Bootloader Uno to Uno, invalid device signature

Hello! I've had trouble uploading sketches to one of my Unos so I thought I'd try to burn a new bootlader to it from another functioning Uno, but this is also causing problems. I've tried connecting the two boards via the digital and power pins and using the ICSP header pins but I get an error both times. Anyone know how to fix this? I've checked all the cables are connected properly and have followed the instructions on the Arduino website carefully (correct port, Board: "Arduino Uno", Programmer: "Arduino as ISP", using example 11.ArduinoISP > ArduinoISP).

This is the error message:

Arduino: 1.8.19 (Windows 7), Board: "Arduino Uno"

C:\Program Files (x86)\Arduino\hardware\tools\avr/bin/avrdude -CC:\Program Files (x86)\Arduino\hardware\tools\avr/etc/avrdude.conf -v -patmega328p -cstk500v1 -PCOM7 -b19200 -e -Ulock:w:0x3F:m -Uefuse:w:0xFD:m -Uhfuse:w:0xDE:m -Ulfuse:w:0xFF:m 



avrdude: Version 6.3-20190619

         Copyright (c) 2000-2005 Brian Dean, http://www.bdmicro.com/

         Copyright (c) 2007-2014 Joerg Wunsch



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



         Using Port                    : COM7

         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: AVR device initialized and ready to accept instructions



Reading | ################################################## | 100% 0.02s



avrdude: Device signature = 0x000000 (retrying)



Reading | ################################################## | 100% 0.02s



avrdude: Device signature = 0x000000 (retrying)



Error while burning bootloader.

Reading | ################################################## | 100% 0.02s



avrdude: Device signature = 0x000000

avrdude: Yikes!  Invalid device signature.

         Double check connections and try again, or use -F to override

         this check.





avrdude done.  Thank you.




If it's useful the programmer board states "UNO" on the back so it might be an earlier generation. It is fully functional though. The target UNO is "UNO R3 'SMD edition".

If it's also useful, this is the error message I get when trying to upload sketches to the faulty Uno.

Arduino: 1.8.19 (Windows 7), Board: "Arduino Uno"

C:\Program Files (x86)\Arduino\arduino-builder -dump-prefs -logger=machine -hardware C:\Program Files (x86)\Arduino\hardware -hardware C:\Users\User\AppData\Local\Arduino15\packages -tools C:\Program Files (x86)\Arduino\tools-builder -tools C:\Program Files (x86)\Arduino\hardware\tools\avr -tools C:\Users\User\AppData\Local\Arduino15\packages -built-in-libraries C:\Program Files (x86)\Arduino\libraries -libraries C:\Users\User\Documents\Arduino\libraries -fqbn=arduino:avr:uno -vid-pid=2A03_0043 -ide-version=10819 -build-path C:\Users\User\AppData\Local\Temp\arduino_build_802863 -warnings=none -build-cache C:\Users\User\AppData\Local\Temp\arduino_cache_500453 -prefs=build.warn_data_percentage=75 -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.avr-gcc.path=C:\Program Files (x86)\Arduino\hardware\tools\avr -prefs=runtime.tools.avr-gcc-7.3.0-atmel3.6.1-arduino7.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 -hardware C:\Users\User\AppData\Local\Arduino15\packages -tools C:\Program Files (x86)\Arduino\tools-builder -tools C:\Program Files (x86)\Arduino\hardware\tools\avr -tools C:\Users\User\AppData\Local\Arduino15\packages -built-in-libraries C:\Program Files (x86)\Arduino\libraries -libraries C:\Users\User\Documents\Arduino\libraries -fqbn=arduino:avr:uno -vid-pid=2A03_0043 -ide-version=10819 -build-path C:\Users\User\AppData\Local\Temp\arduino_build_802863 -warnings=none -build-cache C:\Users\User\AppData\Local\Temp\arduino_cache_500453 -prefs=build.warn_data_percentage=75 -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.avr-gcc.path=C:\Program Files (x86)\Arduino\hardware\tools\avr -prefs=runtime.tools.avr-gcc-7.3.0-atmel3.6.1-arduino7.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=10819 -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\\User\\AppData\\Local\\Temp\\arduino_build_802863\\sketch\\Blink.ino.cpp" -o nul

Generating function prototypes...

"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=10819 -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\\User\\AppData\\Local\\Temp\\arduino_build_802863\\sketch\\Blink.ino.cpp" -o "C:\\Users\\User\\AppData\\Local\\Temp\\arduino_build_802863\\preproc\\ctags_target_for_gcc_minus_e.cpp"

"C:\\Program Files (x86)\\Arduino\\tools-builder\\ctags\\5.8-arduino11/ctags" -u --language-force=c++ -f - --c++-kinds=svpf --fields=KSTtzns --line-directives "C:\\Users\\User\\AppData\\Local\\Temp\\arduino_build_802863\\preproc\\ctags_target_for_gcc_minus_e.cpp"

Compiling sketch...

"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 -MMD -flto -mmcu=atmega328p -DF_CPU=16000000L -DARDUINO=10819 -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\\User\\AppData\\Local\\Temp\\arduino_build_802863\\sketch\\Blink.ino.cpp" -o "C:\\Users\\User\\AppData\\Local\\Temp\\arduino_build_802863\\sketch\\Blink.ino.cpp.o"

Compiling libraries...

