Arduino Pro Mini: Problem w/ bootloader

Using Arduino Installation & Troubleshooting
#1

Good night,

Yesterday I bought an Arduino Pro Mini, but it doesn’t seem to have any bootloader as it won’t accept any sketches. When trying to burn one it returns me the following error:

avrdude: Version 6.0.1, compiled on Apr 15 2015 at 19:59:58
         Copyright (c) 2000-2005 Brian Dean, http://www.bdmicro.com/
         Copyright (c) 2007-2009 Joerg Wunsch

         System wide configuration file is "C:\Program Files (x86)\Arduino\hardware\tools\avr/etc/avrdude.conf"

         Using Port                    : COM5
         Using Programmer              : arduino
         Overriding Baud Rate          : 57600
avrdude: stk500_getsync() attempt 1 of 10: not in sync: resp=0x1c
avrdude: stk500_getsync() attempt 2 of 10: not in sync: resp=0x1c
avrdude: stk500_getsync() attempt 3 of 10: not in sync: resp=0x1c
avrdude: stk500_getsync() attempt 4 of 10: not in sync: resp=0x1c
avrdude: stk500_getsync() attempt 5 of 10: not in sync: resp=0x1c
avrdude: stk500_getsync() attempt 6 of 10: not in sync: resp=0x1c
avrdude: stk500_getsync() attempt 7 of 10: not in sync: resp=0x1c
avrdude: stk500_getsync() attempt 8 of 10: not in sync: resp=0x1c
avrdude: stk500_getsync() attempt 9 of 10: not in sync: resp=0x1c
avrdude: stk500_getsync() attempt 10 of 10: not in sync: resp=0x1c

avrdude done.  Thank you.

I connect it via an Arduino Uno, but I’m not sure if I’m doing something wrong. I would be really grateful if you could help me with that issue.

Thank you in advance!

UPDATE:

Got a new error, much more illustrative:

avrdude: Version 6.0.1, compiled on Apr 15 2015 at 19:59:58 Copyright (c) 2000-2005 Brian Dean, http://www.bdmicro.com/ Copyright (c) 2007-2009 Joerg Wunsch

System wide configuration file is “C:\Program Files (x86)\Arduino\hardware\tools\avr/etc/avrdude.conf”

Using Port : COM5
Using Programmer : stk500v1
Overriding Baud Rate : 19200
AVR Part : ATmega328P
Chip Erase delay : 9000 us
PAGEL : PD7
BS2 : PC2
RESET disposition : dedicated
RETRY pulse : SCK
serial program mode : yes
parallel program mode : yes
Timeout : 200
StabDelay : 100
CmdexeDelay : 25
SyncLoops : 32
ByteDelay : 0
PollIndex : 3
PollValue : 0x53
Memory Detail :

Block Poll Page Polled
Memory Type Mode Delay Size Indx Paged Size Size #Pages MinW MaxW ReadBack

eeprom 65 20 4 0 no 1024 4 0 3600 3600 0xff 0xff
flash 65 6 128 0 yes 32768 128 256 4500 4500 0xff 0xff
lfuse 0 0 0 0 no 1 0 0 4500 4500 0x00 0x00
hfuse 0 0 0 0 no 1 0 0 4500 4500 0x00 0x00
efuse 0 0 0 0 no 1 0 0 4500 4500 0x00 0x00
lock 0 0 0 0 no 1 0 0 4500 4500 0x00 0x00
calibration 0 0 0 0 no 1 0 0 0 0 0x00 0x00
signature 0 0 0 0 no 3 0 0 0 0 0x00 0x00

Programmer Type : STK500
Description : Atmel STK500 Version 1.x firmware
Hardware Version: 2
Firmware Version: 1.18
Topcard : Unknown
Vtarget : 0.0 V
Varef : 0.0 V
Oscillator : Off
SCK period : 0.1 us

avrdude: stk500_recv(): programmer is not responding

#2

I attach some pictures...

#3

This thread might help. The Mini is the same ATMega328 chip as the Nano. I had the same problem and just found a resolution. Its on the second page of this thread:

#4

Load up Nick Gammon's bootloader sketch on your Uno, and load a bootloader on the Promini. I put the Uno bootloader onto all my 328P chips.

#5

Alright, so I uploaded the programmer into my UNO and started serial monitor. When it tries to start ICSP mode, it returns:

Atmega chip programmer.
Written by Nick Gammon.
Version 1.35
Compiled on Dec 24 2015 at 14:55:53 with Arduino IDE 10607.
Attempting to enter ICSP programming mode …
Failed to enter programming mode. Double-check wiring!
Type ‘C’ when ready to continue with another chip …

I don’t think my wiring is badly connected, but here you have some pictures. I have doubts, though, about where to connect the RESET Pin in my Pro Mini… I do it like:

Uno 10 Pin → Pro Mini TXD

Because when I press the reset button on my Pro, L LED in my Uno blinks.

Thanks for your attention.

PS: Pro Mini isn’t on because I have to press the black pin row toward the jumper cables in order to get it working.

UPDATE: OK, in order to ensure stable connection is a problem, I developed the following idea. At least it will help…

When I type C in the monitor, Uno will blink its TX green LED, which I suppose it’s normal.

Thanks again :slight_smile:

#6