Cant bring my Arduino Mega 2560 back to life

Development Tools IDE 1.x
1

I had started a previous post about trying to burn 'hiduino' onto my Mega (big mistake). I ended up erasing the bootloader and it just doesnt work or nothing. I'm running Windows 8.1 and makes that sound when you plug in the usb device.Followed these step to see what port is what running under (Com 6) then changed the preferences.txt to match (Com 6).

http://forum.arduino.cc/index.php?topic=145001.0

Purchased a USBtinyISP v3.0 to try to reflash the bootloader through the arduino software...and it does this after it programs:

avrdude: verification error, first mismatch at byte 0x3e000 0x0d != 0xff
avrdude: verification error; content mismatch

Programmer set to (usbtinyisp) then burn bootloader.

This is what i get under device manager while plugged into the arduino itself:


1st unknown device device instance path: USB\VID_03EB&PID_2FEF\5&21BE246A&0&1

2nd unknown device device instance path: USB\VID_03EB&PID_2FEF\5&21BE246A&0&4

Arduino Mega 2560 instance path USB\VID_2341&PID_0042\553323332303512021E1

On device manager for 'Atmel USB Devices it says 'ATmega16U2' And looks like the driver is installed fine. I have no clue how to fix this. I have tried everything i could possibly think of.

2

Another thing i noticed was when i put it into DFU mode, nothing shows up on device manager.Let go of the pins it goes back to normal.

Did a full restore of windows 8.1 and now it says that in the arduino program that its trying to program on COM1.Still trying to install the bootloader with USBtinyisp but im not having any luck. Atmel flip keeps giving me syntax errors.lol. I don't know what i did to it but, it sounds like it might be going in the garbage.

3

I read up a little more and found this:

Bootloader

Make sure there's a bootloader burned on your Arduino board. To check, reset the board. The built-in L LED (which is connected to pin 13) should blink. If it doesn't, there may not be a bootloader on your board.

So i pushed the reset button....and it blinks on and off. Maybe i have A bootloader but burnt the wrong one.Still doesnt show up in ports or have a port attached what so ever.Also...When i load it up in FLIP, and choose the "atmega16u2" the tx/rx lights stay on like its' gonna work. every hex file i could find hasnt worked though.

4

Finally got the damn thing working! I was about to give up pretty damn soon but i found a post with a working .Hex file:

http://forum.arduino.cc/index.php?topic=257588.0

Used FLIP to program 'ATmegaBOOT16u2_mega.hex' and out of nowhere the thing showed up on COM 3 :smiley:

Can run sketches and everything.I'm not gonna screw with the bootloaders anymore! Not worth all this trouble for a fix.

If you ever read this 'casemod' thanks for uploading that file!