For a school we are searching for a board (Arduino, Arduino compatible, Mbed, PIC, ARM, others?) with USB port that can be programmed without install drivers. In the school the PC images are blocked, so it is impossible to install drivers (also .inf) different from the drivers provided out-of-the-box with windows 7.
Do you know if there are boards not too much expensive that can be programmed without drivers installation? Arduino or compatible is the preferred, but not only if it is impossible.Thanks in advance
Windows 7 should have FTDI drivers installed by default (8.1 does not, I had to manually install them when I upgraded my PC).
If you get a $3 FT232RL board, something like: this then you should be able to upload to the boards without installing any drivers. (AVR's like Uno, Mega, Mini, Pro,...).
There is probably a few good tutorials/examples out there explaining the procedure.
Another option is to find a linux-live distro (One you can boot from CD/USB, bypassing windows altogether).
Some have an automated export feature, like knoppix. You can install software, then burn a CD or create a boot USB stick with your custom features installed.
I will try. Thanks
A school should not be using Windoze. That indicates incompetence on the part of its IT support.
Mint is an excellent Linux distribution which I carry on my keyring and which can as such, be either run "live" from the flash drive without conflicting with WIndoze (though it can access the Windoze partition perfectly well), or installed either to replace Windoze, or to be installed as an alternate boot.
The point is - all the drivers are present natively in (presumably all) current versions of Linux.
My windows 7 machine automatically installed the FTDI drivers.
Would you like to search Aduino Yun or Rubix A10, these two boards could be solve your headache issue.
Rubix4Aduino:
Would you like to search Aduino Yun or Rubix A10, these two boards could be solve your headache issue.
Maybe the Yun, but definitely not a Rubix A10 (just get a Raspberry Pi).
We have seen that product being plugged here before with little more than "Buy it, it does stuff" with the "stuff" shrouded in a cloud of mystery.
http://forum.arduino.cc/index.php?topic=277459.0
Rubix A10, for Arduino Basic Projects and Getting Started - Bar Sport - Arduino Forum <<with a testimonial
Rubix A10 for Arduino, a new Linux Shield for Arduino Beginners - Products and Services - Arduino Forum
If the PC images are blocked, how are you going to install the Arduino IDE? You will probably have to use the zip file .
Order of easiness in installing Arduino board and IDE (1 being easiest)
- Linux. Unzip arduino IDE, set execution bit, plug in board. Everything works immediately. If you have two arduino, though, you will carefully observe which one you plug in first because by default the "COM" numbers are not reserved by USB ID, but first plug-in first assigned.
- Windows. Unzip arduino IDE or install if you have admin password, plug in board, get a cup of hot tea and drink it.
- Mac OSX. This requires admin's password, which one of my summer workshop attendees didn't have (school computer). Open a file and drag arduino into some drive or applications folder. Install java legacy support (I've not used the one with newer version of java), open another file from ftdi and install driver.
Linux is easiest and requires no admin's password. But, it's hard to find linux on school computers. Windows is not too bad either. Macs, well, they lock you out of installing unapproved apps if you're not admin. Even if you are, steps need to be followed to enable installing the software.
FYI, I had to get myself a mac to learn how to install arduino ide and board. Used it for a year. Glad I don't have to use it anymore. It's old and many of my programs don't have OSX versions. Linux is a bit hard to install on newer computers with the UEFI firmware. Not for 99% of people unless it's preinstalled. And stop thinking a flash media as a spinning disc, linux!
If you're still reading this post, what I'm think and been trying to achieve is to install arduino on a raspberry pi and somehow have the client PC/tablet/phone connect to it so there is no need for the user to install anything. A web browser is all you need. Your code is saved on raspberry pi though.