Can't upload program but device signature is okay

Hi,

I have a device that is supposed to have an Arduino bootloader. The signature is read correctly as an atmega328P. With verbose mode, I can also see the hardware version is 3 and firmware version is 3.3.

When I try to upload a program, the write phase "seems" to work but the verification fails. As soon as the computer tries to read the program, the device restarts and runs the previous program.

So, that means that the write doesn't really work as the program remains unchanged. The only thing I can do with this device is read the signature...

This is a device I bought years ago on AliExpress so I don't know exactly what is on the flash memory. I know that it's supposed have an Arduino bootloader and it can indeed at least return the right signature, but that's about it.

Any idea of what could cause this? Anything else I could try to get more information?

Thanks!

I have moved your topic to an appropriate forum category @faelenor.

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I have a car that goes 30 meters a minute, that has been validated, what color is it? That is a variation of your question. No date no valid answer. An annotate schematic would help along with links to technical information on each of the hardware devices.

It's looks like the chip memory is damaged. In general, trying to repair of such devices is pointless.

I agree that I could have provided more information, but I as I'm not that much familiar with the Arduino platform, I hoped that it was some kind of known issue in specific circumstances. I do have quite a lot of experience with embedded systems though.

The device is this one, it is a knockoff of this one. On the BaseCam website, they say that it it fails to update, I can flash the Arduino bootstrap, but this version of the board does't have an ISP connector. I tried to solder wires, but the pads are too small and the wires don't stick to them...

So, that's why I went back to the bootloader. I assume that there is one variant of the Arduino bootloader on it as avrdude can read the signature and firmware version. I was wondering if someone would know why it fails to update write or read.

Btw, the device is still working. When I connect it to my computer, the BaseCam software can talk to it and see the state of the Accelerator/Gyro. I want to reuse this board to make a self-balancing robot as it has all the hardware required to do it.

It might be that the lockbits are set to prevent readout of the code. That would also prevent upload via USB if not mistaken.

Only way around that is programming via ICSP or a high voltage programmer. But your attpt soldering the wires was unsuccessful.

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