Your comment about PICOW and RaspberryPi being no longer supported is not something I have heard about and if I was a betting man would bet it isn't true.

Your comments around 'main' are I think related to python the programming language. That has little to nothing to do with the python executable utilities used by the GNU development system.  I am opting out of this topic as I think we have general agreement on the underlying reasons, the solution is however still to be found and I fear it's more than a simple python3 reinstall. Good luck.

Hi,

The picoprobe allows you to use a Pi to examine the contents of the pico/w I don't know if it will allow you to change the main program to main-1 so that you can access it from Thonny as I haven't used it.

( https://datasheets.raspberrypi.com/soft/picoprobe.uf2 )

The Flash Nuke gives a clean slate but wipes everything fron the flash including files that have not been saved.

( https://datasheets.raspberrypi.com/soft/flash_nuke.uf2 )

I've also kept digging and found some more info:

you can also rename main to main-1 by running the following
script from a terminal witout nuking it !!
I presume you change pyboard to pico or picow

rshell --quiet --port /dev/ttyACM0 cp /pyboard/main.py /pyboard/main-1.py
rshell --quiet --port /dev/ttyACM0 rm /pyboard/main.py

the forum post here ( https://forums.raspberrypi.com/viewtopic.php?f=146&t=305432#p1827358 )
provides more info on the above and a uf2 solution written by MicroPython

MicroPython_RenameMainDotPy.uf2.zip
https://forums.raspberrypi.com/download/file.php?id=45227

I thought that you would also be interested in the following; as Arduino have officially stopped supporting the pico/w Raspberry Pi are busy sorting out a C/C++ repository and an SDK, it looks as though I'll have to properly learn the two languages instead of one.

https://datasheets.raspberrypi.com/soft/picoprobe.uf2

https://datasheets.raspberrypi.com/soft/flash_nuke.uf2

Hi codecage,

I’m going to apologize to Ron now for mentioning a ‘pure Python fix’ as a test to make sure that the WiFi chip is ok but as I’ve already posted it you only have to read it link is below. Note that it was a very late night fix for the part1 which continued later the same day. It will get you connected if the chip is ok.

https://forum.dronebotworkshop.com/2022-videos/pico-w-with-arduino-ide/paged/2/#post-36207

As for the second part of this post, Ive sorted out the Board manager and installed the correct one on the new 2.0.3 IDE Arduino system. I was using a PicoW that I’ve been using with Pimoroni’s Display_2 for about a month and that has been used to check that the pure Python fix actually worked.

Even so the New Arduino IDE had issues connecting to the PicoW. When the USB’s are connected and the correct board selected it does not open a port. It took a while scratching my head before I realized that it takes over a minute to cycle up to 37 (counter in the bottom left border) to get a connection sorted out. Then I could not get the ‘Blink’ sketch to upload.

After several attempts at both problems I noticed that the compile action was creating a “uf2” file, it was creating both the support function and the program it was going to run in that file. I then understood why it was taking so long to produce such a short file, it was compiling many files not just that one.

As it was providing everything to make it run I used the boot select to allow the IDE to write to the PicoW, instant led blinking.

I used the same process for the Web Scanning program with no problems.

Just so you have everything I know about thsi (in the unlikely case that these don’t work) there are 2 issues being addressed on GitHub in the MicroPython forum (with one of these also being discussed on the RPi forum Pico section.) One to do with using pin 25 incorrectly and the other to do with forcing a key to be provided to access the web.)

I hope this helps

Good Luck

Thanks for the advice, much appreciated.  I have reinstalled the IDE and Python and still get the error on my laptop.  I'm thinking it has to be a library problem.  I have an Intel NUC that I have not used for the PICO W yet so I'm going to do a little experimenting on it, but it might have to wait until after the New Year with all that is going on around my household.

All the best to you and yours for the Holidays!

YES, python tools are used even in the C++ environment by the IDE. Try re-installing the IDE, but I have a hunch that may not fix your issue. If not, a little googling may help and maybe a fresh python 3 install will do the job. Good luck.