FTDI Programmer can't get a connection to ESP32 (and also not to ATMEGA328P)

[chaterrony]

Since roughly one year, I try to upload sketches with my Arduino IDE (now version 1.8.9) via an FTDI adapter (FT232RL) to ATMEGA328P and now also to a WROOM32 core. I describe her the issue with the ESP32 as this is much more important to me (ATMEGA328P can easily be programmed with an UNO as ISP programmer.
Every time I run into time out:

Arduino: 1.8.9 (Windows 10), Board: "ESP32 Dev Module, Disabled, Default 4MB with spiffs (1.2MB APP/1.5MB SPIFFS), 240MHz (WiFi/BT), QIO, 80MHz, 4MB (32Mb), 115200, None"

Warning: Board breadboard:avr:atmega328bb doesn't define a 'build.board' preference. Auto-set to: AVR_ATMEGA328BB
Sketch uses 207713 bytes (15%) of program storage space. Maximum is 1310720 bytes.
Global variables use 15228 bytes (4%) of dynamic memory, leaving 312452 bytes for local variables. Maximum is 327680 bytes.
esptool.py v2.6
Serial port COM7
Connecting........_____....._____....._____....._____....._____....._____....._____

A fatal error occurred: Failed to connect to ESP32: Timed out waiting for packet header
A fatal error occurred: Failed to connect to ESP32: Timed out waiting for packet header

Wiring (see also picture):
ESP32 FTDI (set to 3.3V)
GND GND
3V3 VCC (I also tried with an external 3V3 Power source, it did not change)
RX TX
TX RX
IO00 GND (with jumper)
Reset the ESP32 with shortly setting EN to GND (button) before uploading the code.
The LED on GPIO32 is to test a blink sketch only.
I did this setup also on a breadboard. Same behavior.
I also tested all connections. Everything fine.

If I unplug the FTDI adapter from the ESP32 during uploading, the Arduino IDE tries to upload until it runs into timeout. No change in behavior compared to the normal time out.
If I unplug the FTDI from USB during upload, I get an error message:

Arduino: 1.8.9 (Windows 10), Board: "ESP32 Dev Module, Disabled, Default 4MB with spiffs (1.2MB APP/1.5MB SPIFFS), 240MHz (WiFi/BT), QIO, 80MHz, 4MB (32Mb), 115200, None"

Warning: Board breadboard:avr:atmega328bb doesn't define a 'build.board' preference. Auto-set to: AVR_ATMEGA328BB
Sketch uses 207713 bytes (15%) of program storage space. Maximum is 1310720 bytes.
Global variables use 15228 bytes (4%) of dynamic memory, leaving 312452 bytes for local variables. Maximum is 327680 bytes.
esptool.py v2.6
Serial port COM7
Connecting........_____....._____....._____....._____...Traceback (most recent call last):
  File "esptool.py", line 2959, in <module>
  File "esptool.py", line 2952, in _main
  File "esptool.py", line 2653, in main
  File "esptool.py", line 460, in connect
  File "esptool.py", line 440, in _connect_attempt
  File "esptool.py", line 379, in sync
  File "esptool.py", line 315, in command
  File "site-packages\serial\serialutil.py", line 352, in timeout
  File "site-packages\serial\serialwin32.py", line 222, in _reconfigure_port
serial.serialutil.SerialException: Cannot configure port, something went wrong. Original message: WindowsError(5, 'Access is denied.')
Failed to execute script esptool
the selected serial port Failed to execute script esptool
 does not exist or your board is not connected.

I tried all possible timings with the GPIO00 and the EN button but nothing works. It’s exactly the same issue I have with ATMEGA328P.
I installed again the driver from ftdichip.com. No change.
I changed also the Com Port speed in the device manager from 9600 to 115200Bps (device manager -> right click to comPort7 -> properties -> port settings -> Bits per second). No change.

After reading forums all the time and seeing that all other seems to mix up cables or have wrong drivers, I am really without any ideas.

