Can't upload to nano, no communication with board

I've recently bought a knockoff arduino nano from a local webshop, and i cant get it to work. I've been trying numerous solutions online but so far nothing has worked. When i try to upoload a sketch (blank), it takes a few minutes and eventually shows me it has tried 10 times without being able to communicate with the board. When powering up, the red L light flashes 7 times quickly, and afterwards flashes indefinitely every 2 or so seconds.

The arduino is named "Nano V3.0"

It has an FTDI chip and connects to my pc via usb just fine. To clear out some possibilites i'll tell you how my IDE is set up at the moment:

  • The board that i selected in the IDE is "Arduino Nano"
  • The processor that i selected in the IDE is "ATmega328P (Old bootloader)"
  • The port that i slected in the IDE is "COM4" (wich i have verified is the right port, through device manager.)
  • I have tried just about every programmer. (even though i have heard it doesn't matter if you dont use the 'upload using programmer option'. Though i do get different errors when changing it and using the upload button.)

When i try to upload a sketch, the RX light flashes 3 times, and then does nothing for the remainder of the upload. Also when sending something using the serial monitor, the RX light also flashes.

Here's the error report:

Arduino: 1.8.10 (Windows 10), Board: "Arduino Nano, ATmega328P (Old Bootloader)"

java.io.IOException: Access is denied
	at java.io.WinNTFileSystem.createFileExclusively(Native Method)
	at java.io.File.createTempFile(File.java:2024)
	at processing.app.BaseNoGui.saveFile(BaseNoGui.java:886)
	at processing.app.SketchFile.save(SketchFile.java:287)
	at processing.app.Sketch.save(Sketch.java:138)
	at processing.app.SketchController.save(SketchController.java:352)
	at processing.app.Editor.handleSave2(Editor.java:1928)
	at processing.app.Editor.handleSave(Editor.java:1903)
	at processing.app.Editor.handleExport(Editor.java:2043)
	at processing.app.EditorToolbar.handleSelectionPressed(EditorToolbar.java:498)
	at processing.app.EditorToolbar.mousePressed(EditorToolbar.java:448)
	at java.awt.Component.processMouseEvent(Component.java:6536)
	at javax.swing.JComponent.processMouseEvent(JComponent.java:3324)
	at java.awt.Component.processEvent(Component.java:6304)
	at java.awt.Container.processEvent(Container.java:2239)
	at java.awt.Component.dispatchEventImpl(Component.java:4889)
	at java.awt.Container.dispatchEventImpl(Container.java:2297)
	at java.awt.Component.dispatchEvent(Component.java:4711)
	at java.awt.LightweightDispatcher.retargetMouseEvent(Container.java:4904)
	at java.awt.LightweightDispatcher.processMouseEvent(Container.java:4532)
	at java.awt.LightweightDispatcher.dispatchEvent(Container.java:4476)
	at java.awt.Container.dispatchEventImpl(Container.java:2283)
	at java.awt.Window.dispatchEventImpl(Window.java:2746)
	at java.awt.Component.dispatchEvent(Component.java:4711)
	at java.awt.EventQueue.dispatchEventImpl(EventQueue.java:760)
	at java.awt.EventQueue.access$500(EventQueue.java:97)
	at java.awt.EventQueue$3.run(EventQueue.java:709)
	at java.awt.EventQueue$3.run(EventQueue.java:703)
	at java.security.AccessController.doPrivileged(Native Method)
	at java.security.ProtectionDomain$JavaSecurityAccessImpl.doIntersectionPrivilege(ProtectionDomain.java:74)
	at java.security.ProtectionDomain$JavaSecurityAccessImpl.doIntersectionPrivilege(ProtectionDomain.java:84)
	at java.awt.EventQueue$4.run(EventQueue.java:733)
	at java.awt.EventQueue$4.run(EventQueue.java:731)
	at java.security.AccessController.doPrivileged(Native Method)
	at java.security.ProtectionDomain$JavaSecurityAccessImpl.doIntersectionPrivilege(ProtectionDomain.java:74)
	at java.awt.EventQueue.dispatchEvent(EventQueue.java:730)
	at java.awt.EventDispatchThread.pumpOneEventForFilters(EventDispatchThread.java:205)
	at java.awt.EventDispatchThread.pumpEventsForFilter(EventDispatchThread.java:116)
	at java.awt.EventDispatchThread.pumpEventsForHierarchy(EventDispatchThread.java:105)
	at java.awt.EventDispatchThread.pumpEvents(EventDispatchThread.java:101)
	at java.awt.EventDispatchThread.pumpEvents(EventDispatchThread.java:93)
	at java.awt.EventDispatchThread.run(EventDispatchThread.java:82)
Access is denied
Sketch uses 444 bytes (1%) of program storage space. Maximum is 30720 bytes.
Global variables use 9 bytes (0%) of dynamic memory, leaving 2039 bytes for local variables. Maximum is 2048 bytes.
avrdude: stk500_recv(): programmer is not responding
avrdude: stk500_getsync() attempt 1 of 10: not in sync: resp=0x53
avrdude: stk500_recv(): programmer is not responding
avrdude: stk500_getsync() attempt 2 of 10: not in sync: resp=0x53
avrdude: stk500_recv(): programmer is not responding
avrdude: stk500_getsync() attempt 3 of 10: not in sync: resp=0x53
avrdude: stk500_recv(): programmer is not responding
avrdude: stk500_getsync() attempt 4 of 10: not in sync: resp=0x53
avrdude: stk500_recv(): programmer is not responding
avrdude: stk500_getsync() attempt 5 of 10: not in sync: resp=0x53
avrdude: stk500_recv(): programmer is not responding
avrdude: stk500_getsync() attempt 6 of 10: not in sync: resp=0x53
avrdude: stk500_recv(): programmer is not responding
avrdude: stk500_getsync() attempt 7 of 10: not in sync: resp=0x53
avrdude: stk500_recv(): programmer is not responding
avrdude: stk500_getsync() attempt 8 of 10: not in sync: resp=0x53
avrdude: stk500_recv(): programmer is not responding
avrdude: stk500_getsync() attempt 9 of 10: not in sync: resp=0x53
avrdude: stk500_recv(): programmer is not responding
avrdude: stk500_getsync() attempt 10 of 10: not in sync: resp=0x53
Problem uploading to board.  See http://www.arduino.cc/en/Guide/Troubleshooting#upload for suggestions.

