Where does execution begin when the NIOS II is reset? The reset vector is address 0x00000000.
I get a "no Nios II CPUs" error when I try to run my program. Try downloading the Media Computer system to the device using the Monitor Program and make sure the switch on the left of the board is in the RUN state.
I only want 8-bits of a memory-mapped device's register but when I use ldb I get the wrong 8-bits. Devices are not memory, their bits are not interchangable so they often don't respect endianness, you should use full-word memory accesses to be safe.
Where does execution begin when the NIOS II takes an exception? The exception vector is 0x00000020 (all interrupts jump to this address).
What are ldbio, ldhio, ldwio, stbio, sthio, stwio? These instructions are special loads and stores that bypass the cache if there is one. You must use these instruction when accessing memory-mapped I/O. You can use the non "io" versions if you're accessing memory and want the performance benefits of a data cache.
The assembler is telling me rN is an "undefined reference" but I'm referring to a valid register! Make sure you're using register names only where the assembler expects register names. For example "movi rM,rN" will give you that error, as will "br rN". In both cases the assembler is looking for a constant (or label).
When I try to configure my DE1/2 I get "Programming Hardware Cable not found" Open the Quartus II Programmer and click Hardware Setup. By default the Makefile assumes the programmer is "USB-Blaster[USB-0]", if the Hardware Setup shows otherwise modify the CABLE variable in the Makefile appropriately.