware from last successful connect some time/months ago.
(I did add a radio receiver on the sbus/ppm port, between the last success and now, if it matters.)

To Reproduce

1. connect working drone to usb
2. press connect button

Expected behavior

previous connection on some old configurator version worked directly and gyros/accelerometers worked fine.

Configurator version

10.10.0 (c97deaf) win_x64

Flight controller configuration

Add any other context about the problem that you think might be relevant here

2025-06-07 @15:54:11 -- OS: Windows
2025-06-07 @15:54:11 -- Configurator: 10.10.0 (c97deaf)
2025-06-07 @15:54:18 -- Serial port successfully opened with ID: 1
2025-06-07 @15:54:28 -- No configuration received within 10 seconds, communication failed
2025-06-07 @15:54:28 -- Serial port successfully closed

[goofyseeker311]

Side note: the configurator (same version) does not directly find any com ports to connect when using ms edge.
its found only after clicking the "I cant find my USB device".

edit: the browser version says directly that this firmware version is not supported. so, old firmwares are no longer supported.
what is the latest version of the configurator to support 4.0.6?

self-answer: should be configurator version 10.5.1 that works, but maybe some newer also work.

edit: nope, does not work, even with the 10.5.1 dedicated windows install.
2025-06-07 @ 16:44:13 -- Serial port successfully opened with ID: 2
2025-06-07 @ 16:44:23 -- No configuration received within 10 seconds, communication failed
2025-06-07 @ 16:44:23 -- Serial port successfully closed

edit: I might try restarting computer if it makes any difference after the cp210 windows drive install.
nope no difference. does not work. do you have to install all the various usb drivers? I only installed the cp210.

[goofyseeker311]

I disconnected the radio receiver, so the setup should be in last known good configuration.

the led flashes on boot-up when usb-power is connected are: 4 long flashes and 3-4 rapid flashes.
the usb port randomly cannot be opened after the led flashes in the configurator.

3d printer is running at same time on the system. that should not be an issue? its running on different usb com port.

[goofyseeker311]

I uninstalled the cp210 drivers (force remove) and re-installed the same drivers. now the flight controller led blinks constantly, and the configurator 10.5.1 connection works. whats up with this, windows drivers nonsense?

yes even the current 10.10.0 (c97deaf) configurator connects just fine to the drone 4.0.6. firmware.

2025-06-08 @ 12:21:50 -- Flight controller info, identifier: BTFL, version: 4.0.6
2025-06-08 @ 12:21:50 -- Running firmware released on: Sep 1 2019 01:05:57

[goofyseeker311]

the connection to the drone is not certain. it might not open the connection for random reasons. or need to be re-plugin while the configurator is open to start working.

[goofyseeker311]

what is error code 38 after flipping the drone and arming remote not working anymore. the radio receiver module did got hit by ground and drone, while being flipped under the drone.

edit: ok 38 is not an error code. throttle needs to be zero before arm works.

[nerdCopter]

F3 will require older Configurator 10.8
https://hackmd.io/@nerdCopter/rkGtTnuu3

[goofyseeker311]

it works otherwise on 10.10.0 desktop but the connection issue is about 50% random.
I did not get any warnings in 10.10.0 desktop when connecting to 4.0.6.
the only warnings might be in the web browser version, is the browser version running different code?

[nerdCopter]

yes. web version intended to support only 4.4+