Hey there
I was using my Arduino Uno as FTDI for another arduino (Mini), and because I am terrible at removing the atmega chip, I instead put a wire between the reset and ground pins.
Everything worked and still works fine, been using this for a few days.
BUT now I want to use my Uno normally, so I remove all the cables, plug the USB cable: the LED 13 is on (not blinking) and the Power LED is on too.
In the Arduino IDE I compile and try to upload a very simple sketch (the Basics -> Blink example). It compiles and then the Arduino IDE hangs for a while and give the following error:
avrdude: stk500_recv(): programmer is not responding
avrdude: stk500_getsync() attempt 1 of 10: not in sync: resp=0xfd
avrdude: stk500_recv(): programmer is not responding
avrdude: stk500_getsync() attempt 2 of 10: not in sync: resp=0xfd
avrdude: stk500_recv(): programmer is not responding
avrdude: stk500_getsync() attempt 3 of 10: not in sync: resp=0xfd
avrdude: stk500_recv(): programmer is not responding
avrdude: stk500_getsync() attempt 4 of 10: not in sync: resp=0xfd
avrdude: stk500_recv(): programmer is not responding
avrdude: stk500_getsync() attempt 5 of 10: not in sync: resp=0xfd
avrdude: stk500_recv(): programmer is not responding
avrdude: stk500_getsync() attempt 6 of 10: not in sync: resp=0xfd
avrdude: stk500_recv(): programmer is not responding
avrdude: stk500_getsync() attempt 7 of 10: not in sync: resp=0xfd
avrdude: stk500_recv(): programmer is not responding
avrdude: stk500_getsync() attempt 8 of 10: not in sync: resp=0xfd
avrdude: stk500_recv(): programmer is not responding
avrdude: stk500_getsync() attempt 9 of 10: not in sync: resp=0xfd
avrdude: stk500_recv(): programmer is not responding
avrdude: stk500_getsync() attempt 10 of 10: not in sync: resp=0xfd
Problem uploading to board. See http://www.arduino.cc/en/Guide/Troubleshooting#upload for suggestions.
In the settings I have Board=Arduino Uno, Programmer=AVR ISP, and Port=COM3 (as shown in the picture below). When I press "Board Info" it says it is an Arduino Uno connected.
My guess is that having the reset pin connected permanently to ground for a few days killed the atmega chip somehow?
My theory is confirmed by the fact that I can now use my arduino Uno as FTDI with the chip in place and without the wire from Reset to Ground.
My guess is that having the reset pin connected permanently to ground for a few days killed the atmega chip somehow?
It will almost certainly have nothing to do with how long the reset pin was connected to GND. With the wire removed test for a connection between the reset pin and GND. What resistance do you see ?
Thanks for the reply.
I compared with the arduino pro mini I have.
Not powered I get (in ohms):
Powered I get overload on both.
I guess that means the reset pin is fine and not "active". Still do not understand how I can use the Uno as FTDI without having the reset pin to ground tho 
it did not work before I am sure. Just FYI to use it as FTDI I only have 5V, GND, and TX/RX connected to the arduino I am programming. Then when I upload I press the reset button on the arduino I am programming (normally done by the DTR pin).
Maybe stupid advice, but several times proved as right. Did you plug the chip correctly, not reversed, without bent pins?
Thanks Budvar but I only removed the chip once and put it back (and it was working fine then), and that was a long time ago. Since then I always used the reset pin to ground trick so that I would not have to remove the chip.
Still struggling with it - I managed to find another Arduino with USB which I can use as Programmer. The Programmer works perfectly fine when programming the (3rd) Arduino Pro Mini.
Trying with the Uno - the one I think is dead - I get:
avrdude: Expected signature for ATmega328P is 1E 95 0F
Double check chip, or use -F to override this check.
Error while burning bootloader.
(when trying to burn the bootloader)
When trying to upload a sketch using the programmer I get the same "Invalid device signature" error.
Any more ideas?
I also tried removing the chip of the Arduino Uno - and when uploading, whether with the programmer or without - I still get the same errors (the ones written above).
Kinda confirms my idea that the chip is dead?
Also - even without the chip, the IDE still detects the board as Arduino Uno, I guess that is the small Atmega16U2 chip responding.
virtuos1:
How to post an image.
Thanks for the info! Tbh I do not understand how the forum doesn't do that automatically
I edited my first post.
ToneArt:
Also - even without the chip, the IDE still detects the board as Arduino Uno, I guess that is the small Atmega16U2 chip responding.
Yes, it is USB/serial transceiver.
Anyhow, you can replace the chip. If you are able to upload the bootloader like with Pro Mini you did, it should not be a problem
Yeps I guess that is all there is left to do - still really confused about how the chip died 