Blink example won't compile, cannot find file

Development Tools IDE 1.x
1

I wanted to hook up my arduino uno, which I haven't used in years, to try some stuff for a project I want to do. Didn't have the IDE installed on this machine, so I thought I'd install it and do some test, but whatever I seem to try I can't get the code to compile. I've asked google a lot and seen this problem reported in various treads, but none of the solutions appear to work for me.

I've tried:

  • Installing normally/Installing as admin
  • Trying with older versions of the AVR boards (1.6.20, 1.6.10, 1.6.2)
  • Removing the windows PATHEXT variable
  • Disabing the virus scanner
  • Changing file access to the arduino directory in program files (x86) to allow everyone to do anything

The current situation:

  • I downloaded the windows installer v1.8.12
  • Ran the setup as administrator
  • Started the IDE as administrator
  • Loaded the example "blink"
  • Tried to compile

Each time I get the same error (seen below), stating it cannot find the file. I've ran out of ideas, what I can I try to fix this?

Arduino: 1.8.12 (Windows 10), Board: "Arduino Uno"

C:\Program Files (x86)\Arduino\arduino-builder -dump-prefs -logger=machine -hardware C:\Program Files (x86)\Arduino\hardware -tools C:\Program Files (x86)\Arduino\tools-builder -tools C:\Program Files (x86)\Arduino\hardware\tools\avr -built-in-libraries C:\Program Files (x86)\Arduino\libraries -libraries D:\Cloud\Dropbox\My creations\Arduino\libraries -fqbn=arduino:avr:uno -vid-pid=0X2341_0X0043 -ide-version=10812 -build-path C:\Users\me\AppData\Local\Temp\arduino_build_860318 -warnings=all -build-cache C:\Users\me\AppData\Local\Temp\arduino_cache_428895 -prefs=build.warn_data_percentage=75 -prefs=runtime.tools.avr-gcc.path=C:\Program Files (x86)\Arduino\hardware\tools\avr -prefs=runtime.tools.avr-gcc-7.3.0-atmel3.6.1-arduino5.path=C:\Program Files (x86)\Arduino\hardware\tools\avr -prefs=runtime.tools.arduinoOTA.path=C:\Program Files (x86)\Arduino\hardware\tools\avr -prefs=runtime.tools.arduinoOTA-1.3.0.path=C:\Program Files (x86)\Arduino\hardware\tools\avr -prefs=runtime.tools.avrdude.path=C:\Program Files (x86)\Arduino\hardware\tools\avr -prefs=runtime.tools.avrdude-6.3.0-arduino17.path=C:\Program Files (x86)\Arduino\hardware\tools\avr -verbose C:\Program Files (x86)\Arduino\examples\01.Basics\Blink\Blink.ino
C:\Program Files (x86)\Arduino\arduino-builder -compile -logger=machine -hardware C:\Program Files (x86)\Arduino\hardware -tools C:\Program Files (x86)\Arduino\tools-builder -tools C:\Program Files (x86)\Arduino\hardware\tools\avr -built-in-libraries C:\Program Files (x86)\Arduino\libraries -libraries D:\Cloud\Dropbox\My creations\Arduino\libraries -fqbn=arduino:avr:uno -vid-pid=0X2341_0X0043 -ide-version=10812 -build-path C:\Users\me\AppData\Local\Temp\arduino_build_860318 -warnings=all -build-cache C:\Users\me\AppData\Local\Temp\arduino_cache_428895 -prefs=build.warn_data_percentage=75 -prefs=runtime.tools.avr-gcc.path=C:\Program Files (x86)\Arduino\hardware\tools\avr -prefs=runtime.tools.avr-gcc-7.3.0-atmel3.6.1-arduino5.path=C:\Program Files (x86)\Arduino\hardware\tools\avr -prefs=runtime.tools.arduinoOTA.path=C:\Program Files (x86)\Arduino\hardware\tools\avr -prefs=runtime.tools.arduinoOTA-1.3.0.path=C:\Program Files (x86)\Arduino\hardware\tools\avr -prefs=runtime.tools.avrdude.path=C:\Program Files (x86)\Arduino\hardware\tools\avr -prefs=runtime.tools.avrdude-6.3.0-arduino17.path=C:\Program Files (x86)\Arduino\hardware\tools\avr -verbose C:\Program Files (x86)\Arduino\examples\01.Basics\Blink\Blink.ino
Using board 'uno' from platform in folder: C:\Program Files (x86)\Arduino\hardware\arduino\avr
Using core 'arduino' from platform in folder: C:\Program Files (x86)\Arduino\hardware\arduino\avr
Detecting libraries used...
"C:\\Program Files (x86)\\Arduino\\hardware\\tools\\avr/bin/avr-g++" -c -g -Os -w -std=gnu++11 -fpermissive -fno-exceptions -ffunction-sections -fdata-sections -fno-threadsafe-statics -Wno-error=narrowing -flto -w -x c++ -E -CC -mmcu=atmega328p -DF_CPU=16000000L -DARDUINO=10812 -DARDUINO_AVR_UNO -DARDUINO_ARCH_AVR "-IC:\\Program Files (x86)\\Arduino\\hardware\\arduino\\avr\\cores\\arduino" "-IC:\\Program Files (x86)\\Arduino\\hardware\\arduino\\avr\\variants\\standard" "C:\\Users\\me\\AppData\\Local\\Temp\\arduino_build_860318\\sketch\\Blink.ino.cpp" -o nul
open NUL: Het systeem kan het opgegeven bestand niet vinden.
Error compiling for board Arduino Uno.

