why PFS173 would not boot properly when connected to an external 5V supply to work as stand alone?
should be reset pulled up to VCC? I have done it and got no luck!
You do not have to connect RESET pin to anywhere. The RESET pin is only used in case YOUR program sets up PRSTB bit in CLKMD register.
In case your program is not running after flashing this can have several causes:
- check that you disabled watchdog, or when enabled that you call WDRESET periodically
- check that you disabled LVR or that you set LVR to a level greater or equal to VCC
- make sure your CLKMD setup (e.g. switching from ILRC to IHRC does not disable the old clock source immediately (see note in PFS173 PDF about clock switching).
If you can't work it out yourself, posting your program source code would enable others to have a look.
JS