I was inspired by http://www.arduino.cc/en/Hacking/Programmer to try to use my USBtinyISP AVR ICSP for uploading sketches to my AVR. I followed the directions for altering the preferences (changed upload.using=bootloader to upload.using=usbtiny). When I hit the upload icon though, it returns the following message
avrdude: Can't find programmer id "null"
Valid programmers are:
dasa3 = serial port banging, reset=!dtr sck=rts mosi=txd miso=cts [hardware/tools/avr/etc/avrdude.conf:582]
dasa = serial port banging, reset=rts sck=dtr mosi=txd miso=cts [hardware/tools/avr/etc/avrdude.conf:569]
siprog = Lancos SI-Prog http://www.lancos.com/siprogsch.html [hardware/tools/avr/etc/avrdude.conf:556]
ponyser = design ponyprog serial, reset=!txd sck=rts mosi=dtr miso=cts
and so on...
This doesn't make sense to me since I have altered the preferences.txt file. Any help would be appreciated.
On the link page you list there is a notation " Note that when you upgrade Arduino, this folder may not be deleted. If you are having trouble, delete this folder. Upon launching Arduino a new file and preferences.txt will be created. " in the editing the Arduino preferences file section.
Maybe doing this and then changing the pref. might work.
Thank you for the suggestion.
I tried this and it unfortunately didn't help. I am wondering if this is an issue with AVRdude or AVR-GCC interacting with the Arduino environment. I am going to play around with the configuration of AVRdude and hope that that works. If anyone has any more suggestions please let me know though.