Programmer not responding

Projects Programming
1

Hey guys, I'm just getting started with the Arduino hardware and software and I just bought a nano clone from AliExpress with old bootloader, it worked fine for about 2 weeks then one day I tried to upload a sketch and it failed to upload to programmer, although when I press the reset button on the board the "L" LED blink immediately after I release it. Please I need someone to help me out to fix it, thank you.

Here's the entire output code including the error code;

loading library from c:\Users\USER\Documents\Arduino\libraries\RoboEyes-main: invalid library: no header files found

FQBN: arduino:avr:nano:cpu=atmega328old
Using board 'nano' from platform in folder: C:\Users\USER\AppData\Local\Arduino15\packages\arduino\hardware\avr\1.8.8
Using core 'arduino' from platform in folder: C:\Users\USER\AppData\Local\Arduino15\packages\arduino\hardware\avr\1.8.8

Detecting libraries used...
C:\Users\USER\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=16000000L -DARDUINO=10607 -DARDUINO_AVR_NANO -DARDUINO_ARCH_AVR -IC:\Users\USER\AppData\Local\Arduino15\packages\arduino\hardware\avr\1.8.8\cores\arduino -IC:\Users\USER\AppData\Local\Arduino15\packages\arduino\hardware\avr\1.8.8\variants\eightanaloginputs C:\Users\USER\AppData\Local\arduino\sketches\19F7BB86E9BB4AC50E7CFEA273B3493B\sketch\Blink.ino.cpp.merged -o nul -MMD -MF C:\Users\USER\AppData\Local\arduino\sketches\19F7BB86E9BB4AC50E7CFEA273B3493B\sketch\Blink.ino.cpp.merged.libsdetect.d
Generating function prototypes...
C:\Users\USER\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=16000000L -DARDUINO=10607 -DARDUINO_AVR_NANO -DARDUINO_ARCH_AVR -IC:\Users\USER\AppData\Local\Arduino15\packages\arduino\hardware\avr\1.8.8\cores\arduino -IC:\Users\USER\AppData\Local\Arduino15\packages\arduino\hardware\avr\1.8.8\variants\eightanaloginputs C:\Users\USER\AppData\Local\arduino\sketches\19F7BB86E9BB4AC50E7CFEA273B3493B\sketch\Blink.ino.cpp.merged -o C:\Users\USER\AppData\Local\Temp\1531098754\sketch_merged.cpp
C:\Users\USER\AppData\Local\Arduino15\packages\builtin\tools\ctags\5.8-arduino11/ctags -u --language-force=c++ -f - --c++-kinds=svpf --fields=KSTtzns --line-directives C:\Users\USER\AppData\Local\Temp\1531098754\sketch_merged.cpp

