k, my son needed my official arduino for a project and took it over a friends house.. so leaving me with a clone back backup that i just opened:
ATmega2560-16AU CH340G MEGA 2560 R3 Board + Free USB Cable For Arduino 2Y - that i got from ebay..
it's set to com4.. the mega2560 is selected in the ide as the board.. but when i upload a sketch.. even the blink.. it fails.. and both red leds stay lit on the board.. am i doing something wrong or forgetting a step?
Arduino: 1.6.5 (Windows 8.1), Board: "Arduino/Genuino Mega or Mega 2560, ATmega2560 (Mega 2560)"
Sketch uses 1,518 bytes (0%) of program storage space. Maximum is 253,952 bytes.
Global variables use 9 bytes (0%) of dynamic memory, leaving 8,183 bytes for local variables. Maximum is 8,192 bytes.
avrdude: ser_open(): can't set com-state for "\.\COM4"
avrdude: ser_drain(): read error: The handle is invalid.
Problem uploading to board. See http://www.arduino.cc/en/Guide/Troubleshooting#upload for suggestions.
This report would have more information with
"Show verbose output during compilation"
enabled in File > Preferences.
tried a new usb cable.. nothing changed.. getting pissed! this thing is brand new just opened it.. there shouldn't be any issues with it
Specifications:
Microcontroller:ATmega2560
Clock Speed:16 MHz
EEPROM:4 KB
SRAM:8 KB
Flash Memory:256 KB of which 8 KB used by bootloader
Operating Voltage:5V
Input Voltage (recommended):7-12V
Analog Input Pins:16
Digital I/O Pins:54 (of which 14 provide PWM output)
DC Current for 3.3V Pin:50 mA
DC Current per I/O Pin:40 mA
Size:100*55mmPackage Include:
1 x ATmega2560-16AU CH340G Board
1 x USB Cable
i don't know what's with this CH340G thing - but i can't find a driver for it in english 
Oh yeah, you need the CH340G drivers.
The installer is named something like CH341SER, and the installer is really engrishy, and doesn't inspire confidence - but it actually works great.
CH340 Windows 8 driver download | arduined.eu - apparently doesn't work for windows 10
i tried that.. still doesn't accept the blink sketch...
it like stops loading.. even before the driver update.. so basically a sketch is not uploaded
Arduino: 1.6.5 (Windows 8.1), Board: "Arduino/Genuino Mega or Mega 2560, ATmega2560 (Mega 2560)"
Sketch uses 1,518 bytes (0%) of program storage space. Maximum is 253,952 bytes.
Global variables use 9 bytes (0%) of dynamic memory, leaving 8,183 bytes for local variables. Maximum is 8,192 bytes.
avrdude: stk500v2_ReceiveMessage(): timeout
avrdude: ser_send(): write error: sorry no info avail
Problem uploading to board. See http://www.arduino.cc/en/Guide/Troubleshooting#upload for suggestions.
This report would have more information with
"Show verbose output during compilation"
enabled in File > Preferences.
k, tried this on windows 7 with the windows 7 driver as well as windows 8 driver.. still the same issue..
won't upload sketches.. getting pissed at this point
Hey bro
Drivers for windowss 10 are a complete mess
Is ur arduino shown under other devices in the device manager
if yes see this video , helped me
The driver for the CH340 is here. Not English but that does not matter... Google Translate for the win.
yeah i tried that driver too.. same issue
it stops loading sketches.. gets timed out every time.. so if it's not the driver i don't know what it is.. this is brand new.. i just opened the package yesterday.. IDE is set to mega2560 board and com set to com4 for as stated in the device manager..
it's just not completing sketch uploads.. both red leds stay lit - always getting timed out.. so it will never accept a sketch the way i see it.
k, had enough.. it's going in the trash... i'm NEVER buying anything that says CH340G!
That's stupid. It's like the best alternative to an FTDI (because I'm not buying that after the FTDI gate). It has perfectly signed drivers that work straight out of the box, not like a PL2303. And it's cheap as fuck!
well it doesn't work.. i downloaded the drivers.. tried on win 7, 8.1 & 10.. it doesn't upload any sketches.. stops at like 90% and then gives me avrdude timed out errors.. so if it's not working it's useless.. hence a POS and belongs in the trash
Most likely a problem with the bootloader on the ATmega2560 chip, not problem with CH340G.
any way to fix it?
Do you have an Uno or other properly working Arduino on hand? You can use an Arduino as an ISP programmer by loading Nick Gammon's bootloader sketch on it. http://www.gammon.com.au/bootloader
It would be something to try, no guarantee.
Almost forgot, before you do that, I recommend doing the Loop Back Test. It is described in one of the pinned posts at the top of the forum. If your board passes the Loop Back Test, meaning characters you input into the Serial Monitor are repeated back to you, the USB-to-serial part of your board is ok and next thing to suspect is the bootloader.
dmjlambert:
Almost forgot, before you do that, I recommend doing the Loop Back Test. It is described in one of the pinned posts at the top of the forum. If your board passes the Loop Back Test, meaning characters you input into the Serial Monitor are repeated back to you, the USB-to-serial part of your board is ok and next thing to suspect is the bootloader.
yeah it passed that test.. guess i'll just have to wait til my other mega comes in to burn boatloader
gammon's way seems too complicated.. i'm sure there is an easier way to burn bootloader from 1 mega to another mega