• Hi all, I thought this might help folks out, in the end flashing was not the problem at all, it was using a USB adapter to extend the number of USB's I had available, this seems to have borked the flashing.

    I confirmed with a few other folks that they also get the junk at the top which, as was mentioned, is just debug bits with at a different baud.

    I am now able to flash all varius ESP boards I have, and can confirm the combined file is fine:

    esptool.py 
      --port /dev/cu.wchusbserial1410 
      --baud 115200 
      write_flash 
      --flash_freq 80m 
      --flash_mode dio 
      --flash_size 4MB-c1 0x0000 
      espruino_2v04_esp8266_4mb_combined_4096.­bin
    

    I have another few boards to set up too so I can confirm all is good. But just a note to all others, if your having serial problems and are using a USB hub, that is likely why.

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