CH340 problems

Development Tools IDE 1.x
1

Hi I'm new,

I am new to arduino, and I wanted a cheap second arduino for a project. I bought a cheap Chinese one on ebay to supplement my genuine one. It has a CH340 USB Serial connection. Here is the link to the one I bought. http://www.ebay.com/itm/262136737291?_trksid=p2057872.m2748.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT
Now to the issue. It will not communicate with my windows 10 laptop. Windows 10 picked up the driver all by itself. I see that in device manager. The com ports match from device manager to Arduino IDE. I have tried several usb cords and different usb ports on my laptop. I have updated to the latest Arduino IDE. What is wrong here? Did I just buy a dud Arduino?

Thank you for your time.

2

It may be possible that it didn't come with the bootloader installed. Usually they have the bootloader and the default flashing LED sketch on them. Does the LED on the arduino flash when you apply power?

3

Did you download and install the drivers for the ch340g? They are not included with the ide. Google will find it.

4

The arduino has power and the pin 13 led blinks wheb reset is pressed. I have downloaded the drivers, but when I go into device manager to attach that driver, windows 10 won't take it because it thinks it has the best one. Not sure if that is the case tho.

5

If possible uninstall the driver which Win10 thinks is the best one.
Then re-install the driver which you downloaded.

Did you download the CH340 driver from the Chinese manufacturer's website?
They always keep the latest version.

6

I would indeed try the driver from the manufacturers website. Because I never had Win 10 finding the drivers for the CH340. Maybe Microsoft added them to Windows Update but last time I tried the where not in there.

7

That was the problem. Thanks a bunch guys!