R4 WiFi not recognized by PC

Official Hardware UNO Family UNO R4 WiFi
1

I have a brand new R4 WiFi that was giving me trouble since the first time I got it as a Christmas present.
First, the board was recognized by the IDE but I was getting failing messages when trying to upload. Similar error messages while trying to update Firmware.
I tried different cables and different USB ports in my PC. Something seemed to 'click' and I uploaded my first project. I also managed to update the firmware.
Few days passed and upon trying to connect it again, there was no recognition from the IDE. The board is powered up, scrolling on its led grid the images of the project I have uploaded. The Tx led is blinking but not the Rx. Nothing is showing in my PCs Device Manager. It's not a drivers issue because there is no device in the device manager while I plug in and out the usb cable. Its communication is completely dead.
I contacted the retailer to initiate a warranty ticket. He denied it. He said that "By your description the board has suffered malfunction on the communications chip due to misuse"
WtF, what misuse could I have done? I haven't even connected a shield or anything else. I'm a total Arduino noob, and I was trying to find my steps.
Anyways, I'm totally dissapointed.

I was wondering is there a way to troubleshoot the whole thing? I tried it in 3 different win10 and win11 machines. Same case everywhere. Nothing shown in the device manager.

Is this model able to upload code through WiFi alone, if the usb port is useless?
Is there any other component/shield that I can buy in order to bypass and replace the main USB-c port?
Or my journey into the Arduino's world will end so prematurely and sadly?

Thank you

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2

Hi @alnotas. Please try this experiment and then report back with the results:

  1. Connect your Arduino board to your computer with the USB cable.
  2. Press and release the reset button on your Arduino board quickly twice.
  3. If it is already open, close the Tools > Port menu in Arduino IDE.
  4. Open the Tools > Port menu in Arduino IDE.

Now please reply here on the forum thread with the answers to the following questions:

  • Do you now see the LED on the board pulsing?
  • Do you see a port for the board in the Tools > Port menu?
1 Like
3

Hello @ptillisch
I just did exactly what you've instructed

  1. The port menu in the IDE is grayed out (no ports)
  2. Tx is not pulsing
4

Try burining A bootloader