Please help decipher this compilation error

I was coding along having a good time and I uploaded something to my mega that I've had on there many times before and now I literally cannot upload anything to any board. It is broke good.

I uninstalled and deleted all arduino directories. I reinstalled and I get the same error. I changed my sketch directory to C:/arduino
I can't seem to even get One Drive to start on my computer, it won't login. I don't use One Drive at all.
I searched the web, tried arduino website help, searched the forum. I'm not sure what to search for.

Here is the error

Arduino: 1.8.13 (Windows 10), Board: "Arduino Mega or Mega 2560, ATmega2560 (Mega 2560)"

C:\Program Files (x86)\Arduino\arduino-builder -dump-prefs -logger=machine -hardware C:\Program Files (x86)\Arduino\hardware -tools C:\Program Files (x86)\Arduino\tools-builder -tools C:\Program Files (x86)\Arduino\hardware\tools\avr -built-in-libraries C:\Program Files (x86)\Arduino\libraries -libraries C:\arduino\libraries -fqbn=arduino:avr:mega:cpu=atmega2560 -vid-pid=1A86_7523 -ide-version=10813 -build-path C:\Users\kkz10\AppData\Local\Temp\arduino_build_662341 -warnings=none -build-cache C:\Users\kkz10\AppData\Local\Temp\arduino_cache_278191 -prefs=build.warn_data_percentage=75 -prefs=runtime.tools.arduinoOTA.path=C:\Program Files (x86)\Arduino\hardware\tools\avr -prefs=runtime.tools.arduinoOTA-1.3.0.path=C:\Program Files (x86)\Arduino\hardware\tools\avr -prefs=runtime.tools.avrdude.path=C:\Program Files (x86)\Arduino\hardware\tools\avr -prefs=runtime.tools.avrdude-6.3.0-arduino17.path=C:\Program Files (x86)\Arduino\hardware\tools\avr -prefs=runtime.tools.avr-gcc.path=C:\Program Files (x86)\Arduino\hardware\tools\avr -prefs=runtime.tools.avr-gcc-7.3.0-atmel3.6.1-arduino7.path=C:\Program Files (x86)\Arduino\hardware\tools\avr -verbose C:\Users\kkz10\Desktop\Solar_Menu_System\Solar_Menu_System.ino

loading hardware from C:\Program Files (x86)\Arduino\hardware: following possible symlink C:\Program Files (x86)\Arduino\hardware: CreateFile C:\Program Files (x86)\Arduino\hardware\espressif: The system cannot find the path specified.



Error compiling for board Arduino Mega or Mega 2560.

I'm not sure why it shows the espressif directory. A long time ago I played with an ESP32 but I'm not doing anything with it now. It shouldn't be looking for it if I uninstalled arduino and reinstalled fresh, right?

I'm at a standstill till I can figure this out.

The latest thing I tried is removing the Arduino15 folder, sketch folder, and reinstalling. Same error happened

I get the same error if I create a symlink in that path and then delete the target of the symlink. I would expect that to go away once you reinstall, but it may be that the uninstall process is not removing the symlink.

Try this:

  • Uninstall Arduino IDE.
  • Delete the C:\Program Files (x86)\Arduino folder. Please be very careful when delting things from your computer. When in doubt, back up!
  • Install the Arduino IDE.
  • Try compiling your sketch again.