I have an issue that is driving me crazy because it makes no sense.
My project is with an NANO 3.0 clone (of which may not be kosher to some here) but money wise it makes sense if it works. I am using a BME280 weather sensor as well as a GPS receiver, with an ILI9341 display. The weather info is displaying but I haven't figured out the code for the gps yet, but I will.
The issue is that I have 2 computers that I work from. One is with Windows 10 and the other is with 7. When I use the IDE with the Windows 10 computer I can program the nano no problem to a breadboard setup for my project and everything works fine. But I also have had a pcb made of the same circuit. Initially things worked ok, but I noticed that with the pcb version I could only plug into certain USB ports on my computer for the display to show my info. If I plug into different USB ports the display will show white but the info will not show, whether it is a USB, or a power cube for recharging as a power supply, or from my car dash, or the 12v from my car. The breadboard setup has no problem with any of these. I know that both computers are seeing the nano and have the latest drivers, and all can program it from any port but only certain ones will make the display show info.
The program that is being sent is the identical one derived from the same source.
My thinking is that if the nano has been programmed you only need 5v or USB power from there on or even 12v, but since things seem to be selective I'm wondering if it may be the ports or the computer, or wiring (although the pcb traces are identical to the breadboard wiring).
Does anyone have an idea, or has anyone had this kind of an issue?
Do check your PCB and include a schematic is you can.
If USB 3.0 is used on one of the computers then the information below may be of use.
USB 3.0 issues
As far as the USB side of things there is more than enough documented evidence if you take time to search a little.
The reason this aspect seems random is because there are so many factors involved all of which you can find with a little reading.
Quick outline is
"Chipset used" There are a lot of vendors of USB 3.0 chipsets.
"Ages of chipset" As chipsets are developed and updates even slight changes from the vendor could result in working chipsets not working on some peripherals.
"USB 3.0 speeds" not all chipsets and vendors are created equal in this respect and some rely on other components sub systems on a motherboard to make up the differences.
Arduinos are not designed as such to work at or on USB 3.0 speeds but depend more on the supposed compatibility of USB which is supposed to have "backward compatibility to USB 2.0 (see 1. 2. 3. above)
USB 3.0 is known to cause issues quite quite a few boards including the 101 depending on its implementation and chipset.
Mine will not work at all with USB 3.0 yet if I place a USB 2.0 powered hub between the board and the computer it works fine.
I would presume you have also tried another cable just to be sure.
If you look in the USB port USB 3.0 usually have a BLUE plastic tab compared to USB 2.0 which can be white or black.
Check the specifications for your model of computer, motherboard or laptop is the most reliable method
Other method which is to check in Device Manager under windows and expand the section for "Universal Serial Bus Controllers" and see if there is anything for USB 3.0 ROOT or HUB.
Please don’t say anything along the lines of “but all these should be standard and backward compatible” or ”I have read the specifications”
Those are simply recommendation’s and not everyone follows them to the letter.