Possibly a similar problem:
Ubuntu Mint Cinnamon
Arduino 1.8.5 IDE
USBasp
Pro Micro 5V
syslog has:
Apr 10 15:11:41 skennie-Vostro1510 kernel: [ 1548.744195] usb 6-1: new low-speed USB device number 2 using uhci_hcd
Apr 10 15:11:41 skennie-Vostro1510 kernel: [ 1548.914250] usb 6-1: New USB device found, idVendor=16c0, idProduct=05dc
Apr 10 15:11:41 skennie-Vostro1510 kernel: [ 1548.914263] usb 6-1: New USB device strings: Mfr=1, Product=2, SerialNumber=0
Apr 10 15:11:41 skennie-Vostro1510 kernel: [ 1548.914272] usb 6-1: Product: USBasp
Apr 10 15:11:41 skennie-Vostro1510 kernel: [ 1548.914279] usb 6-1: Manufacturer: www.fischl.de
Apr 10 15:11:41 skennie-Vostro1510 mtp-probe: checking bus 6, device 2: "/sys/devices/pci0000:00/0000:00:1d.1/usb6/6-1"
Apr 10 15:11:41 skennie-Vostro1510 mtp-probe: bus: 6, device: 2 was not an MTP device
IDE has "port" grayed out, and gives error "Arduino: 1.8.5 (Linux), Board: "SparkFun Pro Micro, ATmega32U4 (5V, 16 MHz)"
Sketch uses 4126 bytes (14%) of program storage space. Maximum is 28672 bytes.
Global variables use 149 bytes (5%) of dynamic memory, leaving 2411 bytes for local variables. Maximum is 2560 bytes.
Couldn't find a Board on the selected port. Check that you have the correct port selected. If it is correct, try pressing the board's reset button after initiating the upload.
This report would have more information with
"Show verbose output during compilation"
option enabled in File -> Preferences.
Please advise