Mega 2560 and avrdude.

So I just bought the new Arduino Mega 2560, it works, except that I cannot upload a sketch I wrote. Its basically the blinking led sketch but I just increased the time. It was just supposed to be a test. The Verify went fine, but when I upload, I get the error:

avrdude: stk500_getsync() : not in sync: resp=0x00
avrdude: stk500_disable() : protocol error, expect=0x14, resp=0xf9

I don't know what it means. I did some research and found a similar error except f9 changes to 51.

Other specs: Windows 7 x64 ; Arduino IDE 0021 ; Mega Drivers from arduino0021.zip

Thanks for any help.

Were you able to upload other un-modified sketches?

First thing I would try is a different USB cable... then maybe try a loopback test. Google "arduino loopback test" and you will get some info on that.

I rebooted my computer, no change. I used a different USB A-B cable and no change. I successfully completed the loop-back test. I tested the arduino; it still blinks every second and works. I tried to upload, no success, but it stops blinking every second until I hit the reset button. Then it restarts and continues its blink every second.

By unmodified sketches I think you mean the scripts for arduino that comes with the software. I tried to load the BlinkWithoutDelay sketch to test.

I tried to load the BlinkWithoutDelay sketch to test.

I assume that didn't work either.

It sounds like either the bootloader is corrupt or there might be a pin not quite soldered all the way. Based on the experience I have with all the boards I have built from hand, most likely it is the latter and something isn't soldered quite right. (to fix run your solder iron over every pin of the 2560 and the USB controller, coating with solder flux helps a lot) But if the loopback test works, it may be the boot loader.

I don't have a board with the new USB interface, so I can help much with bootloader issues.

Well, I looked at the board, it didn't look like anything was not soldered properly. I didn't solder it myself or anything. I'm going to try it on a different computer to see if that has any effect. I don't know if I should try to troubleshoot the boot-loader problem or the unsoldered connection first.

Edit : I don't have the tools to burn a new bootloader...

Start with the bootloader first... unless you are an experienced solderer.

If you are experienced at soldering, I would just retouch every connection on the chips. They may look fine but that doesn't mean they are good enough for transferring data at high speeds. From my understanding, the new USB interface increases the speed. Increased speed means less tolerance to connections that may be less than perfect. These less than perfect connections (if they exist) will not be noticeable to the naked eye.

If you are familiar with avrdude, you can also try loading your sketch with that, using the -B option... something like -B2... if that works then it points to a poor connection issue.

I tried it downstairs to no avail, so it's not the 64bit system. I'm not an experience solderer. I have a gun, and I think I could reheat the connection, but if I tried to add more solder, I think I would fail. I will lookup how to fix a bootloader and try that first. I just hope it won't brick it or anything. I don't even know if you can brick a Arduino mega or not.

Edit: I don't have the tools to burn a bootloader...

Depends on your definition of "bricking" Changing the fuse settings may brick it to a normal programmer but a High Voltage Programmer could solve that.

If you don't have any other Arduinos or Programmers to work with... I would exchange it to where you got it from. Because most likely you will need a programmer to fix the bootloader (assuming that is the problem) In most cases another Arduino can easily act as a programmer. Also adding a small circuit could make it a High Voltage programmer fixing and "bricked" chips.

I don't know if I can RMA it, but I will try. If I cannot I may buy the Arduino Uno and use that to possibly fix this one. That is how it works if I am understanding you correctly.

I'm such an idiot. I didn't tell the IDE that I had a Mega 2560... It's under

Tools > Board > Arduino Mega 2560

It was on

Tools > Board > Arduino Duemilanove or Nano /w ATmega168

This is going to be so much fun!