Programming with Sparkfun Pro Micro as ISP not working.

Projects General Guidance
1

Hello,

I am trying to use a Pro Micro as a ISP and I want to program another Pro Micro with it.
I have succeeded in the past but now I don't get it to work anymore, maybe it has to do with the new version of IDE.

Board: "Sparkfun Pro Micro"
Processor: "ATmega32U4 (5V, 16MHz)"
Programmer: "Arduino as ISP"
Only RX LED pulses now and then while trying to upload a sketch "Upload Using Programmer".
LED_HB just keeps fading in and out, LED_ERR and LED_PMODE do not light up.

Connections:

ProMicro ISP programmer		ProMicro
---------------------------------------------
GND				GND
VCC				VCC
10				RST
14				14
15				15
16				16

Error report:

Arduino: 1.8.5 (Windows 7), Board: "SparkFun Pro Micro, ATmega32U4 (5V, 16 MHz)"

Archiving built core (caching) in: C:\Users\MyName\AppData\Local\Temp\arduino_cache_732330\core\core_SparkFun_avr_promicro_cpu_16MHzatmega32U4_49e894b81e6bbe3195c79fe9a1510603.a
Sketch uses 4220 bytes (14%) of program storage space. Maximum is 28672 bytes.
Global variables use 153 bytes (5%) of dynamic memory, leaving 2407 bytes for local variables. Maximum is 2560 bytes.
avrdude: stk500_recv(): programmer is not responding
avrdude: stk500_getsync() attempt 1 of 10: not in sync: resp=0x03
avrdude: stk500_recv(): programmer is not responding
avrdude: stk500_getsync() attempt 2 of 10: not in sync: resp=0x03
Problem uploading to board.  See http://www.arduino.cc/en/Guide/Troubleshooting#upload for suggestions.
avrdude: stk500_recv(): programmer is not responding
avrdude: stk500_getsync() attempt 3 of 10: not in sync: resp=0x03
avrdude: stk500_recv(): programmer is not responding
avrdude: stk500_getsync() attempt 4 of 10: not in sync: resp=0x03
avrdude: stk500_recv(): programmer is not responding
avrdude: stk500_getsync() attempt 5 of 10: not in sync: resp=0x03
avrdude: stk500_recv(): programmer is not responding
avrdude: stk500_getsync() attempt 6 of 10: not in sync: resp=0x03
avrdude: stk500_recv(): programmer is not responding
avrdude: stk500_getsync() attempt 7 of 10: not in sync: resp=0x03
avrdude: stk500_recv(): programmer is not responding
avrdude: stk500_getsync() attempt 8 of 10: not in sync: resp=0x03
avrdude: stk500_recv(): programmer is not responding
avrdude: stk500_getsync() attempt 9 of 10: not in sync: resp=0x03
avrdude: stk500_recv(): programmer is not responding
avrdude: stk500_getsync() attempt 10 of 10: not in sync: resp=0x03

I would realy like this to work again.
Using a Arduino UNO as ISP works without a problem.

2

I'm surprised it has ever worked as you cannot get easy access to the hardware SS pin on the Sparkfun Pro Micro (It's hard-wired to the LED and does not break out on the board connectors).
Are you sure you was programming the Sparkfun Pro Micro from an Arduino UNO and it worked okay?

3

The new ArduinoISP.ino has:

#define RESET     10 // Use pin 10 to reset the target rather than SS

I changed SS to 10 in the old ArduinoISP.ino
I have tested it again to program Pro Micro via Arduino UNO as ISP and it works perfect.
I putted blink in it on a random assigned output pin and it works like it should be.

4

Is someone willing to test if it works to use a Pro Micro as ISP or a Arduino Leonardo as ISP with Arduino 1.8.5 IDE?
If it works then I at least know that the problem is not with the new version of Arduino IDE.

5

I found the solution here: ArduinoISP on the Leonardo does not work on windows · Issue #1182 · arduino/Arduino · GitHub
I just added this to <hardware\arduino\avr\programmers.txt>:

promicroisp.name=Pro Micro as ISP
promicroisp.communication=serial
promicroisp.protocol=arduino
promicroisp.speed=19200
promicroisp.program.protocol=arduino
promicroisp.program.speed=19200
promicroisp.program.tool=avrdude
promicroisp.program.extra_params=-P{serial.port} -b{program.speed}
6

Worked for me too while reflashing Anet A6 Bootloader / 3D Printer Board. Thanks Tigris for the hint !