I wanted to play about and learn arduino stuff so I bought a couple of cheapo nano clones from AliX. Figured it wouldn't matter so much if I did something and released the magic smoke.
Everything was working fine. I got some lights doing basic things on an LED strip.
Then Windows gave me dire warnings that Win10 support was ending and I must get 11!!
I upgraded and now I have no COM ports. There isn't the COM Ports section in Device Manager. When I plug in the Nano, DM will show LibUSB.
Com port in IDE (2.3 & 1.8) is greyed out and no connection can be made. It does still say COM 3 as it remembers from Win10 but there's no way to change
I have tried everything I can find online.
I've changed cable and USB ports. I even swapped nanos.
I have downloaded and tried installing the CH340X driver (it says its preinstalled it)
I have tried manually adding COM port drivers thru Legacy Hardware
Standard port - Comms port: wont start,
Arduino.cc Manufacturer: No Nano listed (anything triend ends up with "The specified request is not a valid operation for the target device.").
Any MS help tends to start and end with do something with the COM & LPT section on DevMan which is hard when it isnt there.
I can't be the only person who has come across this. Has anyone got any solutions?
I don't have a Windows system at the moment so can't really assist further.
How did you try? E.g. pre-install? Or uninstall libusb and install the CH340 driver while the board was connected? Or ...
And what happened? Errors? No effect? Or ...
As said, I can't further assist but if you can provide more details others might be able to assist further.
You can also ask questions on Microsoft specific forums. If they manage to solve your problem, please provide feedback here.
What Version of Arduino IDE are you using? (some boards work on different versions of the software. And some need the old bootloader or the new one.)
What is the actual markings or part number on your Micro controller?
What communcation channel your board operates on (e.g. CH340, CH340C, CH340G, CH470, CH1007)?
Restart your computer after you install the driver(s) and software?
1. Check the USB Cable and Connection:
Cable Quality: Ensure you're using a good-quality USB cable that supports data transfer (some cables are power-only).
Different Port: Try connecting the Arduino to a different USB port on your computer.
Re-plug: Unplug the Arduino and plug it back in.
2. Driver Installation:
Arduino IDE Drivers: Ensure you have installed the necessary drivers that come with the Arduino IDE. If you're using an official Arduino board, the IDE should automatically install the drivers.
Device Manager Check (Windows):
Open the Device Manager (Win + X > Device Manager).
Look for your Arduino under "Ports (COM & LPT)" or under "Other devices."
If there’s an exclamation mark, right-click and try to update or reinstall the driver.
Check in Terminal (Mac/Linux): Use the command ls /dev/tty.* (Mac) or ls /dev/ttyUSB* (Linux) to check if the port is being detected.
3. Try a Different Arduino Board:
If possible, try connecting a different Arduino board to see if the issue is with the board itself.
4. Reset Arduino:
Press the reset button on the Arduino to see if it triggers recognition.
5. Check Arduino IDE Settings:
Port Selection: Open the Arduino IDE, go to Tools > Port and see if your Arduino is listed. If it is, select it.
Board Selection: Make sure the correct board type is selected under Tools > Board.
6. Reinstall Arduino IDE:
If the issue persists, uninstall and reinstall the Arduino IDE to ensure that all necessary drivers and components are properly installed.
7. Check for Conflicts:
Close any other software that might be using the COM ports, such as serial communication software or virtual machines.
8. Try on a Different Computer:
To rule out a computer-specific issue, try connecting your Arduino to a different computer.
9. USB Power Supply:
Ensure that your Arduino is receiving enough power via USB. If you have other devices connected to the same USB hub, try disconnecting them.
If none of these steps resolve the issue, the problem might be with the Arduino board itself, or the USB port on your computer could be malfunctioning. Let me know if any of these steps work or if you need further assistance!
Say what chatGPT? These are "Channels" and not a variety of WinChipHead, USB to Serial converters made by Nanjing Qinheng Microelectronics? Please, explain. Do I not understand "channel?"
Please don't hijack threads @baj2. I have deleted the off topic post you made about your problem on someone else's topic.
You already have a dedicated topic here for your problem. So restrict your posts on this subject to this topic. Don't go spamming posts to other random topics on the forum.
Hijacking is against the Arduino forum rules. The reason is that it may sidetrack the discussion, even preventing the creator of the topic from getting the assistance they need. It also reduces your own chances of getting assistance.
If you get that message when installing the driver while your Nano is plugged in, it indicates that your Nano is not recognised. You would get that same message if you did not have the Nano connected.
I'm not sure if I can help further but can you post a link to what you exactly bought?
