by looking at the scematic of your kit it seems to me that it has the same problem as the JDM programmer.

it supplies 5V to the pic all the time!. so, if a pic is programmed to run on internal oscillator and MCLR disabled (what nigel's tutorials do) the pic will start running as soon as power is applied and it cannot get into programming mode...

I have an idea for a simple mod for your kit wich would only apply power to the pic (in programming mode) when VPP is active. But it will require 'messing' with your kit a bit...

if you're not prepared to do this then the only alternative i can think of is to build/buy another proven programmer, like a P16PRO40.

you can try this mod by simply removing SW5, and soldering wires at the required places, and connect them to a little protoboard holding the mod circuit, this way you can test it without permanently damaging your kit
(if you remove SW5, dont forget it consists of 2 parts, SW5A and SW5B, so you need to solder wires at SW5A too)

you could also get a new pic, and NEVER program it for internal oscillator and MCLR disable, but that seems a bad way around this problem to me.

Attached Images

vellemanmod.gif (25.7 KB, 167 views)

 

Himmmm... great mod... I see what you are getting at...
Whether the software will support it, I don't know. I'll try it.
I will simply cut the PCB track coming from the switch and wire in a trans across the broken tracks.

I'll post back when I have completed.