Cant upload anything to brand new Mega 2560. ser_send(): write error:

Development Tools IDE 1.x
1

Hi everyone

I've just received a shiny new Arduino Mega 2560 and have been eager to get playing.. but I've fallen at the very first hurdle.

I can't upload any of the example sketches, not even once. I really hope someone can point me in the right direction....

I extracted Arduino software folder (v0022) to my desktop
plugged in Arduino mega 2560 via USB cable
pointed windows to the drivers folder\Arduino MEGA 2560.inf
power light comes on and the LED labelled as 'L' gives two quick flashes, a short pause and then turns on/off every second untill i press reset or unplug it
open arduino software and then any example sketch
check board's set to Arduino Mega 2560 and COM port's 4 (shown in Device Manager and disspears from the tools menu when I unplug my Arduino)
click 'Upload'

shows 'Uploading to I/O board and Binary sketch size: 2852 bytes (of a 258048 byte maximum)'

The Arduinos 'L' LED keeps blinking on/off every second, but misses a every 6th blink. As it missed the sixth blink the Rx LED flashed quickly once again and again and again

I've left it for a good 30 minutes, but it doesn't time out..

If I hold shift as I click on the 'Upload' button, it reports this:
Binary sketch size: 2068 bytes (of a 258048 byte maximum)
C:\Users\Whiton\Desktop\arduino-0022\hardware/tools/avr/bin/avrdude -CC:\Users\Whiton\Desktop\arduino-0022\hardware/tools/avr/etc/avrdude.conf -v -v -v -v -patmega2560 -cstk500v2 -P\.\COM4 -b57600 -D -Uflash:w:C:\Users\Whiton\AppData\Local\Temp\build4847559928450066398.tmp\Fade.cpp.hex:i

avrdude: Version 5.4-arduino, compiled on Oct 11 2007 at 19:12:32
Copyright (c) 2000-2005 Brian Dean, http://www.bdmicro.com/

System wide configuration file is "C:\Users\Whiton\Desktop\arduino-0022\hardware/tools/avr/etc/avrdude.conf"

Using Port : \.\COM4
Using Programmer : stk500v2
Overriding Baud Rate : 57600
avrdude: ser_open(): setting dtr
avrdude: Send: . [1b] . [01] . [00] . [01] . [0e] . [01] . [14]
avrdude: Recv:
avrdude: stk500_2_ReceiveMessage(): timeout
avrdude: Send: . [1b] . [01] . [00] . [01] . [0e] . [01] . [14]
avrdude: Recv:
avrdude: stk500_2_ReceiveMessage(): timeout
avrdude: Send: . [1b] . [01] . [00] . [01] . [0e] . [01] . [14]
avrdude: Recv:
avrdude: stk500_2_ReceiveMessage(): timeout
avrdude: Send: . [1b] . [01] . [00] . [01] . [0e] . [01] . [14]
avrdude: Recv:
avrdude: stk500_2_ReceiveMessage(): timeout
avrdude: Send: . [1b] . [01] . [00] . [01] . [0e] . [01] . [14]
avrdude: Recv:
avrdude: stk500_2_ReceiveMessage(): timeout
avrdude: Send: . [1b] . [01] . [00] . [01] . [0e] . [01] . [14]
avrdude: Recv:
avrdude: stk500_2_ReceiveMessage(): timeout
avrdude: Send: . [1b] . [01] . [00] . [01] . [0e] . [01] . [14]
avrdude: Recv:
avrdude: stk500_2_ReceiveMessage(): timeout
avrdude: Send: . [1b] . [01] . [00] . [01] . [0e] . [01] . [14]
avrdude: ser_send(): write error: sorry no info avail

it's PID is reported as rev0001

I've tried:
reinstalling the USB drivers
three different USB cables
removing/replacing the whole Arduino folder (re-downloaded from scratch)
moving it to the root of c:
changed COM port speed to various values, both through device manager and the Boards file
Tried another machine (both run Win7, one x86 Home Premium and the other x64 Ultimate)
and can't flash even an empty sketch :frowning:

can anyone help out a n00b please?

TIA!

2

Time for a loop-back test...

3

Thanks Coding Badly, and sorry for my slow reply. I though I'd set it so I'd get emailed when anyone replied, but somehow hadn't..

I kept playing with my new Mega and eventually found that I could get sketches uploaded to the board, but only by resetting it manually at just the right point after hitting the upload button.

I'd like to be able to use it with three machines if poss, but one of them (a laptop) seems to need it to be so spot-on I miss it half the time

I haven't been able to find why my Arduino Mega 2560 wont reset on it's own.

Does anyone have any ideas please?

tia

4

Has the auto-reset ever worked?

5

Hi,

No, its never reset on its own at all

It seems to behave just fine when I get my timing just right though. On the machine it seems most awkard with, it can take a good 4-5 goes at it to get it just right. Each of the three PCs ive tried it with seem to need a slightly different delay between hitting upload and resetting the arduino too.

I have had a good google, but find lots of descriptions of the opposite of what I need-dissabling the auto reset. The pads/tracks involved haven't been scratched/broken on mine (and check as connected as they should be with a multi-meter).

I'm up for waving my soldering iron at it if you have any ideas?

thanks

6

There have been some issues with the Mega 2560 but I don't recall auto-reset not working being one of them. I suggest a second search focusing on finding any other complaints of auto-reset not working. If that proves fruitless, get the vendor to exchange the board for one that works.

7

I've already searched around for probably longer than its worth..

Email to the vendor it is. thanks Coding Badly