Pro Mini only programed once

Development Tools Uploading
1

Hi Everyone.

Using ide 1.8.19
Win10
Usb to serial convertor , shows port 1.

I received my Pro Mini's 3.3V 8MHz today.
But the chip on the board is 328PB.
There is no PB version in the Pro Mini board selection so I programmed the Pro Mini with Blink selecting the 328P version.

The code uploaded and the L led is blinking.
But now I cannot program it again.

Arduino: 1.8.19 (Windows 10), Board: "Arduino Pro or Pro Mini, ATmega328P (3.3V, 8 MHz)"

C:\Program Files (x86)\Arduino\arduino-builder -dump-prefs -logger=machine -hardware C:\Program Files (x86)\Arduino\hardware -hardware C:\Users\mike\AppData\Local\Arduino15\packages -tools C:\Program Files (x86)\Arduino\tools-builder -tools C:\Program Files (x86)\Arduino\hardware\tools\avr -tools C:\Users\mike\AppData\Local\Arduino15\packages -built-in-libraries C:\Program Files (x86)\Arduino\libraries -libraries C:\Users\mike\Documents\Arduino\libraries -fqbn=arduino:avr:pro:cpu=8MHzatmega328 -vid-pid=10C4_EA60 -ide-version=10819 -build-path C:\Users\mike\AppData\Local\Temp\arduino_build_299106 -warnings=default -build-cache C:\Users\mike\AppData\Local\Temp\arduino_cache_585430 -prefs=build.warn_data_percentage=75 -prefs=runtime.tools.arduinoOTA.path=C:\Users\mike\AppData\Local\Arduino15\packages\arduino\tools\arduinoOTA\1.3.0 -prefs=runtime.tools.arduinoOTA-1.3.0.path=C:\Users\mike\AppData\Local\Arduino15\packages\arduino\tools\arduinoOTA\1.3.0 -prefs=runtime.tools.avr-gcc.path=C:\Users\mike\AppData\Local\Arduino15\packages\arduino\tools\avr-gcc\7.3.0-atmel3.6.1-arduino7 -prefs=runtime.tools.avr-gcc-7.3.0-atmel3.6.1-arduino7.path=C:\Users\mike\AppData\Local\Arduino15\packages\arduino\tools\avr-gcc\7.3.0-atmel3.6.1-arduino7 -prefs=runtime.tools.avrdude.path=C:\Users\mike\AppData\Local\Arduino15\packages\arduino\tools\avrdude\6.3.0-arduino17 -prefs=runtime.tools.avrdude-6.3.0-arduino17.path=C:\Users\mike\AppData\Local\Arduino15\packages\arduino\tools\avrdude\6.3.0-arduino17 -verbose C:\Users\mike\AppData\Local\Temp\arduino_modified_sketch_287298\Blink.ino

C:\Program Files (x86)\Arduino\arduino-builder -compile -logger=machine -hardware C:\Program Files (x86)\Arduino\hardware -hardware C:\Users\mike\AppData\Local\Arduino15\packages -tools C:\Program Files (x86)\Arduino\tools-builder -tools C:\Program Files (x86)\Arduino\hardware\tools\avr -tools C:\Users\mike\AppData\Local\Arduino15\packages -built-in-libraries C:\Program Files (x86)\Arduino\libraries -libraries C:\Users\mike\Documents\Arduino\libraries -fqbn=arduino:avr:pro:cpu=8MHzatmega328 -vid-pid=10C4_EA60 -ide-version=10819 -build-path C:\Users\mike\AppData\Local\Temp\arduino_build_299106 -warnings=default -build-cache C:\Users\mike\AppData\Local\Temp\arduino_cache_585430 -prefs=build.warn_data_percentage=75 -prefs=runtime.tools.arduinoOTA.path=C:\Users\mike\AppData\Local\Arduino15\packages\arduino\tools\arduinoOTA\1.3.0 -prefs=runtime.tools.arduinoOTA-1.3.0.path=C:\Users\mike\AppData\Local\Arduino15\packages\arduino\tools\arduinoOTA\1.3.0 -prefs=runtime.tools.avr-gcc.path=C:\Users\mike\AppData\Local\Arduino15\packages\arduino\tools\avr-gcc\7.3.0-atmel3.6.1-arduino7 -prefs=runtime.tools.avr-gcc-7.3.0-atmel3.6.1-arduino7.path=C:\Users\mike\AppData\Local\Arduino15\packages\arduino\tools\avr-gcc\7.3.0-atmel3.6.1-arduino7 -prefs=runtime.tools.avrdude.path=C:\Users\mike\AppData\Local\Arduino15\packages\arduino\tools\avrdude\6.3.0-arduino17 -prefs=runtime.tools.avrdude-6.3.0-arduino17.path=C:\Users\mike\AppData\Local\Arduino15\packages\arduino\tools\avrdude\6.3.0-arduino17 -verbose C:\Users\mike\AppData\Local\Temp\arduino_modified_sketch_287298\Blink.ino

Using board 'pro' from platform in folder: C:\Users\mike\AppData\Local\Arduino15\packages\arduino\hardware\avr\1.8.6

Using core 'arduino' from platform in folder: C:\Users\mike\AppData\Local\Arduino15\packages\arduino\hardware\avr\1.8.6

Detecting libraries used...