What is wrong with my setup? Where shall I dig to find the solution? :o

Any help is warmly welcome!

Thanks in advance.

[srnet]

Carry out a loopback test on the serial adapter, example of process here;

How to do a loopback test on a USB-serial adapter

The concept works from the Arduino IDE Serial Monitor too, put some text in the send box, press send, and it should apepar in the monitor window.

[chaterrony]

Cool srnet, it worked. I tested without connecting RX and TX and I did not get anything back on the serial monitor. Then I connected RX to TX on the FTDI adapter and it worked.
So this is working.
I did not really had a doubt that the FTDI did not work, it's more after the FTDI where I assume issues.
What next test can I do?

[srnet]

Test your adapter with a known working Arduino on a different PC and Arduino IDE install.

[chaterrony]

I did some work on my audiocard today (driver updates) and tried later in the evening again. And now surprise:

• I can for the first time upload the code to a running ESP32 (Dev module) via FTDI!
• But I still can't upload to my ESP32 module --> it is possible of course that it is not working as it was never working until now
• I tried to upload the code to an ATMEGA328 (using Arduino UNO as Board setting in Arduino IDE) but it did not work. But the error message I got is now new:

Arduino: 1.8.9 (Windows 10), Board: "Arduino/Genuino Uno"

Warning: Board breadboard:avr:atmega328bb doesn't define a 'build.board' preference. Auto-set to: AVR_ATMEGA328BB
Sketch uses 1912 bytes (5%) of program storage space. Maximum is 32256 bytes.
Global variables use 188 bytes (9%) of dynamic memory, leaving 1860 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 -PCOM7 -b115200 -D -Uflash:w:C:\Users\olivi\AppData\Local\Temp\arduino_build_922289/AnalogReadSerial.ino.hex:i 

avrdude: Version 6.3-20171130
         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                    : COM7
         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=0x9b
avrdude: stk500_recv(): programmer is not responding
avrdude: stk500_getsync() attempt 2 of 10: not in sync: resp=0x9b
avrdude: stk500_recv(): programmer is not responding
avrdude: stk500_getsync() attempt 3 of 10: not in sync: resp=0x9b
avrdude: stk500_recv(): programmer is not responding
avrdude: stk500_getsync() attempt 4 of 10: not in sync: resp=0x9b
avrdude: stk500_recv(): programmer is not responding
avrdude: stk500_getsync() attempt 5 of 10: not in sync: resp=0x9b
avrdude: stk500_recv(): programmer is not responding
avrdude: stk500_getsync() attempt 6 of 10: not in sync: resp=0x9b
avrdude: stk500_recv(): programmer is not responding
avrdude: stk500_getsync() attempt 7 of 10: not in sync: resp=0x9b
avrdude: stk500_recv(): programmer is not responding
avrdude: stk500_getsync() attempt 8 of 10: not in sync: resp=0x9b
avrdude: stk500_getsync() attempt 9 of 10: not in sync: resp=0xff
avrdude: stk500_recv(): programmer is not responding
avrdude: stk500_getsync() attempt 10 of 10: not in sync: resp=0xff

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.

As this error message is new, is this a good sign? I am confused to see that the "overriding baud rate" is 115200 as I have not set up this baud rate? In the console I have 9600.
Still, when I connect RX to TX on the FTDI directly, I can make the loop test on the console

[srnet]

What was the result of the test suggested in post #3 ?

[chaterrony]

I have no other PC around me where I could install an Arduino IDE.
On my today PC I can upload sketches to an ESP32 board, but not on an ESP32 module --> perhaps the ESP32 module is damaged? I ordered a new one - just to be sure.
I tried to upload a sketch on a working ATMEGA328P. It failed. With an Arduino UNO as ISP it works, but with the FTDI it does not work. For the ATMEGA328P I go with the DTR signal to a 104 capacitor to Reset and not directly. I tried directly too, I tried different capacitor sizes too. Nothing worked.

So on the same PC, I only can upload sketches to a known running ESP32 board, but not on a known running ATMEGA328P Chip.