I have tryed following the instructions here: http://arduino.cc/en/Tutorial/ArduinoToBreadboard
And I keep getting this error right after I click "Burn bootloader":
avrdude: Yikes! Invalid device signature.
Double check connections and try again, or use -F to override
this check.
Any help would be MUCH apriceated 
Disable auto-reset after uploading the ArduinoISP sketch...
http://arduino.cc/playground/Main/DisablingAutoResetOnSerialConnection
Did it work?
Well I tryed the first option with using a 120 ohm resistor between the 5v and the reset and no luck, still got the same error. Did you try a specific one that worked? Coding Badly?
Could you be running into this?
http://code.google.com/p/arduino/issues/detail?id=661
I know I hit that problem and had to change ArduinoISP to use 9600 baud and the
programmers.txt file to tell the IDE to use 9600 baud, and then I was able to
program one Uno R3 with another one.
P.S. I didn't need to prevent the auto reset. Supposedly since optiboot 4.4,
the reset bypass is not necessary (and I had 4.4 on my R3).
Here's the thread where that tidbit shows up:
Ok well that could be part of the problem but I also know that I dont have optiboot so that could be another part... I went to that other forum post you included a link for and found this but really have no idea how do use it...
https://github.com/arduino/Arduino/blob/master/hardware/arduino/bootloaders/optiboot/optiboot_atmega328.lst
Other than that, I will try to look at the ISP code and find the baud rate and change it for now...
Well now, that is interesting... What is the IDE? I changed the speed in the programmers.txt to 9600 and now I got a different error:
avrdude: stk500_getsync(): not in sync: resp=0xff
You can't just change programmers.txt, you have to find the Serial.begin(19200) in the ArduinoISP sketch and change it from 19200 to 9600 as well (and reload it into the arduino you are using as an ISP). They have to agree on the baud rate.
Shadow2917:
Did you try a specific one that worked? Coding Badly?
= 10uF capacitor connected from RESET to GND. Don't forget to observe the polarity.
If you just want to install a bootloader in another processor, use OptiLoader.
I changed the baud rate in the ArduinoISP sketch to match "Programmers.txt" but I got the same error as before. I also tryed and failed with Coding Badly's idea aswell after I changed both baud rates back to 19200.
I also tryed and failed with Coding Badly's idea
Which idea? Capacitor or OptiLoader?
The capacitor... I'm not really sure what you mean with the optiloader, could you expound?
Is the goal to install a bootloader on another processor? Or, do you plan to do other work with your Arduino-as-ISP?
Well I got an Arduino for Christmas (hence why I am a newbie) and after learning how much power it had I began researching how to embed the atmega chip. So I ordered one and am now trying to make it so I can pop out the chip in my Arduino after loading a sketch on it and then just pop the next atmega in and have it work!
• Download OptiLoader to your sketch directory...
• Connect your Arduino to the target processor the same way you have it connected for ISP programming...
• Upload OptiLoader to your Arduino
• Open Serial Monitor so you can tell if there is a problem
What is the chip number you are trying to load a bootloader on? The Arduino uses a 328P and it sounds like you may have gotted a 328. A minor problem, and easy to work around, just means there are a couple relatively easy things to learn to get the bootloader working. Once it has the bootloader its just an Arduino chip.
If you want to learn how to use AVRDude directly I can give you the commands to program the chip - from a DOS prompt.
I will definatly try that but I need some clearifycations:
Ok so I upload the optiloader sketch to my Arduino uno with the uno selected in the board menu? Also do I upload the optiloader after I connect the extra atmega chip? Also I just went to the link and is it the optiloader.pde or optiloader.h that I need?
kf2qd: I made sure to get the proper chip, it matches the one allready on the uno exactly
Just in case, here is what I got: http://search.digikey.com/scripts/DkSearch/dksus.dll?WT.z_header=search_go&lang=en&site=us&keywords=atmega+328P-PU&x=22&y=17
so I upload the optiloader sketch to my Arduino uno with the uno selected in the board menu?
Yes. Exactly like you would upload any other sketch...blink, your own, etc.
Also do I upload the optiloader after I connect the extra atmega chip?
It doesn't really matter. If you run the sketch without a target chip, OptiLoader will just complain it couldn't write the bootloader to the (nonexistent) chip.
Also I just went to the link and is it the optiloader.pde or optiloader.h that I need?
You need them both. Put them both in the same directory / folder on your computer.
here is what I got: Electronic Components and Parts Search | DigiKey Electronics
That's the one, although I think OptiLoader will burn the bootloader to both types of chips.
magagna:
here is what I got: Electronic Components and Parts Search | DigiKey Electronics
That's the one, although I think OptiLoader will burn the bootloader to both types of chips.
Yes, optiLoader will burn both the 328 and 328p chips.
Well heres what happened: I uploaded the script and opened the serial monitor, not checking the baud rate so it printed a bunch of random charactors because the baud rates didnt match. Then I changed the baud rate of my monitor to match what was in the script and got this:
"OptiLoader Bootstrap programmer.
2011 by Bill Westfield (WestfW)
Target power on! ...
Starting Program Mode - Failed, result = 0x0
Target power OFF!
Type 'G' or hit RESET for next chip"
Does that mean it failed or that it allready has the bootloader on it??