"C:\\Users\\mike\\AppData\\Local\\Arduino15\\packages\\arduino\\tools\\avr-gcc\\7.3.0-atmel3.6.1-arduino7/bin/avr-g++" -c -g -Os -w -std=gnu++11 -fpermissive -fno-exceptions -ffunction-sections -fdata-sections -fno-threadsafe-statics -Wno-error=narrowing -flto -w -x c++ -E -CC -mmcu=atmega328p -DF_CPU=8000000L -DARDUINO=10819 -DARDUINO_AVR_PRO -DARDUINO_ARCH_AVR "-IC:\\Users\\mike\\AppData\\Local\\Arduino15\\packages\\arduino\\hardware\\avr\\1.8.6\\cores\\arduino" "-IC:\\Users\\mike\\AppData\\Local\\Arduino15\\packages\\arduino\\hardware\\avr\\1.8.6\\variants\\eightanaloginputs" "C:\\Users\\mike\\AppData\\Local\\Temp\\arduino_build_299106\\sketch\\Blink.ino.cpp" -o nul

Generating function prototypes...

"C:\\Users\\mike\\AppData\\Local\\Arduino15\\packages\\arduino\\tools\\avr-gcc\\7.3.0-atmel3.6.1-arduino7/bin/avr-g++" -c -g -Os -w -std=gnu++11 -fpermissive -fno-exceptions -ffunction-sections -fdata-sections -fno-threadsafe-statics -Wno-error=narrowing -flto -w -x c++ -E -CC -mmcu=atmega328p -DF_CPU=8000000L -DARDUINO=10819 -DARDUINO_AVR_PRO -DARDUINO_ARCH_AVR "-IC:\\Users\\mike\\AppData\\Local\\Arduino15\\packages\\arduino\\hardware\\avr\\1.8.6\\cores\\arduino" "-IC:\\Users\\mike\\AppData\\Local\\Arduino15\\packages\\arduino\\hardware\\avr\\1.8.6\\variants\\eightanaloginputs" "C:\\Users\\mike\\AppData\\Local\\Temp\\arduino_build_299106\\sketch\\Blink.ino.cpp" -o "C:\\Users\\mike\\AppData\\Local\\Temp\\arduino_build_299106\\preproc\\ctags_target_for_gcc_minus_e.cpp"

"C:\\Program Files (x86)\\Arduino\\tools-builder\\ctags\\5.8-arduino11/ctags" -u --language-force=c++ -f - --c++-kinds=svpf --fields=KSTtzns --line-directives "C:\\Users\\mike\\AppData\\Local\\Temp\\arduino_build_299106\\preproc\\ctags_target_for_gcc_minus_e.cpp"

Compiling sketch...

"C:\\Users\\mike\\AppData\\Local\\Arduino15\\packages\\arduino\\tools\\avr-gcc\\7.3.0-atmel3.6.1-arduino7/bin/avr-g++" -c -g -Os -std=gnu++11 -fpermissive -fno-exceptions -ffunction-sections -fdata-sections -fno-threadsafe-statics -Wno-error=narrowing -MMD -flto -mmcu=atmega328p -DF_CPU=8000000L -DARDUINO=10819 -DARDUINO_AVR_PRO -DARDUINO_ARCH_AVR "-IC:\\Users\\mike\\AppData\\Local\\Arduino15\\packages\\arduino\\hardware\\avr\\1.8.6\\cores\\arduino" "-IC:\\Users\\mike\\AppData\\Local\\Arduino15\\packages\\arduino\\hardware\\avr\\1.8.6\\variants\\eightanaloginputs" "C:\\Users\\mike\\AppData\\Local\\Temp\\arduino_build_299106\\sketch\\Blink.ino.cpp" -o "C:\\Users\\mike\\AppData\\Local\\Temp\\arduino_build_299106\\sketch\\Blink.ino.cpp.o"

Compiling libraries...

Compiling core...

Using precompiled core: C:\Users\mike\AppData\Local\Temp\arduino_cache_585430\core\core_arduino_avr_pro_cpu_8MHzatmega328_adf5ac38eb90a55d5d33c765ed784067.a

Linking everything together...

