Erratic FTDI behavior

Development Tools Uploading
1

I'm running IDE 2.3.6 on Windows 11. The target is an Adafruit Pro Trinket 5V. I'm uploading via an FTDI cable. I've had no problem with this setup for years, but this is my first Arduino project since moving to Windows 11. I've found that using FTDI sometimes results in a normal upload and sometimes produces this error:

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:\Users\xxx\AppData\Local\Arduino15\packages\arduino\tools\avrdude\6.3.0-arduino17/etc/avrdude.conf"

         Using Port                    : COM3
         Using Programmer              : arduino
         Overriding Baud Rate          : 115200
avrdude: ser_open(): can't open device "\\.\COM3": Access is denied.

avrdude done.  Thank you.

Failed uploading: uploading error: exit status 1

Naturally, this erratic behavior is very frustrating. I've tried unplugging/replugging the cable, uploading without the cable (i.e. with no connection to the target); sometimes I can subsequently upload, sometimes I can't. Any suggestions greatly appreciated.

2

Is either the Serial Monitor or Plotter open on that port when it happens?

3

The plotter is never open. I've tried with the serial monitor open and closed and found no correlation with the problem.

4

What computer do you have?

5

Puget Systems Windows 11 system.

6

That doesn't return anything sensible I'm afraid.

Is it a HP, Lenovo, Dell? What model nr?

7

This is the system. It's based on an ASUS ProArt Z890-Creator WiFi motherboard. The FTDI cable is connected to one of the USB 3 A ports.

8

That's better.

Did the FTDI work with this computer and Win 10, or an older computer + Win 10?

9

older computer + Win 10

10

So the malfunction begun when the new computer was taken into service, are you still convinced that the FTDI cable is at fault?

I'm not saying your new computer is broken, but it could boil down to drivers, BIOS, USB generational. If you have a USB 2 hub it's worth a try.

11

Good points. I wasn't specifically questioning the cable, but it's certainly possible that the PC's USB 3.2 ports aren't sufficiently backwards-compatible with the cable's USB 2.0 logic. Unfortunately, there are no USB 2.0 ports on this system (only 3.2 and Thunderbolt). FTDI cables are at least available with USB C termination (though not specifically USB 3.2), however, so I'll buy one of those and see if it works any better.

12

From what I understand, people had success with hubs. I can imagine that hub are more generic so newer USB hardware have no problem talking to them, and the USB 2 devices connected to that hub. But it's of course what you prefer. Good luck!

13

Hi @Involute.

By "closed", do you mean that you clicked the X icon on the "Serial Monitor" tab in the bottom panel of the Arduino IDE window to close the tab:

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I ask because there are other actions that you might consider to be "closing" Serial Monitor, but it is only by clicking that X icon that you will prevent Serial Monitor from interfering with the upload and causing it to fail with the "Access is denied" error.

14

Yes, I close the monitor by clicking the x, though in my IDE, "Output" is leftmost with "Serial Monitor" to its right.

15

I dug out an old USB 2.0 hub (powered) and plugged it into one of the USB 3.2 ports, then plugged the FTDI cable into the hub. I got two or three uneventful uploads that way, then it reverted to the same problem I've been having.

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