I am using Arduino UNO board, and trying to develop SD card project, when using the EXAMPLE "Cardinfo" I uploaded the sketch , but when trying to open the 'serial monitor' I get the error message as follows..... Tools>port is gray and cant select it...
Sketch uses 11,466 bytes (35%) of program storage space. Maximum is 32,256 bytes.
Global variables use 1,364 bytes (66%) of dynamic memory, leaving 684 bytes for local variables. Maximum is 2,048 bytes.
Board at COM4 is not available
This report would have more information with
"Show verbose output during compilation"
enabled in File > Preferences.
Please post your code, I gather you can load your sketch on the UNO, if so there may be something in it that is blocking the comms.
Please read the first post in any forum entitled how to use this forum. http://forum.arduino.cc/index.php/topic,148850.0.html
then look down to item #7 about how to post your code.
It will be formatted in a scrolling window that makes it easier to read.
Have you tried loading the blink sketch with a serial.print in it to see if your hardware is functioning properly.
ark1944:
I am using Arduino UNO board, and trying to develop SD card project, when using the EXAMPLE "Cardinfo" I uploaded the sketch , but when trying to open the 'serial monitor' I get the error message as follows..... Tools>port is gray and cant select it...
Please describe more detailed:
Before you upload the sketch, you can select the Serial port from Tools>port for uploading the sketch
But after successfully uploading the sketch the Tools>port menu is grayed out and no Serial port available?
Sounds strange to me.
Hello Jurs,
In fact Tools>Port is all the time gray, even if I just open the IDE and board is not even connected yet.
Is it something to do with Windows 8 pro OS, or any settings therein.
Thanks for the support.
-arun
ark1944:
Hello Jurs,
In fact Tools>Port is all the time gray, even if I just open the IDE and board is not even connected yet.
Is it something to do with Windows 8 pro OS, or any settings therein.
Thanks for the support.
-arun
The Tools-Port of the UNO is ONLY visible if you have established an USB connection:
connect UNO and PC via USB cable
windows loads USB-Serial driver automatically
COM port becomes visible under the Tools-Port menu in the IDE and can be selected
If this doesn't work, you have not installed the board USB drivers correctly.
If you installed the "Windows installer version of the IDE", all Arduino board drivers are installed automatically.
If you installed the "Windows ZIP version of the IDE", board drivers may need manual installation.
if you pull the USB cable Windows unloads the USB driver and you cannot select the COM port
Hello Jurs,
Let me explain in steps...
Step1;
Board not connected thru USB cable yet.
Arduino IDE opened ... Tools>Port is gray
Control panel>system>Device Manager...does not show any COM PORTs heading
Step2:
Board connected thru USB cable.
LED on pin13 blinks two three times.
Control panel>system>Device Manager...shows Ports(COM & LPT)...Arduino Uno(COM4)
Selected sketch File>examples>SD>Cardinfo and uploaded
Arduino IDE massage shows Done Compiling and then shows Done Uploading
But Arduino IDE Tools>Port selection still in gray
Do u get any clue please ?
Thanking you for the help....arun
Hi,
I uploaded the Cardinfo sketch to a UNO without any shields attached, ie naked UNO.
It uploaded and monitor worked telling me to check wiring, fit card etc etc after saying initialising.
Have you tried to upload to a naked UNO?
What SD card shield do you have?
ark1944:
Control panel>system>Device Manager...shows Ports(COM & LPT)...Arduino Uno(COM4)
Selected sketch File>examples>SD>Cardinfo and uploaded
Arduino IDE massage shows Done Compiling and then shows Done Uploading
But Arduino IDE Tools>Port selection still in gray
Do u get any clue please ?
So before uploading the sketch you can select COM4 port, uploading to COM4 can be donesuccessfully, and after uploading the sketch every port is grayed out?
Check your hardware!
SD card module used?
Circuit schematics and wiring diagram?
Earlier I have been trying with MMC SD card attached to Arduino UNO directly to pins 4,11,12,13,3v3 and gnd...no shield was used.
Later I tried without any SD card connected.
Results are same.
If you've previously had the uno connected (which I assume since your codes running) but now can't connect- it might be a port amperage overload I.e. Your circuit wiring is bad. Have you tried disconnecting all wiring from uno and seeing if OS see it on com port?
Hi Jurs,
I am sorry if I am unable to explain properly.
Let me try again.
Even when no USB cable is connected, and if only Arduino IDE is opened on Laptop, The Tools>Port is gray, so not possible to select any port.
Now I connect the USB cable, connect the Arduino board only (SD card connections not done yet),
still Tools>Port is gray, board gets connected automatically to COM4, and I can upload the sketch.
Program gets uploaded, which is indicated by some blinking of Tx, Rx, pin13 LEDs.
Even if any other sketch is loaded, it gets loaded, but Port remains gray, and I am unable to select Serial Monitor, if I click on Tools>Serial Monitor I get massage "Board at COM4 is not available" and serial monitor is not opened....
Hope I have made it clear.....
Any idea about the problem now ?
Even when no USB cable is connected, and if only Arduino IDE is opened on Laptop, The Tools>Port is gray, so not possible to select any port.
Yes that is normal it happens on all machines with all operating systems.
Now I connect the USB cable, connect the Arduino board only (SD card connections not done yet),
still Tools>Port is gray, board gets connected automatically to COM4, and I can upload the sketch.
This starts not to make sense. if the tools port is gray you can't connect it and so you can not upload anything. I think you are misunderstanding what is happening here. The correct port at this stage will be ticked, which one is ticked, it is not the gray one.
Any idea about the problem now ?
If indeed that is what is happening then something is very wrong. This is not how an Arduino system behaves. I suspect there is something big you are not telling us, like the Arduino type or IDE version or something like this. I have never come across this sort of behavior which and neither has anyone else, hence everyone's confusion. It is simply not logical.
From opening post, IDE version is 1.6.7, OS Win8.1
@OP
Opening post error message states that "Board at COM4 is not available". In reply #17 you state that you can upload.
Unless something changed in between, this contradicts. OK, found some more info
From OP's reply #11
Board connected thru USB cable.
LED on pin13 blinks two three times.
Control panel>system>Device Manager...shows Ports(COM & LPT)...Arduino Uno(COM4)
Selected sketch File>examples>SD>Cardinfo and uploaded
Arduino IDE massage shows Done Compiling and then shows Done Uploading
But Arduino IDE Tools>Port selection still in gray
Except for the last point. everything is OK. Please check the device manager after the upload; is it till showing COM4?
If it still shows, you can try to use a different terminal program (e.g. realterm) and see if that can connect to com4.
As I indicated in reply #6, maybe you should uninstall and downgrade; some say that 1.6.5r5 is the most stable version.
Last question: what does it say on the board. arduino.org or arduino.cc ? I've seen one mention in the past that an arduino.org board did not work with the arduino.cc IDE; not sure of the details though.