Compiling core...

Using precompiled core: C:\Users\User\AppData\Local\Temp\arduino_cache_500453\core\core_arduino_avr_uno_0c812875ac70eb4a9b385d8fb077f54c.a

Linking everything together...

"C:\\Program Files (x86)\\Arduino\\hardware\\tools\\avr/bin/avr-gcc" -w -Os -g -flto -fuse-linker-plugin -Wl,--gc-sections -mmcu=atmega328p -o "C:\\Users\\User\\AppData\\Local\\Temp\\arduino_build_802863/Blink.ino.elf" "C:\\Users\\User\\AppData\\Local\\Temp\\arduino_build_802863\\sketch\\Blink.ino.cpp.o" "C:\\Users\\User\\AppData\\Local\\Temp\\arduino_build_802863/..\\arduino_cache_500453\\core\\core_arduino_avr_uno_0c812875ac70eb4a9b385d8fb077f54c.a" "-LC:\\Users\\User\\AppData\\Local\\Temp\\arduino_build_802863" -lm

"C:\\Program Files (x86)\\Arduino\\hardware\\tools\\avr/bin/avr-objcopy" -O ihex -j .eeprom --set-section-flags=.eeprom=alloc,load --no-change-warnings --change-section-lma .eeprom=0 "C:\\Users\\User\\AppData\\Local\\Temp\\arduino_build_802863/Blink.ino.elf" "C:\\Users\\User\\AppData\\Local\\Temp\\arduino_build_802863/Blink.ino.eep"

"C:\\Program Files (x86)\\Arduino\\hardware\\tools\\avr/bin/avr-objcopy" -O ihex -R .eeprom "C:\\Users\\User\\AppData\\Local\\Temp\\arduino_build_802863/Blink.ino.elf" "C:\\Users\\User\\AppData\\Local\\Temp\\arduino_build_802863/Blink.ino.hex"

"C:\\Program Files (x86)\\Arduino\\hardware\\tools\\avr/bin/avr-size" -A "C:\\Users\\User\\AppData\\Local\\Temp\\arduino_build_802863/Blink.ino.elf"

Sketch uses 924 bytes (2%) of program storage space. Maximum is 32256 bytes.

Global variables use 9 bytes (0%) of dynamic memory, leaving 2039 bytes for local variables. Maximum is 2048 bytes.

C:\Program Files (x86)\Arduino\hardware\tools\avr/bin/avrdude -CC:\Program Files (x86)\Arduino\hardware\tools\avr/etc/avrdude.conf -v -patmega328p -carduino -PCOM13 -b115200 -D -Uflash:w:C:\Users\User\AppData\Local\Temp\arduino_build_802863/Blink.ino.hex:i 



avrdude: Version 6.3-20190619

         Copyright (c) 2000-2005 Brian Dean, http://www.bdmicro.com/

         Copyright (c) 2007-2014 Joerg Wunsch



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



         Using Port                    : COM13

         Using Programmer              : arduino

         Overriding Baud Rate          : 115200

avrdude: stk500_recv(): programmer is not responding

avrdude: stk500_getsync() attempt 1 of 10: not in sync: resp=0xdb

avrdude: stk500_recv(): programmer is not responding

avrdude: stk500_getsync() attempt 2 of 10: not in sync: resp=0xdb

avrdude: stk500_recv(): programmer is not responding

avrdude: stk500_getsync() attempt 3 of 10: not in sync: resp=0xdb

avrdude: stk500_recv(): programmer is not responding

avrdude: stk500_getsync() attempt 4 of 10: not in sync: resp=0xdb

avrdude: stk500_recv(): programmer is not responding

avrdude: stk500_getsync() attempt 5 of 10: not in sync: resp=0xdb

avrdude: stk500_recv(): programmer is not responding

avrdude: stk500_getsync() attempt 6 of 10: not in sync: resp=0xdb

avrdude: stk500_recv(): programmer is not responding

avrdude: stk500_getsync() attempt 7 of 10: not in sync: resp=0xdb

avrdude: stk500_recv(): programmer is not responding

avrdude: stk500_getsync() attempt 8 of 10: not in sync: resp=0xdb

avrdude: stk500_recv(): programmer is not responding

avrdude: stk500_getsync() attempt 9 of 10: not in sync: resp=0xdb

avrdude: stk500_recv(): programmer is not responding

avrdude: stk500_getsync() attempt 10 of 10: not in sync: resp=0xdb



avrdude done.  Thank you.



Problem uploading to board.  See https://support.arduino.cc/hc/en-us/sections/360003198300 for suggestions.



Any help greatly appreciated, I don't want to throw away this board!

Is the board you want to programme powered?

Will it not be powered via the 5V pin on the programming board?

I cannot see your wiring. And did you check with a DMM?

They are wired together as per the instructions on this page. I've just tested the programming board and it is outputting 5 volts (5.18 to be precise)

Well, your messages from avrdude look exactly like there is no target connected. Therefore I suppose there is something wrong with the wiring ( Or your target UNO may be defective ).

Thanks. The wiring is totally fine so I suspect this is one Uno that's destined for the trash. Thanks for your help!

Yes, sometimes that's just the way it is ... :slightly_frowning_face:

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