ERROR: stk500_recv() - Couldn't find a solution

Using Arduino IDE 1.x
1

Hey!

my Arduino was working just fine until yesterday. Whenever I try to upload a program, I get this message:
"avrdude: stk500_recv(): programmer is not responding"
When I upload or reset the Arduino, only L blinks. TX and RX don't blink at all. I am concerned that it's a hardware problem.

I looked up solutions for this problem and found bunch of other people who had the same problem but either didn't post the solution, didn't find a solution, or I couldn't follow up with the solution.
I tried resetting the Arduino, restart the computer, uploading another program, changing the USB port, and made sure I chose the write board (UNO), but none worked.

I appreciate your help.

2

Re-program the USB-to-Serial firmware:

3

johnwasser:
Re-program the USB-to-Serial firmware:

http://arduino.cc/en/Hacking/DFUProgramming8U2

Thank you for the quick reply!
I am struggling a bit with upgrading the firmware. So am I supposed to download the folders from Github and replace the ones I have on my mac? or only the hex file that suits the Arduino I have?
I am not sure how to download them either.

4

Wjdan94:
So am I supposed to download the folders from Github and replace the ones I have on my mac? or only the hex file that suits the Arduino I have?

Just the one for your Arduino UNO.

Go to:
https://raw.githubusercontent.com/arduino/Arduino/master/hardware/arduino/firmwares/atmegaxxu2/arduino-usbserial/Arduino-usbserial-uno.hex

In your browser, select File->Save as... and save the page as a file called Arduino-usbserial-uno.hex

5

johnwasser:

Wjdan94:
So am I supposed to download the folders from Github and replace the ones I have on my mac? or only the hex file that suits the Arduino I have?

Just the one for your Arduino UNO.

Go to:
https://raw.githubusercontent.com/arduino/Arduino/master/hardware/arduino/firmwares/atmegaxxu2/arduino-usbserial/Arduino-usbserial-uno.hex

In your browser, select File->Save as... and save the page as a file called Arduino-usbserial-uno.hex

I did it as explained, but unfortunately did not work.
I uninstalled the application and started all over again but did not work either.
what is odd is that, after I replace the hex file and restart the application and upload the Blink code, it says "Done Uploading" with "avrdude: stk500_recv(): programmer is not responding" ! I get both messages only the first time I upload. However, after that, it goes back to the same old problem "Problem uploading to board ..." "avrdude: stk500_recv(): programmer is not responding"

Also, another odd thing is that TX and RX never blinked since I got the problem two days ago.