MEGA2560 R3 -> ATMEGA328P Bootloader Error

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1

I'm having problems with the following instructions to use a MEGA2560 R3 to write the bootloader to an ATMEGA328P on a stand-alone breadboard:

I've tried using both the Breadboard 1-5 and Breadboard 1-6 provide in the instructions and get different errors for each version.

Breadboard 1-5 Error Message:

Arduino: 1.8.19 (Windows Store 1.8.57.0) (Windows 10), Board: "ATmega328 on a breadboard (8 MHz internal clock)"

Error while burning bootloader: missing 'bootloader.tool' configuration parameter

Breadboard 1-6 Error Message:

Arduino: 1.8.19 (Windows Store 1.8.57.0) (Windows 10), Board: "ATmega328 on a breadboard (8 MHz internal clock)"

C:\Users\Nick\Documents\ArduinoData\packages\arduino\tools\avrdude\6.3.0-arduino17/bin/avrdude -CC:\Users\Nick\Documents\ArduinoData\packages\arduino\tools\avrdude\6.3.0-arduino17/etc/avrdude.conf -v -patmega328p -carduinoisp -e -Ulock:w:0x3F:m -Uefuse:w:0x05:m -Uhfuse:w:0xDA:m -Ulfuse:w:0xE2:m

avrdude: Version 6.3-20190619

     Copyright (c) 2000-2005 Brian Dean, http://www.bdmicro.com/

     Copyright (c) 2007-2014 Joerg Wunsch

     System wide configuration file is "C:\Users\Nick\Documents\ArduinoData\packages\arduino\tools\avrdude\6.3.0-arduino17/etc/avrdude.conf"

     Using Port                    : usb

     Using Programmer              : arduinoisp

avrdude: Error: Could not find USBtiny device (0x2341/0x49)

avrdude done. Thank you.

Error while burning bootloader.

I've double-checked the wiring in the provided example as shown in the included picture; in case it isn't clear the exact pin-out is:

328 Pin 1 -> 2560 Pin 10
328 Pin 7 -> 5v power rail
328 Pin 8 -> GND power rail
328 Pin 17 -> 2560 Pin 11
328 Pin 18 -> 2560 Pin 12
328 Pin 19 -> 2560 Pin 13
328 Pin 20 -> 5v power rail
328 Pin 22 -> GND power rail

Bootloader Wiring
Bootloader Wiring1744×1312 238 KB

2

Mega has pins 50 MISO, 51 MOSI, 52 SCK. Have a look inside of ISP sketch.
Also this
https://docs.arduino.cc/built-in-examples/arduino-isp/ArduinoISP

3

Are you sure you selected Tools -> Programmer: "Arduino as ISP" and not "ArduinoISP"?

4

I did miss that slight difference; changed the selection to the correct "Arduino as ISP", but I'm still having issues.

5

Thanks for this link, it provides better instructions and the correct pinouts for the different programmer boards, but I still have issues.

6

Where did the 328 chip come from? Did it have a bootloader on it before?

7

Now using the information from this link:

I've changed the wiring to:

328 Pin 1 -> 2560 Pin 10
328 Pin 7 -> 5v power rail
328 Pin 8 -> GND power rail
328 Pin 17 -> 2560 Pin 51 (MOSI)
328 Pin 18 -> 2560 Pin 50 (MISO)
328 Pin 19 -> 2560 Pin 52 (SCK)
328 Pin 20 -> 5v power rail
328 Pin 22 -> GND power rail

and made the same changes in the #define portion of the sketch. There aren't any issues on compilation or uploading to the programmer board (MEGA2560). After verifying "Arduino as ISP" is selected and then click Tools -> Burn Bootloader, receive this new error message:

Error while burning bootloader.

Arduino: 1.8.19 (Windows Store 1.8.57.0) (Windows 10), Board: "ATmega328 on a breadboard (8 MHz internal clock)"

C:\Users\Nick\Documents\ArduinoData\packages\arduino\tools\avrdude\6.3.0-arduino17/bin/avrdude -CC:\Users\Nick\Documents\ArduinoData\packages\arduino\tools\avrdude\6.3.0-arduino17/etc/avrdude.conf -v -patmega328p -cstk500v1 -PCOM4 -b19200 -e -Ulock:w:0x3F:m -Uefuse:w:0x05:m -Uhfuse:w:0xDA:m -Ulfuse:w:0xE2:m

avrdude: Version 6.3-20190619

     Copyright (c) 2000-2005 Brian Dean, http://www.bdmicro.com/

     Copyright (c) 2007-2014 Joerg Wunsch

     System wide configuration file is "C:\Users\Nick\Documents\ArduinoData\packages\arduino\tools\avrdude\6.3.0-arduino17/etc/avrdude.conf"

