Yes it makes sense! Made a table to help other users.

For the USB module... The Core2 does not power the 5v bus line until the ax192 is initialized.. and the USB module without power holds the reset line down preventing the esp32 from starting.

Thank you very much.

I am still here!

Bought a few more modules to play with like stepper, servo, usb, bottom2, commu.

The Core2 + steppermotor + servo + bottom2 is flashing well on a linux machine.

When the comm module is attached idf.py flash times out.

With the USB module pcb v1.0 it does not even turn on.

Hmmm, ok my next suspicion is either your USB cable or the version or how you are running esptool.

How is your set up?
are you using windows, linux mac?
Have you updated your platform drivers ?
Have you tried another USB cable?
Are you using a USB hub in between?

My last suspicion is your core2.

It is windows 10 running kali on virtualbox. Idf 4.2, powered usb 3.0 hub.

I have been using the wrover kit, wroom, esp8266 and the core 1 grey without any troubles.

As the flash fails with the core2, simply changing to the core 1 gray completes successfuly.

Also I was able to erase the core2 using the windows esp32 flath tool many times.

Looks like in the new core2 the boot pin is not held low long enough to put it in bootloader mode in this virtualized setup.

Again... where the core2 fails a core1 gray does very well. I did not open them yet to spot the differences.

Unfortunately it did not help. I did try other baud rates also.

All I get is "Connecting.....____......" with a sound and vibration until I press reset a few times and it gets in sync.

This sound/vibration comes from the previous flashed app startup.

After a full flash erase I was able to flash hello-world properly once. Then it needs the reset pressing again.

I am actually working with the idf 4.

Erased it and reflashed it with the trick a few times already.

The same does not happen with the older grey m5.

Seems like gpio 0 and 2 are not toggled at the right time.

Esptool.py can not flash core2.

It keeps resetting, vibrating and playing a sound.

I have to manually press reset a few times u til it can get into boot mode.

Did I get a deffective unit?