New user unable to verify or compile

Using Arduino Programming Questions
1

Hi all,
i recently got a (reference to company selling counterfeit product removed by moderator) mega 2560 to use as an led controller for my marine aquarium, this is my first attempt at using an arduino and i have a problem.

Anytime i try to verify code i keep getting the following error message displayed in the dialogue box, the first time i encountered it was attempting to upload the sketch for the touchscreen lcd that came with the board.

E:\Arduino\hardware\tools\avr\bin\avr-ar: malloc.c.o: No such file or directory

this happens with any sketch ive tried to verify, even the ones included with the main arduino program

i have checked in the folder and the avr-ar application is there, is it possible its corrupt or missing something?
cant find any similar problems on google or forum searches and was wondering if anyone else has encountered this before

my pc runs windows 7 64-bit and i have version 1.0.5 of the arduino software which is run in compatibility mode for windows 2000, i should also add that the arduino board is detected correctly on com port 1 and drivers etc are installed. the error message displays regardless of whether the board is connected or not.

sorry if this is in the wrong section but given the board shows correctly my gut feelin is its software related....or just me being a total newbie :smiley:

any help or advice greatly appreciated,
Stephen

2

I'd try deleting and reinstalling 1.0.5.

3

tried that paul, even went thru all the diff compatibility modes, tried praying.....standing on my head....doin a dance....threatening it with a hammer.....but its still the same lol

4

my pc runs windows 7 64-bit and i have version 1.0.5 of the arduino software which is run in compatibility mode for windows 2000

I'm also using Win7 (Pro) 64-bit with 1.0.5 but I haven't had to run it in compatibility mode. Did you have problems that required it?

Pete

5

to be honest, no i was following advice id seen on some installation guides that suggested using windows 2000 so just went with that. however i have since tried them all and also turned compatibility mode off and its still the same. really got me stumped.

6

stephen7m:
tried that paul, even went thru all the diff compatibility modes, tried praying.....standing on my head....doin a dance....threatening it with a hammer.....but its still the same lol

Yep....
This is why I gave up using Windows/PCs for anything I do requiring less than 7 processors years ago. It always seemed that anything new never worked right the first time.....or whenever I really needed it too. I spent more time fixing than doing.

Sorry this doesn't help. Just had to share.

But you are asking the right people. LOTS of knowledge & help available on here!

Good luck!

7

I think you need to post the code (between code tags) which causes the error and it might help to post all the error messages you are getting.

Pete

8

Turn on verbose output for compile. Post the output. Please use code tags.

9

Uninstalling and reinstalling should have got you back to a clean working state. Have you got any installations of AVR software or Gnu C compilers other than the ones contained in the Arduino IDE?