Big problem with Windows 10 and Arduino IDE

Development Tools IDE 1.x
1

Hi I have been having strange problems with using Arduino's with Windows 10 (along with many others, I think)
The problem has involved the IDE switching COM ports for different Arduinos and sometimes working, sometimes not. Today, after reinstalling it all again I decided to carefully check with just one Arduino and using the same USB lead.

I loaded the 'sweep' program sketch - which was one I was having trouble with - everything appeared to load OK (using COM 5) but nothing ran, the servo did not move.
Then I loaded the blink program - same COM port, same Arduino, same USB cable. That loaded OK and the Arduino began to blink as it should.
Then I loaded the sweep program again - nothing.

Now, I moved the same Arduino, USB lead and servo to my Windows 7 laptop.
Loaded the sweep program (using COM 5) and it worked immediately.
Loaded blink and that worked OK.
Loaded sweep and that worked again OK.

And before anyone says - I have run the Arduino IDE as Windows 7 on my Windows 10 computer but it still does not work.

Also the problem is not current drawn by the sweep program as I have the same results using battery power or USB power.
Also I have been using the verbose output when compiling and it says that everything is OK.

So my conclusion is that the Arduino IDE is not operating correctly with Windows 10. Or maybe it is the type of motherboard used with W10 computers?

Hope the next update of Arduino IDE will fix this somehow, Alan

Sorry - should have said that I am using Arduino UNO and IDE 1.8.5

2

It could well be a USB issue.
Are you using USB 2.0 on the win 10 box or USB 3.0 ?
USB 3.0 is known to cause issues and can be intermittent with some USB 3.0 chip-sets.

If it is a USB 3.0 issue then most often inserting a decent powered USB 2.0 hub between the Arduino and the computer fixes things.

Also avoid using USB 3.0 cables as they can be hit and miss too.

3

Thanks for your message.

I think I may have improved things now. All of my re-installs so far had been with the windows zip file but today I have loaded the Arduino windows app. (from the app.store for Windows 10) and so far it has been working as it should do.

So I hope that everything is now OK.

Alan