     Using Port                    : COM4

     Using Programmer              : stk500v1

     Overriding Baud Rate          : 19200

     AVR Part                      : ATmega328P

     Chip Erase delay              : 9000 us

     PAGEL                         : PD7

     BS2                           : PC2

     RESET disposition             : dedicated

     RETRY pulse                   : SCK

     serial program mode           : yes

     parallel program mode         : yes

     Timeout                       : 200

     StabDelay                     : 100

     CmdexeDelay                   : 25

     SyncLoops                     : 32

     ByteDelay                     : 0

     PollIndex                     : 3

     PollValue                     : 0x53

     Memory Detail                 :

                              Block Poll               Page                       Polled

       Memory Type Mode Delay Size  Indx Paged  Size   Size #Pages MinW  MaxW   ReadBack

       ----------- ---- ----- ----- ---- ------ ------ ---- ------ ----- ----- ---------

       eeprom        65    20     4    0 no       1024    4      0  3600  3600 0xff 0xff

       flash         65     6   128    0 yes     32768  128    256  4500  4500 0xff 0xff

       lfuse          0     0     0    0 no          1    0      0  4500  4500 0x00 0x00

       hfuse          0     0     0    0 no          1    0      0  4500  4500 0x00 0x00

       efuse          0     0     0    0 no          1    0      0  4500  4500 0x00 0x00

       lock           0     0     0    0 no          1    0      0  4500  4500 0x00 0x00

       calibration    0     0     0    0 no          1    0      0     0     0 0x00 0x00

       signature      0     0     0    0 no          3    0      0     0     0 0x00 0x00

     Programmer Type : STK500

     Description     : Atmel STK500 Version 1.x firmware

     Hardware Version: 2

     Firmware Version: 1.18

     Topcard         : Unknown

     Vtarget         : 0.0 V

     Varef           : 0.0 V

     Oscillator      : Off

     SCK period      : 0.1 us

avrdude: AVR device initialized and ready to accept instructions

Reading | ################################################## | 100% 0.02s

avrdude: Device signature = 0x000000 (retrying)

Reading | ################################################## | 100% 0.02s

avrdude: Device signature = 0x000000 (retrying)

Error while burning bootloader.

Reading | ################################################## | 100% 0.02s

avrdude: Device signature = 0x000000

avrdude: Yikes! Invalid device signature.

     Double check connections and try again, or use -F to override

     this check.

avrdude done. Thank you.

8

Where did the chip come from? Did it have a bootloader before?

Are you sure that it is mega328P? I bought some mega328 (no P) chips a while back, by mistake, and had to use a different core to bootload them (MiniCore core).

9

I've verified that it's a ATMEGA328P is what is printed on the body of the chip. It was provided as a component for a build-it-yourself ham radio from QRP Guys:

I've assumed (maybe poorly) that the chip is entirely blank and needs the bootloader and sketch uploaded. The instructions weren't clear, but a separate link provides a download for the sketch, leading me to that assumption.

10

The reason that I asked that if it may have had a bootloader before is that if it was originally bootloaded for an Uno with the 16MHz bootloader, you would have to have the 16MHz crystal (and caps) installed or an external clock oscillator to be able to put any other bootloader on it. See this page from Nick Gammon showing the use of the alternate clock source. Scroll down a ways.

11

Thanks, I'll check this link out. I don't have another crystal on hand and was hoping to use the minimalist configuration, so I don't have to wait on parts.

I put the chip on the radio and conducted an initial power check - good news, none of the magic smoke escaped on powerup, but none of the 7-segment led lit. So, either it is a blank chip, or I need to check all my solder connections (maybe both).

12

Double check connections. All zeros in the response can be result of incorrect connection, missing contact etc, so check it all twice also power and GND. I hope you have a DMM at least. Second reason can be missing RESET signal. Check the sketch on which pin the RESET signal is. It can be the pin 53 (SS) of Mega. I saw a few versions of ArduinoISP.ino. Like this:

#include "pins_arduino.h"  // defines SS,MOSI,MISO,SCK
#define RESET SS

This is not pin 10 of Mega. This is 53.
And finally, the third reason can be missing clock signal. In this case, you have to connect the crystal with two 22pF capacitors.
I think it is the second reason: "The answer to the ultimate question of life, the universe, and everything is 53."

13

Looking at your photo in the original post, the required bypass caps are missing. There needs to be a 0.1uF ceramic cap from Vcc to ground and another 0.1uF ceramic cap from AVcc to ground. Put those caps as close to the chip as possible.