Thanks for that, it's a useful diagnostic program (I've used Tree Size for years, possibly related) Nothing on Com 8 according to that ap though which doesn't surprise me. I'd lay odds that if I disconnect my nucleo board and plugged it in to PC number 1, it would be using com 8. Installation problems for Arduino in Windows 7 seem to be very common. Do you think if I bought a more expensive board which didn't rely on tweaks, I might get somewhere? It hasn't been recognised as an Arduino on either of my desktops, not on my best laptop running on XP and almost killed my Android tablet! Appropriate software versions on all selected btw.
A far better idea may be to switch to Linux - Mint.
Easy to install as a dual boot if you must retain that horrible Windoze for some reason such as the program that runs my business .
One tweak required when installing Linux, and no problems at all with drivers.
If a person cannot cope with Windows, there is no need to advise him to switch to Linux.
He will have even more problems with Linux, especially first time.
1 Like
Hmm, a "true believer" eh? 
If you are a professional and you like Linux, this is your right.
I haven't used Linux before. But half a year ago I specially took a course for beginners from Cisco and successfully completed it. Since then, I have installed and configured over a dozen different Linux distributions including Ubuntu, Linux Mint, Oracle Linux, Debian, CentOS, Clear Linux from Intel and many more. So I know what Linux is for a beginner.
What's the bottom line? I don't use Linux all the time.
My permanent OS is Windows 7. And if I could, I would use Windows XP. 
Unfortunately, this is no longer possible.
I agree, Linux should not be entered into lightly. Anyway I've managed to get rid of the FDTI drivers and now have a USB serial port with no drivers loaded. If I had suitable drivers in a folder with an inf file, I might get somewhere. Also gone through the serial driver inf routine with the same result. Can't get drivers to load from Arduino application drivers folder. UsbTree app gives the following: USB Version : 2.00 -> wrong, Device is Full-Speed only
Port maximum Speed : High-Speed. Does this mean it requires USB3?
I am having a hard time understanding your problem.
If you are more comfortable installing the .INF file, grab this ZIP from the sparkfun page
CH340-Driver.zip
or the one from the manufacturer's page, they are the same.
It already seems to me that you have a completely different board.
Then give a good photo of the bottom of the board.
Right, I've managed to extract the inf file and moved to documents, I'll have another go at this tomorrow, this time manually installing from a driver package I'll put together. The set up exe just keeps returning the nonsensical message of driver preinstalled in advance. I've ordered another board from a different vendor. The inf file was embedded in the set up folder which cannot be opened without running the programme. But Tree size helped me to see it and copy. It's a traditional inf file so should start a manual driver installation. Sorry to be so much trouble!
Hi,
Can you post a picture of your Nano, both sides so we can see if we can identify the clone?
Thanks... Tom... 
Not good at such close up photography Tom. I think it is a ATmega328p. Perhaps I have the correct drivers installed and It has no bootloader. The drivers that I keep ending up with are FTDI. Can't follow Boffin's advice because Windows 7 is sufficiently dumbed down not to allow homing in on the inf file from a driver package (manual installation) The FTDI drivers were chosen by windows, though I'd removed them completely so they seem to have been obtained automatically online. I've not had to do anything so tricky since years back on Windows 2000 and XP. Getting spanners on the nuts and bolts gets trickier as Windows dumbs itself down to the point where much less can be controlled by the user but we can change pretty colours and be awed by the magic. I posted the error message a while back when I try to load a sketch. Of course there will be problems if a bootloader has to be burned first. Another on order so I'll see where I go from there.
Yes it's much more like the CH340 than the FTDI Boffin
Also Boffin, I've been reading up on fake chips. Is it so that Arduino originally had an FTDI serial chip, these were cloned and Microsoft hit back with changes in the driver package or in the operating system to neutralise fake chips, then the CH340 solution was used instead. The chip on the underside of my board looks like a CH340 (far fewer connections) but it behaves like a fake FTDI, so the FTDI drivers are irresistible but if it's a fake chip it doesn't function.These are certainly shark infested waters. Another board is on order but in the meantime, i've learned of a work-around with a utility provided by FTDI which allegedly will get it working on XP. But my laptop is XP so that would be very satisfactory.
I only know about fake FTDI FT232RL chips and problems with new drivers for fake chips.
CH340 chips are a cheap alternative to FT232RL. They are not faked because they are cheap anyway.
I am not aware of any cases where CH340 behaves like a fake FTDI.
Try to find a computer without FTDI drivers, or uninstall the FTDI driver from one of your computers and install the CH340 driver.
I have many different boards with the CH340 chip, I work with them on Windows XP, Windows 7 and Windows 10, there are no problems.
Hi,
Just a thought.
Are you plugging the USB directly into your computer or via a USB HUB?
Tom...
As far as I know, USB hub is not a problem, but USB 3.0 might be the problem.
I use the USB hub all the time and no problem.
Hi,
Okay, just surprising that COM12 will not let you program your Nano.
What does the little pink icon on the blue USB symbol mean?
Thank.. Tom...
Hi, Tom. You mixed up me with OP, everything works fine for me.
I'm showing that Arduino also works through the hub.
Port 7 is a hub that has two ports 7.1 and 7.2
A pink icon indicates that the device is currently connected.
Arduino Nano is connected to port 7.2 as COM12.
I have updated the picture above.
1 Like
CH340 chips are a cheap alternative to FT232RL. They are not faked because they are cheap anyway.
Yes I know that and have tried all that Boffin. Perhaps the one on order when it arrives, will be fine. The CH340 software loads the inf file but no drivers are installed. Whilst the FTDI drivers load very easily.
Tom, I'm plugging directly into front hub which is directly connected to USB pin outs on motherboard.