This report would have more information with
"Show verbose output during compilation"
option enabled in File -> Preferences.

Thank you for reading my post! If i'm missing any information you need, feel free to ask.

What happens if you select Tools > Processor > ATmega328P and then try uploading?

Retoon:
I have tried just about every programmer. (even though i have heard it doesn't matter if you dont use the 'upload using programmer option'.

That's correct.

pert:
What happens if you select Tools > Processor > ATmega328P and then try uploading?
That's correct.

I get the same no-communication error.

Pastebin link (because replies have 9000 character limit):

This "java.io.IOException: Access is denied" thing is pretty strange. The avrdude error you're getting is something we deal with every day here on the forum, but the other error is not common, and I don't think I've ever seen it manifested in this way. Maybe some verbose output will give a clue as to what is going on.

Please do this:

  • (In the Arduino IDE) File > Preferences
  • Uncheck the checkbox next to "Show verbose output during: compilation"
  • Check the checkbox next to "Show verbose output during: upload
  • Click "OK"
  • Sketch > Upload
  • After the upload fails, you'll see a button on the right side of the orange bar "Copy error messages" (or the icon that looks like two pieces of paper at the top right corner of the black console window in the Arduino Web Editor). Click that button.
  • In a forum reply here, click on the reply field.
  • Click the </> button on the forum toolbar. This will add the forum's code tags markup to your reply.
  • Press "Ctrl + V". This will paste the upload output between the code tags.
  • Move the cursor outside of the code tags before you add any additional text to your reply.

pert:
This "java.io.IOException: Access is denied" thing is pretty strange. The avrdude error you're getting is something we deal with every day here on the forum, but the other error is not common, and I don't think I've ever seen it manifested in this way. Maybe some verbose output will give a clue as to what is going on.

