Newbie! Why isn't my computer detecting a Mega2560 Pro Mini?

I'm a newbie to these cool computers. I recently constructed a project using a Mega2560 Pro Mini board, I downloaded the Arduino software, I can select this board, but when I plug it into the USB port - not much happens. The 'on' and 'L' (blinks) LED's light up, but I can't download anything to it. All I can select is Com1 & when I try 'get board info' I get a an error message that says 'Native serial port, cannot obtain info'. I'm still using Windows XP-pro. What am I doing wrong?

Make sure you have the correct driver installed.

Make sure you are not using a defective or charge-only USB cable by testing that it works for data on another device or using a known-good cable.

I've looked all over, but can't seem to find a driver for this board. Any suggestions where I could find it? Thanks in advance!

Post a link to where you bought the board or a datasheet for it. Please use the chain links icon on the toolbar to make the link clickable.

Hmmm, I bought this thing on ebay.

That's not very helpful. You're the one asking for help here, you're the one who knows which board you bought. Find the listing and post a link to it.

pert:
That's not very helpful. You're the one asking for help here, you're the one who knows which board you bought. Find the listing and post a link to it.

Sorry, I'm just kinda lost here - didn't mean to offend anyone.

Here is the listing:

Again, any help is greatly appreciated. :slight_smile:

It claims to use the ATmega16U2 USB-serial chip so you should be able to use the driver that's located in the drivers subfolder of the Arduino IDE installation folder.

Well that says a lot. There really IS such a thing as a Mega Pro Mini.
It says it is Mega compatible, so I suggest you simply tell PC it is connected to a Mega, and hopefully all will. be well

Looks an interesting device, but it uses 5V logic.

Hi,
This link has some more info;

https://robotdyn.com/catalog/boards/mega_2560_pro_mini_atmega2560_16au/

PRO MINI version of Mega 2560. Built on the Atmel ATmega2560 microcontroller.
Board have compact size 38x52mm. It is good solution, to make your final project on solder proto-board.
Board for functionality similar to the Arduino Mega 2560. It is embed MINI board, but the same stable, and uses the original chips ATmega2560 (16 MHz).
The board don't have USB interface. For connecting to PC, pls use the USB-TTL converter.
You can supply power to board through the power pinheaders. Output current for 5V version - about 800mA, for 3.3V version - about 800mA (Please note that the higher the input voltage the lower the outgoing current). That will provide a reliable power most of your initial projects.
On picture you can see real size of this board, compare with size of Mega Rev3.

I have highlighted the relevant bit, no USB port.

Thats why its called a mini, by the looks of it.
Tom... :slight_smile:

Ah, they do a 3.3V version ............

TomGeorge:
I have highlighted the relevant bit, no USB port.

That's a different board than the one we're talking about in this thread. Please see wb8yjf's link:

wb8yjf:
Here is the listing:
New Small Meduino Mega2560 R3 Pro Mini ATMEGA16U2(Arduino Mega2560 Compatible) | eBay

well did you check weather the com1 disappears when you unplug the board ? check device manager also to be sure... this might help us into conslusions

Hi,
Some terrible cloning going on. Miss labeled, even on the board.

The OPs is by the link I posted is a MegaPro2560.

The mini doesn't have the USB port.

So the OP has MegaPro2560 ( no mini)

Possibly this one

https://robotdyn.com/catalog/boards/mega_2560_pro_embed_ch340g_atmega2560_16au/


Mega 2560 PRO (Embed) CH340G/ATmega2560-16AU

So it has the CH340G USB Chip.

Tom... :slight_smile:

Look at the listing. It says ATmega16U2, the picture shows a chip with the same package as an ATmega16U2 (definitely not a CH340) on the board. The layout of the board is significantly different. It's hardly a clone.

Naresh_Rocker:
well did you check weather the com1 disappears when you unplug the board ? check device manager also to be sure... this might help us into conslusions

It doesn't. I get the familiar tones on the speaker like something is being connected, but I can't seem to get the computer to find the board as in no question mark devices in device manager.

Could this be a usb port problem? I have at least 5 other devices connected to the usb ports and they all work fine.

I'll admit right now, I'm not familiar with manually setting up comm ports, but would that be an option as well?

Thanks to all that replied. This is frustrating.

Hi,

It doesn't. I get the familiar tones on the speaker like something is being connected, but I can't seem to get the computer to find the board as in no question mark devices in device manager.

You would think if its a recognisable USB device, even if you didn't have the drivers, you should get a question ,marked device appearing in the manager.

Does your controller look exactly like the one pictured on ebay link?
Can you read the numbers on the major ICs?

Thanks.. Tom.. :slight_smile:

pert:
Look at the listing. It says ATmega16U2, the picture shows a chip with the same package as an ATmega16U2 (definitely not a CH340) on the board. The layout of the board is significantly different. It's hardly a clone.

You are correct, the cchip closest to the USB port is an Atmel ATMega16U2.

TomGeorge:
Hi,
You would think if its a recognisable USB device, even if you didn't have the drivers, you should get a question ,marked device appearing in the manager.

Does your controller look exactly like the one pictured on ebay link?
Can you read the numbers on the major ICs?

Thanks.. Tom.. :slight_smile:

Hi Tom,
Yes it looks exactly like the one in the link. The two logic chips on the board are both Atmel - 16U2, and MEGA2560.