ERROR "avrdude: no programmer has been specified"

Hey guys, pretty new to arduino.. I'm using an R3 Arduino Uno and whenever I got to upload a sketch i get the following error:

avrdude: no programmer has been specified on the command line or the config file
Specify a programmer using the -c option and try again

I've tried resetting the arduino, changing the usb, made sure nothing was connected to it while trying to upload to it, and also made sure the correct Board/Port/Programmers were selected. I also updated the board driver to 1.6.11

Any ideas? Should I just light it on fire and call it quits?

Which version of the arduino IDE are you using?

XaviMarti:
I also updated the board driver to 1.6.11

You need IDE 1.6.9 to use that.

oqibidipo:
You need IDE 1.6.9 to use that.

I updated the IDE to 1.6.9 but still get an error:

stk500_recv(): programmer is not responding

then it proceeds to try 10 times and tells me to check the troubleshooting website