avrdude: stk500_recv(): programmer is not responding (Arduino UNO, iMac)

Hey,

I have an Arduino UNO that I bought a year ago and have used numerous times. After doing other projects for the two months I came back to it last night.
When I tried to upload a bit of code I got the error message:

"avrdude: stk500_recv(): programmer is not responding

I tried with different bits of code and this kept happening.

I've looked at similar threads about this error but my situation is slightly different from most of them and I wasn't able to get a good answer from any.
The difference is that most of the people with this issue have brand new boards that never worked while mine has previously worked.

BTW, I have an iMac on ShowLeopard

Can someone point me to the cause of this error? Is the source in the arduino, the IDE, or the computer?

Thank you.

Are you certain the correct board is selected in the IDE?

Are you certain the correct serial port is selected in the IDE?

Other than the USB cable, is anything connected to the board?

Forgot to go through that checklist of information to tell yea guys.

Yup, I'm positive that I had the right SerialPort and Board. Those are the first things I checked.

The first time I tried (when I got the error) I had a RFID sensor attached but disconnected it to do the troubleshooting once I realised that it wasn't a coding error; (I checked the board using a simple sketch to verify that it definitely wasn't my code).

I also double checked to make sure I didn't have anything else running (ie. Processing (which I did have on at first but turned off to troubleshoot)). I also made sure that something else wasn't using the USB port.

Time for a loop-back test...

If what you mean by echo back is that the RX light turns on whenever if is sent to the arduino then the board passes that test.

In other news. I've tried it on a few different computers and I keep getting the same problem.

impolex:
If what you mean by echo back is that the RX light turns on whenever if is sent to the arduino...

"RX light" is neither mentioned in my post nor in the post referenced by the link. Why would you believe anything involving an "RX light" is what I meant by a loop-back test?

I'm having the same issue using an ardiuno MEGA, on OSx 10.5. I tried the test above and it seemed to work fine.

I've seen there are a good few posts on this issue, but i've not been able to find one that resolves the issue.

any hints or tips anyone?

ok. Got things moving.

I had to downgrade to an older version of teh Arduino sotware, works fine now.

I have the same problem, but mine also blinks led 13 rapidly on power up, and when powered by a wall adapter. Board select is correct, serial is port correct and it won't let me upload a new sketch. I put the same atmega328 chip in my other Arduino, and it does the same thing. Any suggestions is welcome!

So I don't sound like a broken record, I'll link to a post describing what to do next...

Well I ran the loop back test and it works ok.

The good news is that the board itself is probably OK. The bad news is that the processor is toast.

There have been reports that the bootloader can become corrupt. If you have a particular fondness for the processor, I suggest trying to re-burn the bootloader.

Try the "diode fix" also.

See this post:
http://arduino.cc/forum/index.php/topic,73585.0.html

I tried to burn a new bootloader on it with another Arduino and it wouldn't let me.

If you'd like help you will have to provide a better description than "wouldn't let me".

I hooked the two boards together like it says on this site and when I clicked burn with AVR ISP it said it couldn't start the burn and the ledpin 13 kept rapidly blinking. Maybe I should have tried the another burn choice, but that's what the instructions said.

I hooked the two boards together

Two Arduinos?

I ask because if the answer is yes then this...

I clicked burn with AVR ISP

...is not the correct choice.

like it says on this site

There are at least three separate webpages on this site that describe how to connect two things together to program an AVR processor. Which webpage?

ISP it said it couldn't start the burn

That was the error message? "couldn't start the burn"?

I tried to burn it again from the "use arduino as isp" link in the Examples section on this site again, and this time I choose burn w/Arduino as isp and it worked. Thank you very much for your patient help. If it wasn't for you, I probably would have bought another chip.

Russ

You are welcome. I'm glad you have it working.