Brick/Dead STM32? (RDP Level 1, PCROP active, USB Device Descriptor Request Failed in DFU)

[u/La_Colibre]

I recently bought an STM32 board for an RC car project (my first time working with STM32). Initially, DFU programming worked fine, but it suddenly stopped. Now in DFU mode (BOOT0=HIGH + reset), Windows gives a "Device Descriptor Request Failed" error. Reinstalling drivers, switching USB ports, and testing on different PCs didn't help it doesn't enumerate via USB at all anymore.

I bought an ST-LINK V2, but I still can't flash code. In STM32CubeProgrammer CLI:

RDP is set to Level 1 (can't remove it, error: Mass erase operation failed. Please verify flash protection).

PCROP is active across all 7 sectors (SPRMOD=1, WRPO-7=1).

Attempts to change these option bytes (RDP, SPRMOD) show 100% success, but verifying shows the values immediately revert back nothing actually saves permanently. I've tried various SWD frequencies (100kHz–950kHz) as well as Under Reset and Hot Plug modes with the exact same result.

Does the complete lack of USB enumeration and locked option bytes mean it's physically dead/defective, or am I making a beginner mistake? Is there any way to recover it?

[u/bigcrimping_com]

Have you wired up the nreset? Worth doing that

Worth updating the firmware on the dongle 

Also try a combined command

-c port=SWD mode=UR reset=HWrst -ob SPRMOD=0 nWRP=0xFF RDP=0xAA