PC not detecting board

as the title suggests I can't find my board on my PC

I have a Arduino Mega 2560 Mega2560 Compatible - Genuine ATmega2560 Microcontoller

USB connection to my PC. On is red and the light below R17 is flashing green.

Am I missing a driver or is something else wrong?

Are you using this mega?Arduino Mega 2560 Rev3 — Arduino Official Store

Or any other version? What is the operating system of your PC?

The red light could indicate that you have a clone (my Mega has a green On). The flashing green on your board is more than likely the L led and flashes due to the pre-loaded blink skitch.

Possibly.

Clones oftem use the CH340 TTL-to-USB converter; it's the chip closest to the USB port. If it's a square chip with legs at all side, it's more than likely a 16U2 and the board should work; if it's rectangular with legs at two sides, it's probably a CH340. The prints are often difficult to read but under the right angle (maybe take a macro photo and check that) it should be possible.

If it's aCH340 and your OS is Windows, you indeed need a driver; it can be downloaded from CH341SER.ZIP - NanjingQinhengMicroelectronics.

***corrected link

Those drivers on that link didn't do anything.

This is what I have, I'm not sure what you mean by legs etc.. this image is exactly what it looks like

Internally broken hardware may be the reason. Check USB port or change USB connection.

The pins at the side of the chip.

Please explain. Did you install them by running the exe? Once done, it should say something like "sucessfully pre-installed". The board indeed uses the CH340.

Assuming that you're running Windows (else you would not have to go through the exercise), what does device manager think of your board?

@webteasor I've tried different USB ports on my PC. Nothing. I've used USB ports I've used today for my Flight Sim Yoke. Nothing.

@sterretje

Here is my board near the USB

Yes, I ran the CH341SER setup .exe and got the sucess message.

When I put in the USB I don't even the the PC sound saying something is plugged in.

Bad cable or cable not fully inserted at one or both ends can be a cause. Do you have any other devices (e.g. printer) that use the same type of cable to check if the cable is OK?

Broken CH340 and bad soldering on the board can be another cause.

When I wiggle the connection I don't get it dropping in and out like you'd expect a loose connection.

What does the green and red lights represent?

Green flashes non stop

See post #3.

@sterretje

The red light could indicate that you have a clone (my Mega has a green On). The flashing green on your board is more than likely the L led and flashes due to the pre-loaded blink skitch.

Sorry I'm so new here, what's a pre-loaded blink skitch?

I'm stuck back on the fact my PC doesn't make any sounds like it does when i connect any other USB including my Leonardo. I can't see it in my Devices.

When I try uninstall CH341SER I get 'No device found' when I installed the driver I get 'The drive is successfully Pre-installed in advance' uninstall it after, same message.

Blink is a sketch and flashes the L led one second on, one second off. If that is what you see, your main processor (2560) is OK.

Try different cables; although I 'm not aware of cables with the big B connector that are charge only and don't carry data, it might be a possibility. Do you have an Uno to test the cable?

Can you use another PC to test the cable?

When I unplug the device and go into the Arduino IDE, under ports I see COM3 and COM4. When I plug it in, I see the same thing.

On a laptop I see no ports when not plugged in and COM5 when plugged in.

When I try use the example > Basic > Blink I click COM4 and upload I get errors. Do the same thing and change to COM3 and It says uploaded and does nothing. just sits on uploading.

Further update. when I plug it into my USB attached to my motherboard I get COM 7, just not on the USB on my case.

Weird.

So, are you saying that you were using a USB hub previously and now have it connected to the PC motherboard USB ports?
Thanks for updating the forum. Might help someone else down the road.
This type of behaviour can be seen with other devices too. I have now made it a habit to plug a USB device directly into the PC without using a hub if it is the first time I'm using it, Helps keep hair attached to head :grin:

That is Windows for you :wink: You can do a search on the web how to clear the COM stack; I've never done it so can't help with that.

I think the other way around. Directly on the PC's USB ports does not work; connected through the keyboard (which acts as a hub) works.

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