The connection to my arduino actually worked immediately, so no problems there.

2

I has been reported a few times; not sure if the issue was ever actually solved or pinpointed. google arduino open nul

3

sterretje:
I has been reported a few times; not sure if the issue was ever actually solved or pinpointed. google arduino open nul

As I already mentioned in my post, those topics did not provide me with an answer. If someone has an actual idea to make it work on my desktop, please I'd like to know. But I'm not going to spend 10+ hours on a problem that should not exist.

For now, I installed it on my laptop and that appears to work.

4

If it works on one computer but not another then that would normally point to a specific computer issue.

Be that security or the way the computer may have been set up.
We know you are windows 10 but only because of the error dump but that's all we know about your OS

It doesn't look like you ruled out USB 3.0 issues yet ?
We dont know which additional security you have as some remains active AFTER you disable it ?
I cannot read the final error message as it is not in English ?
What do you mean by "The connection to my arduino actually worked immediately" ?
Is it a CLONE or a REAL Arduino (we dont care but computers may) ?

Could you take a few moments to Learn How To Use The Forum.
Other general help and troubleshooting advice can be found here.
It will help you get the best out of the forum.

5

ballscrewbob:
If it works on one computer but not another then that would normally point to a specific computer issue.

Be that security or the way the computer may have been set up.
We know you are windows 10 but only because of the error dump but that's all we know about your OS

I agree it appears to be machine related, both my laptop and desktop are both running windows 10 64bit, although my laptop has a home license whereas my desktop is a professional edition. Both were running on the 1903 version, I've updated my laptop to 1909 after I had run some test with my arduino and it still worked on 1909, I'm updating my desktop tomorrow, maybe that will help.
Both systems run the same version of the bitdefender anti virus software and in most ways I've tried to set them up in an identical manner. I did notice that UAC was turned off on my desktop, I enabled this to match my laptop settings and reinstalled the IDE, but this did not change anything.

ballscrewbob:
It doesn't look like you ruled out USB 3.0 issues yet ?
We dont know which additional security you have as some remains active AFTER you disable it ?
I cannot read the final error message as it is not in English ?
What do you mean by "The connection to my arduino actually worked immediately" ?
Is it a CLONE or a REAL Arduino (we dont care but computers may) ?

What does USB 3.0 or the version of my arduino have to do with the compilation of the code? I did plug my arduino (a real one, type uno) in a USB 3 port in both my laptop and desktop and in both cases the connection to my arduino was established, I could see the output of the old code in the serial monitor and could retrieve the board info, the hardware appears to work just fine.

As for the final error, it says "the system cannot find the file specified", but I have no clue which file is meant.

6

I asked about USB 3.0 as it may have been in the error msg I couldn't read.

Quite often the "file not found" can have multiple causes.

Security software.
Network file locations. (one drive is especially bad)
Use / user permissions. (especially on borrowed computers eg work or edu)
Virus or other form of nasty.
Flash drives.

Check that BITDEFENDER does not run "sandbox" scenarios for files as that is another issue to do with security software.
If that is the case then add the Arduino program and folders to the EXCLUSIONS / WHITELIST after first checking by turning OFF bitdefender fully just to test !