Is there a way to force upload a bootloader in Arduino?

Development Tools IDE 1.x
1

So I accidentally uploaded a sketch with the wrong board selected in the Arduino software. After that it's no longer recognized by my PC. I figured the board is not fried, just scrambled (technical terms) so I hooked up my Uno as ISP similar to how I do with ATtiny chips. When I do, I get the following error:

avrdude: Expected signature for ATmega32U4 is 1E 95 87
Double check chip, or use -F to override this check.

It's correct the board in question has a ATmega32U4 chip.

So is there a way to force this within Arduino? If not can someone point me to a guide to how to do something like this with avrdude (I'm assuming that's what I'd have to use)?

Or does that mean the chip is smoked?

2

To burn (install) a bootloader you need either:
A) a good Uno (or similar) configured "Arduino as ISP"
or
B) a USBtinyISP (or similar)

You can buy a replacement microcontroller (328P) with the bootloader on it already (approx $6) or borrow a friend's. Then you remove and replace your existing hobbled unit and set up with "Arduino as ISP", placing the hobbled IC in a breadboard set up to re-burn the bootloader to it that way (google that or 'check the Playground' for more info.)

But there's no way to "direct inject" a bootloader (you need A or B.)

3

Yes, I have a working Uno set up as ISP trying to burn a bootloader to a SparkFun Pro Micro (smd chip). The question is can I get the arduino software to force the bootloader similar to the "-F" switch it's suggesting.

4

Is that the error message in its entirety?
Does it tell what device signature that it is getting back (if you roll up or invoke "verbose")?
What we see there though is what it's not getting (and expects.)

The 328P and the 328 have different signatures.
Maybe there's a similar version difference issue with ATmega32U4s (that you would resolve by editing the avrdude.conf file.)

5

If the programmer is seeing the wrong signature it may be:

  1. A bad connection causing it to read all 1's or all 0's
  2. Failure to disable auto-reset on the UNO causing it to read the UNO's signature.
6

So I accidentally uploaded a sketch with the wrong board selected in the Arduino software. After that it's no longer recognized by my PC. I figured the board is not fried, just scrambled (technical terms)

You sure it isn't poached?

You can't replace the bootloader by selecting the wrong board type, so don't worry about that.

Maybe you fried/poached/scrambled/sautéed your Arduino by improper electrical connections?

7

It's correct the board in question has a ATmega32U4 chip.

Which Arduino do you have?

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