"C:\\Users\\mike\\AppData\\Local\\Arduino15\\packages\\arduino\\tools\\avr-gcc\\7.3.0-atmel3.6.1-arduino7/bin/avr-gcc" -Os -g -flto -fuse-linker-plugin -Wl,--gc-sections -mmcu=atmega328p -o "C:\\Users\\mike\\AppData\\Local\\Temp\\arduino_build_299106/Blink.ino.elf" "C:\\Users\\mike\\AppData\\Local\\Temp\\arduino_build_299106\\sketch\\Blink.ino.cpp.o" "C:\\Users\\mike\\AppData\\Local\\Temp\\arduino_build_299106/..\\arduino_cache_585430\\core\\core_arduino_avr_pro_cpu_8MHzatmega328_adf5ac38eb90a55d5d33c765ed784067.a" "-LC:\\Users\\mike\\AppData\\Local\\Temp\\arduino_build_299106" -lm

"C:\\Users\\mike\\AppData\\Local\\Arduino15\\packages\\arduino\\tools\\avr-gcc\\7.3.0-atmel3.6.1-arduino7/bin/avr-objcopy" -O ihex -j .eeprom --set-section-flags=.eeprom=alloc,load --no-change-warnings --change-section-lma .eeprom=0 "C:\\Users\\mike\\AppData\\Local\\Temp\\arduino_build_299106/Blink.ino.elf" "C:\\Users\\mike\\AppData\\Local\\Temp\\arduino_build_299106/Blink.ino.eep"

"C:\\Users\\mike\\AppData\\Local\\Arduino15\\packages\\arduino\\tools\\avr-gcc\\7.3.0-atmel3.6.1-arduino7/bin/avr-objcopy" -O ihex -R .eeprom "C:\\Users\\mike\\AppData\\Local\\Temp\\arduino_build_299106/Blink.ino.elf" "C:\\Users\\mike\\AppData\\Local\\Temp\\arduino_build_299106/Blink.ino.hex"

"C:\\Users\\mike\\AppData\\Local\\Arduino15\\packages\\arduino\\tools\\avr-gcc\\7.3.0-atmel3.6.1-arduino7/bin/avr-size" -A "C:\\Users\\mike\\AppData\\Local\\Temp\\arduino_build_299106/Blink.ino.elf"

Sketch uses 932 bytes (3%) of program storage space. Maximum is 30720 bytes.

Global variables use 9 bytes (0%) of dynamic memory, leaving 2039 bytes for local variables. Maximum is 2048 bytes.

C:\Users\mike\AppData\Local\Arduino15\packages\arduino\tools\avrdude\6.3.0-arduino17/bin/avrdude -CC:\Users\mike\AppData\Local\Arduino15\packages\arduino\tools\avrdude\6.3.0-arduino17/etc/avrdude.conf -v -V -patmega328p -carduino -PCOM1 -b57600 -D -Uflash:w:C:\Users\mike\AppData\Local\Temp\arduino_build_299106/Blink.ino.hex:i 



avrdude: Version 6.3-20190619

         Copyright (c) 2000-2005 Brian Dean, http://www.bdmicro.com/

         Copyright (c) 2007-2014 Joerg Wunsch



An error occurred while uploading the sketch

         System wide configuration file is "C:\Users\mike\AppData\Local\Arduino15\packages\arduino\tools\avrdude\6.3.0-arduino17/etc/avrdude.conf"



         Using Port                    : COM1

         Using Programmer              : arduino

         Overriding Baud Rate          : 57600

avrdude: ser_open(): can't open device "\\.\COM1": A device attached to the system is not functioning.

avrdude done.  Thank you.

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2

What have you done to try to get it working? Make sure the Tools/Processor is selecting the correct value, and kill the IDE in case you left a serial monitor running in the background.
I don't use windows anymore if I can avoid it just because of device driver problems. One of the best things you can de is have the device driver screen open before plugging the board in so you can see it gat added, then when you select board and port you know what port it is.
Good luck.

3

Hi @mikedb. Please provide a list of the connections you made between the pins on the USB to serial converter and the Pro Mini.

4

Device Manager shows COM1

The problem is there is no 328PB version in the Pro Mini board so I used 328P.

5

IIRC, the PB is an improved 328P with more peripheals but it is backwards compatible. Nothing that affects uploading, but you will likely NOT be able to use the extra I2C, USART, SPI, 2 more pins etc. Just make sure you select the right processor on this menu

Screenshot 2025-06-04 at 13.56.58
Screenshot 2025-06-04 at 13.56.581118×216 60.7 KB

The error you are encountering is a typical Win device manager thing. If it worked once then it will work again, just make sure you kill all remnants of the IDE and try again or a few times.

6

I watched a few videos before I programmed the Pro mini.

All the videos shows.

TX ----TX
RX-----RX

That looked weird but I tried it.
Upload = 100%
Cannot upload again.

I swapped TX and RX

TX----RX
RX----TX

Now I can upload again , changed the Blink rate 3 times and the led pulses change the same as in the code.

My Pro Mini is working again.

Thanks.

7

Great news! Thanks for taking the time to post an update.

Regards, Per