Problems uploading to Uno clone under Windows 10

Development Tools Uploading
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I have a Uno clone, a Geekduino. I was using it with my old Windows Vista desktop with no problems, IDE v1.0.5. When Microsoft finally quit supporting Vista, I was forced to switch to a Windows 10 machine with IDE v1.8.15. I have never been able to upload a sketch from it. I'm getting the typical error message indicating a comms problem:

Arduino: 1.8.15 (Windows 10), Board: "Arduino Uno"

Sketch uses 3686 bytes (11%) of program storage space. Maximum is 32256 bytes.

Global variables use 233 bytes (11%) of dynamic memory, leaving 1815 bytes for local variables. Maximum is 2048 bytes.

avrdude: stk500_recv(): programmer is not responding

avrdude: stk500_getsync() attempt 1 of 10: not in sync: resp=0xb7

avrdude: stk500_recv(): programmer is not responding

avrdude: stk500_getsync() attempt 2 of 10: not in sync: resp=0xb7

avrdude: stk500_getsync() attempt 3 of 10: not in sync: resp=0x00

avrdude: stk500_recv(): programmer is not responding

avrdude: stk500_getsync() attempt 4 of 10: not in sync: resp=0x00

avrdude: stk500_getsync() attempt 5 of 10: not in sync: resp=0x00

avrdude: stk500_recv(): programmer is not responding

avrdude: stk500_getsync() attempt 6 of 10: not in sync: resp=0x00

avrdude: stk500_getsync() attempt 7 of 10: not in sync: resp=0x00

avrdude: stk500_recv(): programmer is not responding

avrdude: stk500_getsync() attempt 8 of 10: not in sync: resp=0x00

avrdude: stk500_getsync() attempt 9 of 10: not in sync: resp=0x00

avrdude: stk500_recv(): programmer is not responding

avrdude: stk500_getsync() attempt 10 of 10: not in sync: resp=0x00

Problem uploading to board. See https://support.arduino.cc/hc/en-us/sections/360003198300 for suggestions.

This report would have more information with
"Show verbose output during compilation"
option enabled in File -> Preferences.

The thing is, I can communicate with the board, using XBee, with no problem on the Win10 machine, using COM port 3 - I just can't upload a sketch. The IDE insists on COM 4, and I'm wondering if that is the problem. I see no way to switch ports.

Any suggestions on what I might look for?

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Do you have the correct driver installed?
What does your device manager (Ports (COM & LPT)) say when you plug in the board?
What board do you choose in Arduino IDE?

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Don't know about the driver, any way to tell? Device manager shows COM3 & COM4, Uno board is selected in IDE.

4

If you disconnect the board, which one disappears from device manager?

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With the board plugged in, right-click on 'Properties', COM3 shows device not connected, COM4 device working properly. Unplug, COM4 goes to device not connected. Both still show up on device list.
Windows claims driver is 2.12.28.0 dated 8-16-2017 from FTDI on both COM3 and COM4 and says that is the most current.

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Since the Geekduino is Arduino compatible board, there should be an Arduino UNO (COM4) in the device manager. See driver installation instructions here Getting Started with Arduino UNO.
Check also Tools > Get Board Info in Arduino IDE.

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OK, I think you may have identified the problem. There is no "Arduino UNO" associated with COM4 in the device manager, and Get Board Info in the IDE returns "unknown board". So far, I have been unable to locate Arduino.inf on my computer. This all seems a little strange, since I recently reinstalled the IDE as part of my initial troubleshooting, and you would think the driver would have been part of the install. I am presently looking for a source to download the driver, then I'll see if that helps. Thanks.

8

When installing Arduino IDE, the drivers are sometimes installed automatically, and sometimes not. In the folder with the installed Arduino IDE there is a folder called drivers, where the drivers are located and they can be added manually.
Or get the drivers from your board manufacturer.

9

If the board does not have an intelligent ttl-to-usb converter, it will not identify itself as an Uno. A FTDI chip is not intelligent so it will never identify itself as an Uno; it will probably identify itself as a USB serial port.

I have never had the need to do it and I have never done it but I think that I would clear the com stack; do a search on the Web how to do it.

10

Well. Managed to install the Aduino Uno drivers from Arduino 1.8.15, as well as 1.0.6, in the face of determined opposition and dire warnings from Windows. Both times, as soon as I plugged in the USB cable to the Geekduino, Windows crashed with a page fault. I used to really not like Windows 10, but now I'm starting to really, really not like it. I do have to say it recovers well from a page fault.
So, pretty much back to the beginning. At least I have the Vista machine to fall back on.

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Depending on the version of win 10 you may have to install drivers with DRIVER ENFORCEMENT turned OFF and possibly even with full ADMINISTRATOR privileges.

12

To all who tried to help, and to anyone who stumbles onto this thread: After much teeth-gnashing and hair-pulling, it turns out there was a (ridiculously) simple remedy all along - change the board type to "Duemilanove" in the Tools menu, and all is good. Reminds me of Dorothy finding out all she ever had to do was click her heels three times.

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The forum community always asks for maximum information.
You wrote that you have a Geekduino board. This board is compatible with Arduino Uno. The manufacturer of RobotGeek Geekduino says that

Since the Geekduino is completely Arduino compatible, it can run the same code as any Arduino Uno.

So you have a different board. If you had given a photo of your board at the very beginning, maybe a solution would have been found faster.

14

Well, that fooled me too, hence all the heartache. Until I looked a little farther down on the description and read "The Geekduino is electronically compatible with the Arduino Duemilanove". In particular, it seems both boards use the FTDI chip for serial comms.
So the thread title should have read "Problems uploading to Duemilanove clone under Windows 10", but I didn't realize it at the time.

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Oh, and it didn't help that the old IDE on the Vista computer would happily upload with the board type set to "Arduino Uno".

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Obviously, the manufacturer himself gives confusing explanations.

Since the Geekduino is completely Arduino compatible, it can run the same code as any Arduino Uno. ... The Geekduino is electronically compatible with the Arduino Duemilanove and uses the ATMega 328, the same chip as the Arduino Uno.

Arduino site gives more clear guide on its Arduino Duemilanove product page

The Arduino Duemilanove can be programmed with the Arduino software. Select "Arduino Diecimila or Duemilanove w/ ATmega168" or "Arduino Duemilanove w/ ATmega328" from the Tools > Board menu (according to the microcontroller on your board).

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