Compiling sketch...
"C:\\Users\\USER\\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 -MMD -flto -mmcu=atmega328p -DF_CPU=16000000L -DARDUINO=10607 -DARDUINO_AVR_NANO -DARDUINO_ARCH_AVR "-IC:\\Users\\USER\\AppData\\Local\\Arduino15\\packages\\arduino\\hardware\\avr\\1.8.8\\cores\\arduino" "-IC:\\Users\\USER\\AppData\\Local\\Arduino15\\packages\\arduino\\hardware\\avr\\1.8.8\\variants\\eightanaloginputs" "C:\\Users\\USER\\AppData\\Local\\arduino\\sketches\\19F7BB86E9BB4AC50E7CFEA273B3493B\\sketch\\Blink.ino.cpp" -o "C:\\Users\\USER\\AppData\\Local\\arduino\\sketches\\19F7BB86E9BB4AC50E7CFEA273B3493B\\sketch\\Blink.ino.cpp.o"
Compiling libraries...
Compiling core...
Using precompiled core: C:\Users\USER\AppData\Local\arduino\cores\arduino_avr_nano_cpu_atmega328old_eacdd6062e53c090ff4036a340ee4adc\core.a
Linking everything together...
"C:\\Users\\USER\\AppData\\Local\\Arduino15\\packages\\arduino\\tools\\avr-gcc\\7.3.0-atmel3.6.1-arduino7/bin/avr-gcc" -w -Os -g -flto -fuse-linker-plugin -Wl,--gc-sections -mmcu=atmega328p -o "C:\\Users\\USER\\AppData\\Local\\arduino\\sketches\\19F7BB86E9BB4AC50E7CFEA273B3493B/Blink.ino.elf" "C:\\Users\\USER\\AppData\\Local\\arduino\\sketches\\19F7BB86E9BB4AC50E7CFEA273B3493B\\sketch\\Blink.ino.cpp.o" "C:\\Users\\USER\\AppData\\Local\\arduino\\sketches\\19F7BB86E9BB4AC50E7CFEA273B3493B/..\\..\\cores\\arduino_avr_nano_cpu_atmega328old_eacdd6062e53c090ff4036a340ee4adc\\core.a" "-LC:\\Users\\USER\\AppData\\Local\\arduino\\sketches\\19F7BB86E9BB4AC50E7CFEA273B3493B" -lm
"C:\\Users\\USER\\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\\USER\\AppData\\Local\\arduino\\sketches\\19F7BB86E9BB4AC50E7CFEA273B3493B/Blink.ino.elf" "C:\\Users\\USER\\AppData\\Local\\arduino\\sketches\\19F7BB86E9BB4AC50E7CFEA273B3493B/Blink.ino.eep"
"C:\\Users\\USER\\AppData\\Local\\Arduino15\\packages\\arduino\\tools\\avr-gcc\\7.3.0-atmel3.6.1-arduino7/bin/avr-objcopy" -O ihex -R .eeprom "C:\\Users\\USER\\AppData\\Local\\arduino\\sketches\\19F7BB86E9BB4AC50E7CFEA273B3493B/Blink.ino.elf" "C:\\Users\\USER\\AppData\\Local\\arduino\\sketches\\19F7BB86E9BB4AC50E7CFEA273B3493B/Blink.ino.hex"
"C:\\Users\\USER\\AppData\\Local\\Arduino15\\packages\\arduino\\tools\\avr-gcc\\7.3.0-atmel3.6.1-arduino7/bin/avr-size" -A "C:\\Users\\USER\\AppData\\Local\\arduino\\sketches\\19F7BB86E9BB4AC50E7CFEA273B3493B/Blink.ino.elf"
Sketch uses 924 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\USER\AppData\Local\Arduino15\packages\arduino\tools\avrdude\8.0.0-arduino1/bin/avrdude" "-CC:\Users\USER\AppData\Local\Arduino15\packages\arduino\tools\avrdude\8.0.0-arduino1/etc/avrdude.conf" -v -V -patmega328p -carduino "-PCOM10" -b57600 -D "-Uflash:w:C:\Users\USER\AppData\Local\arduino\sketches\19F7BB86E9BB4AC50E7CFEA273B3493B/Blink.ino.hex:i"
Avrdude version 8.0-arduino.1
Copyright see https://github.com/avrdudes/avrdude/blob/main/AUTHORS

System wide configuration file is C:\Users\USER\AppData\Local\Arduino15\packages\arduino\tools\avrdude\8.0.0-arduino1\etc\avrdude.conf

Using port            : COM10
Using programmer      : arduino
Setting baud rate     : 57600
AVR part              : ATmega328P
Programming modes     : SPM, ISP, HVPP, debugWIRE
Programmer type       : Arduino
Description           : Arduino bootloader using STK500 v1 protocol
HW Version            : 2
FW Version            : 1.16

AVR device initialized and ready to accept instructions
Device signature = 1E 95 0F (ATmega328P, ATA6614Q, LGT8F328P)
Reading 924 bytes for flash from input file Blink.ino.hex
in 1 section [0, 0x39b]: 8 pages and 100 pad bytes
Writing 924 bytes to flash
Writing | -------------------------------------------------- | 0% 5.08s
Error: programmer is not responding
Error: programmer is not responding
 *** failed
Error: unable to write flash (rc = -1)
Error: programmer is not responding

Avrdude done.  Thank you.
Failed uploading: uploading error: exit status 1
2

Verify your USB cable is for DATA. Do you hear the System Chime when you insert the USB with Nano? Does Device Manager show a USB device under LPT & COM?

