Arduino Mega can't find file specified, timing out

Development Tools IDE 1.x
1

Hi,

I recently purchased a Sainsmart Arduino Mega and I have been unable to upload anything to it. I have tried what feels like everything and I'm getting desperate.

I'm using Arduino IDE 1.6.8.

This is the error message I receive:

         Using Port                    : COM8
         Using Programmer              : wiring
         Overriding Baud Rate          : 115200
avrdude: ser_open(): can't open device "\\.\COM8": The system cannot find the file specified.


Problem uploading to board.  See http://www.arduino.cc/en/Guide/Troubleshooting#upload for suggestions.
avrdude: ser_drain(): read error: The handle is invalid.

If anyone has any solution to this issue, I'd be glad to hear it.

EDIT:
Now I'm getting this error:

         Using Port                    : COM8
         Using Programmer              : wiring
         Overriding Baud Rate          : 115200
avrdude: stk500v2_ReceiveMessage(): timeout
avrdude: stk500v2_ReceiveMessage(): timeout
avrdude: stk500v2_ReceiveMessage(): timeout
avrdude: stk500v2_ReceiveMessage(): timeout
avrdude: stk500v2_ReceiveMessage(): timeout
avrdude: stk500v2_ReceiveMessage(): timeout
avrdude: stk500v2_getsync(): timeout communicating with programmer

avrdude done.  Thank you.

Still not sure what to do.

2

Have you read this?

http://forum.arduino.cc/index.php?topic=115010.0

Good Luck.

Phil

3

Thanks for replying Phil

I tried everything listed in that thread, but to no avail. I had tried a loopback test earlier that failed, and not even reburning the bootloader worked.

I'm just going to return it as defective, never had this problem before.

4

Fair enough! Well good luck with it.

5

same issue here, haven't been able to upload anything over serial since i updated to 1.6.8 from 1.6.6

I can't open the serial ports with avrdude in arduino:
either

avrdude: ser_open(): can't open device "\\.\COM8": Access is denied.

avrdude: ser_open(): can't open device "\\.\COM8": The system cannot find the file specified.

i can however open the ports and communicate with what's on the chip that was uploaded before i upgraded, so i know the chip and ports are working. Uploading the program via Arduino-ISP also works.
Opening the internal "Serial Monitor" works, if it doesn't say that there is already a plotter window open .. there isn't.

seems like this 1.6.8 build was not ready for release at all or something went horribly wrong during installation.