I have problem uploading sketches into Arduino Uno. The error message I got is
avrdude: stk500_getsync() attempt 1 of 10: not in sync.
Things I tried:
upload from Mac and from Windows
the loopback test (pass)
reset to ground
restart the IDE
upload using different programmers
I'm aware that there are posts on the internet such as "n ways to destroy an Arduino". I did a few of those, such as sending >5V into 5V pin and changing connections when powered on. But the Arduino survived after these. It did fail for example when I sent >5V to t the 5V pin, but I was fine after I reset it.
It's likely that I actually damage the Arduino, by doing this too many times or something worse(?). How do I check to see if it is really a hardware issue that cannot be resolved by myself, by which I mean not having to buy additional parts?
When you say you used different programmers - do you mean that you attempted to program it with a programmer, instead of doing it through USB? The tools -> programmers submenu is only used if you are using a programmer to burn bootloader or upload sketch via "upload using programmer". If you have connected an ISP programmer of some sort to it, and uploaded a sketch that way, it will overwrite the bootloader, and you'll have to connect it to the ISP programmer and do burn bootloader again. If you did use an ISP programmer and the upload failed, what error did you get?
Assuming you did not use an ISP programmer, remove any connections, plug it into USB, and press and release the reset button. Does the light give the three-fast-blink pattern of optiboot? If not, that suggests either the chip has failed or the bootloader is otherwise not working.
Stressing the chip repeatedly can have a cumulative effect and eventually cause it to fail. That said, usually the 16u2 fails before the '328p when you abuse the power rail. Yet you've ascertained that the '16u2 is okay since the loopback works.
DrAzzy:
When you say you used different programmers - do you mean that you attempted to program it with a programmer, instead of doing it through USB? The tools -> programmers submenu is only used if you are using a programmer to burn bootloader or upload sketch via "upload using programmer". If you have connected an ISP programmer of some sort to it, and uploaded a sketch that way, it will overwrite the bootloader, and you'll have to connect it to the ISP programmer and do burn bootloader again. If you did use an ISP programmer and the upload failed, what error did you get?
Assuming you did not use an ISP programmer, remove any connections, plug it into USB, and press and release the reset button. Does the light give the three-fast-blink pattern of optiboot? If not, that suggests either the chip has failed or the bootloader is otherwise not working.
Stressing the chip repeatedly can have a cumulative effect and eventually cause it to fail. That said, usually the 16u2 fails before the '328p when you abuse the power rail. Yet you've ascertained that the '16u2 is okay since the loopback works.
Hi DrAzzy,
thanks for the reply. I didn't appreciate how programmer works, I just selected different options under Tools->Programmer; my default programmer is AVRISP: mkll, so I don't think I managed to use a different ISP programmer.
When I tried what you suggested, I see "L" blinking, but I still didn't manage to upload, and I attached the error message below.
Another question regarding damaging the chip is: if I damaged one of the digital channels, will that cause upload issues?
The power rails seems to be fine, still generating voltages. I think I really damaged a digital channel. The symptom is that immediately after sending a large current into it, it stopped writing waveform, always 0V. While the other pin, which I also wrote something into was still working properly. I know nothing about the chips on UNO, whether the communication/ upload chip is the same as that for writing and reading the digital pins. It won't be very surprising if that particular channel is no longer functional, but why do I have upload issues?