Please do this:

  • (In the Arduino IDE) File > Preferences
  • Uncheck the checkbox next to "Show verbose output during: compilation"
  • Check the checkbox next to "Show verbose output during: upload
  • Click "OK"
  • Sketch > Upload
  • After the upload fails, you'll see a button on the right side of the orange bar "Copy error messages" (or the icon that looks like two pieces of paper at the top right corner of the black console window in the Arduino Web Editor). Click that button.
  • In a forum reply here, click on the reply field.
  • Click the </> button on the forum toolbar. This will add the forum's code tags markup to your reply.
  • Press "Ctrl + V". This will paste the upload output between the code tags.
  • Move the cursor outside of the code tags before you add any additional text to your reply.

As requested:

Arduino: 1.8.10 (Windows 10), Board: "Arduino Nano, ATmega328P"

Sketch uses 444 bytes (1%) of program storage space. Maximum is 30720 bytes.
Global variables use 9 bytes (0%) of dynamic memory, leaving 2039 bytes for local variables. Maximum is 2048 bytes.
C:\Program Files (x86)\Arduino\hardware\tools\avr/bin/avrdude -CC:\Program Files (x86)\Arduino\hardware\tools\avr/etc/avrdude.conf -v -patmega328p -carduino -PCOM4 -b115200 -D -Uflash:w:C:\Users\retoo\AppData\Local\Temp\arduino_build_92140/sketch_nov22a.ino.hex:i 

avrdude: Version 6.3-20190619
         Copyright (c) 2000-2005 Brian Dean, http://www.bdmicro.com/
         Copyright (c) 2007-2014 Joerg Wunsch

         System wide configuration file is "C:\Program Files (x86)\Arduino\hardware\tools\avr/etc/avrdude.conf"

         Using Port                    : COM4
         Using Programmer              : arduino
         Overriding Baud Rate          : 115200
avrdude: stk500_recv(): programmer is not responding
avrdude: stk500_getsync() attempt 1 of 10: not in sync: resp=0x06
avrdude: stk500_recv(): programmer is not responding
avrdude: stk500_getsync() attempt 2 of 10: not in sync: resp=0x06
avrdude: stk500_recv(): programmer is not responding
avrdude: stk500_getsync() attempt 3 of 10: not in sync: resp=0x06
avrdude: stk500_recv(): programmer is not responding
avrdude: stk500_getsync() attempt 4 of 10: not in sync: resp=0x06
avrdude: stk500_recv(): programmer is not responding
avrdude: stk500_getsync() attempt 5 of 10: not in sync: resp=0x06
avrdude: stk500_recv(): programmer is not responding
avrdude: stk500_getsync() attempt 6 of 10: not in sync: resp=0x06
avrdude: stk500_recv(): programmer is not responding
avrdude: stk500_getsync() attempt 7 of 10: not in sync: resp=0x06
avrdude: stk500_recv(): programmer is not responding
avrdude: stk500_getsync() attempt 8 of 10: not in sync: resp=0x06
avrdude: stk500_recv(): programmer is not responding
avrdude: stk500_getsync() attempt 9 of 10: not in sync: resp=0x06
avrdude: stk500_recv(): programmer is not responding
avrdude: stk500_getsync() attempt 10 of 10: not in sync: resp=0x06

avrdude done.  Thank you.

Problem uploading to board.  See http://www.arduino.cc/en/Guide/Troubleshooting#upload for suggestions.

This report would have more information with
"Show verbose output during compilation"
option enabled in File -> Preferences.

Never noticed the IOException, I run the IDE as administrator, so i have no idea why it got denied access to something.
I also notice that the RX light lights up everytime an attempt is made. TX has never lit, though.

I think we've gone through all the possible solutions other than burning the bootloader. You'll need an ISP programmer for this. If you don't own an ISP programmer, you can use a spare Arduino board as an "Arduino as ISP":

I think i'll buy a legit nano to do this, seeing as i have a feeling the clone i bought has issues of some sort (it was only like €6,- ). i'll follow the guide you sent, probably gonna take a few days for me to post a reply.