3

When you open the terminal what does it display? How often does it repeat.

4

Yes my cable is a DATA cable, it makes that sound when you plug in a USB device to your computer and the nano appears in device manager under LTP and COM. I tried with 2 more DATA cables and tried in all the ports in my laptop, I tried uninstalling and reinstalling FTDI driver as well and nothing was fixed. When the board is powered up the L LED blinks continuously like ON for half a second and OFF for like 1½ secs.

5

Compiler acts fine, codes compile just fine, the issue arises when you want to upload to nano that's when it shows the "programmer is not responding". I forgot to add when the board is powered up the L LED blinks continuously

6

If you're using a USB-HUB, try changing it for another or connecting the board directly to a USB port on the computer (USB 2.0 is better in this case).

7

Hello gngskhan,
It can be the USB driver has been updated or removed.
I had it some days ago too, searched for hours what could be the problem.
Check following:
Open Device Manager, see Ports, connect the USB and now you see which port is connected, rightclick the pictogram > details > driver > update driver > search my computer for drivers > Now it's possible you will see older versions installed, try one of the older drivers.
Maybe you can find also a package on the web to reinstall the driver for the atmega328.
I had the problem more than once with Arduino UNO when I tested a gsm shield with an external power from a battery.
Sometimes by uploading the sketch the drivers were removed due to a powerpeak I think.
Cheers Dingsken.

8

Verify the COM port Device Manager reports with the COM port the IDE has.

Sounds like a "heartbeat" from a previous upload.

I had this problem with a USB driver from Prolific. Every Windows update (I did automatic updates), the Prolific driver would be removed, so after USB failures, I needed to install the Prolific USB driver again.

9

I wasn't using a USB hub, it's plugged directly to my laptop port

10

The drivers were intact, I tried rolling back old drivers, reinstalling the same driver, nothing worked

11

I tried rolling back drivers, reinstalling the new driver, nothing worked

12

Hello xfpd, how are you doing? It was long time since I was here last time.
Driver resets seems to happen more then ones.

13

It is difficult to see when "hardware is good, drivers are good, sketch is good" but "nothing works." It is the background stuff you can't see.

My "Prolific" driver problem needed me to install the original/old version, because the updated one did not work.

Try your cable and Arduino on another computer. Trying to eliminate hardware from the issue.

14

With a different username... this one is only four days old.

15

Well yes, I'm unable to login on my old character Dingsken.

16

This sounds like a corrupted driver on the nano. I had this on the UNO.
Can you check the number on the IC on the board?
For example UNO uses CH340 or older or newer.
When you unplug the board in device manager a port will disappear.
When you plugin you will see a USB port appear like USB serial with a number e.g. USB-Serial CH340 (COM 3 = Arduino Uno or USB to UART Bridge (COM 6) = ESP32 on my desktop right now. If there's no new COM port when you plugin the device, the driver on the nano is corrupted or broken.
Do you have another new nano?

17

Do you un-select "old bootloader" and select 328p in IDE >> TOOLS >> BOARD >> PROCESSOR?

18

No Atmega is the CPU, the driver I mean is a IC close near the USB port on the nano.

19

Like this one shows a FT232 usb uart driver

20260828_161646
20260828_1616461358×1146 631 KB

When you have the number you can download the driver pack and install it on the board with device manager like I explained before.

20

Can you share a picture from the device manager with the ports list opened and the board connection like in this picture?

20260828_163015
20260828_1630151530×2040 1.13 MB

Here you see COM1 which is the USB on my desktop.
COM3 is the Arduino 1 while COM6 is an ESP32.