Mega 2560 R3. Windows 8 Code 10. Possibly fried board?

Development Tools IDE 1.x
1

I tried looking on here & on Google, but I couldn't find the information I was looking for.

I had a laptop with XP on it & I had my 2560 working just fine. That laptop died on me so I had a 20v laptop charger to power the board. After about a minute the transistor started to smoke so I immediately unplugged the board.

I tried to install it on my new laptop (Asus running W8) & after turning off driver signing & using both the broad driver .inf file on the download & the 2560 R3 specific driver file from the other arduino DL I still get a Code 10 in windows device settings. I had the same problem using an older laptop from 2005. Code 10 in Driver settings & in the Arduino program "Serial Monitor" gives an error of "Serial port 'COM1' not found". "Serial Port" is also greyed out.

I tried to do the loopback test but I don't know what serial program to use with Windows 8 & I don't know what exactly I'm supposed to do once I put in the jumpers & connect the board.

When connected via USB the green power & pin13 LEDs come on & stay on (no flashing or anything.)

Is the board fried or is it possible I'm just having software issues? Is it possible I corrupted some data on the board that can be rewritten?

Thanks for any & all help.

2

I tried to do the loopback test but I don't know what serial program to use with Windows 8...

The Arduino IDE Serial Monitor.

3

That family of regulator (which may look like a transistor)
may be rated for 20V,
but if you read closer none of the charts show 5V out with 20V in, 20V is for the 12V out parts.
Order another regulator and replace it. Maybe you didn't fry the other parts on the board.

4

Thanks for the fast responses. My job keeps me away from my computer throughout most of the week.

I ordered another board & it worked immediately. I'm going to buy a new regulator & hopefully that will fix the other board I have.

edit: I was under the impression that the Arduino Serial Monitor was just something that you clicked to have Arduino scan your computer for connected devices. It doesn't work with the old board at all because it gets the Code 10, but it worked with my new board. Thanks again for the help.