Windows 7 could not find the driver software for your device.....

I have searched and searched on this topic, and am starting to get quite frustrated. I have the arduino 1.8.9 download package, and have downloaded every windows related driver I could find on FTDI's site and dropped them into the arduino/drivers folder, directed device manager to that folder, and tried a hundred variants of that, all end in the same failure.

What am I doing wrong? The folder I have told windows to look for drivers in is that very arduino/drivers folder, the 64bit windows drivers all seem to be there, and are current as of 3 minutes ago.

Thanks in advance!

and yes, I read the troubleshooting guide and followed its suggestions before posting.

I have followed the instructions on a dozen or so different threads I found on the subject, and none have given me different results. I would bet money (and probably lose it) that I'm doing it right, could I have bought a bad uno, or have some hardware or setting issue I am not aware of? This PC has been air gapped for a few years, so perhaps updating windows is my issue? I wish I knew more about what I was doing, but that is precisely why I am dipping my toes into the arduino and ras-pi world. I need to learn this stuff.

If this is a clone, they often have the CH340 usb-to-ttl chip. Check your board; if so, you will need to install that driver.

User pert posted a link and instructions in a recent post to a chinese website with the driver; roughly a week ago if I'm not mistaken. I think it's called ch340ser.zip.

Thanks! I'll look into that report back.

I really appreciate the help!

I was able to find that file, and it worked. Thanks!

Onto the next problem! Lol. I think I should have bought a genuine arduino unit. Seems like getting up and blinking should be measured in minutes or hours, not days/weeks. :sob: Device manager says it is on port 1, hub 6. In the arduino programmer I seem to be failing to connect, despite having Com1 set as the port. When I try to get board info, it says it's a "native serial port, can't obtain info". There are no other port numbers listed, "serial" is there, but grayed out. So much struggle.

Or did I move into the wrong forum with this next stumbling block?

Please do this:

  • (In the Arduino IDE) File > Preferences
  • Uncheck the checkbox next to "Show verbose output during: compilation"
  • Check the checkbox next to "Show verbose output during: upload
  • Click "OK"
  • Sketch > Upload
  • After the upload fails, you'll see a button on the right side of the orange bar "Copy error messages" (or the icon that looks like two pieces of paper at the top right corner of the black console window in the Arduino Web Editor). Click that button.
  • In a forum reply here, click on the reply field.
  • Click the </> button on the forum toolbar. This will add the forum's code tags markup to your reply.
  • Press "Ctrl + V". This will paste the upload output between the code tags.
  • Move the cursor outside of the code tags before you add any additional text to your reply.

I really appreciate the guidance here. It's much appreciated.

Arduino: 1.8.9 (Windows 7), Board: "Arduino/Genuino Uno"

Sketch uses 930 bytes (2%) of program storage space. Maximum is 32256 bytes.
Global variables use 9 bytes (0%) of dynamic memory, leaving 2039 bytes for local variables. Maximum is 2048 bytes.
An error occurred while uploading the sketch
F:\Arduino\hardware\tools\avr/bin/avrdude -CF:\Arduino\hardware\tools\avr/etc/avrdude.conf -v -patmega328p -carduino -PCOM1 -b115200 -D -Uflash:w:C:\Users\Redd\AppData\Local\Temp\arduino_build_56733/Blink.ino.hex:i 

avrdude: Version 6.3-20171130
         Copyright (c) 2000-2005 Brian Dean, http://www.bdmicro.com/
         Copyright (c) 2007-2014 Joerg Wunsch

         System wide configuration file is "F:\Arduino\hardware\tools\avr/etc/avrdude.conf"

         Using Port                    : COM1
         Using Programmer              : arduino
         Overriding Baud Rate          : 115200

This report would have more information with
"Show verbose output during compilation"
option enabled in File -> Preferences.

This is very strange. Usually there are some helpful error messages that tell us when wrong to cause the upload to fail. In the output you posted, we have the beginning of the output of a successful upload, then all of a sudden it says it failed, with no explanation.

Does the output look just like that every time you attempt to upload?

Interestingly, I tried again and there is much more text now. Maybe I should take up gardening instead of flexing my poor luck with electronics. Lol

Arduino: 1.8.9 (Windows 7), Board: "Arduino/Genuino Uno"

Sketch uses 930 bytes (2%) of program storage space. Maximum is 32256 bytes.
Global variables use 9 bytes (0%) of dynamic memory, leaving 2039 bytes for local variables. Maximum is 2048 bytes.
F:\Arduino\hardware\tools\avr/bin/avrdude -CF:\Arduino\hardware\tools\avr/etc/avrdude.conf -v -patmega328p -carduino -PCOM1 -b115200 -D -Uflash:w:C:\Users\Redd\AppData\Local\Temp\arduino_build_56733/Blink.ino.hex:i 

avrdude: Version 6.3-20171130
         Copyright (c) 2000-2005 Brian Dean, http://www.bdmicro.com/
         Copyright (c) 2007-2014 Joerg Wunsch

         System wide configuration file is "F:\Arduino\hardware\tools\avr/etc/avrdude.conf"

         Using Port                    : COM1
         Using Programmer              : arduino
         Overriding Baud Rate          : 115200
avrdude: stk500_recv(): programmer is not responding
avrdude: stk500_getsync() attempt 1 of 10: not in sync: resp=0x46
avrdude: stk500_recv(): programmer is not responding
avrdude: stk500_getsync() attempt 2 of 10: not in sync: resp=0x46
avrdude: stk500_recv(): programmer is not responding
avrdude: stk500_getsync() attempt 3 of 10: not in sync: resp=0x46
avrdude: stk500_recv(): programmer is not responding
avrdude: stk500_getsync() attempt 4 of 10: not in sync: resp=0x46
avrdude: stk500_recv(): programmer is not responding
avrdude: stk500_getsync() attempt 5 of 10: not in sync: resp=0x46
avrdude: stk500_recv(): programmer is not responding
avrdude: stk500_getsync() attempt 6 of 10: not in sync: resp=0x46
avrdude: stk500_recv(): programmer is not responding
avrdude: stk500_getsync() attempt 7 of 10: not in sync: resp=0x46
avrdude: stk500_recv(): programmer is not responding
avrdude: stk500_getsync() attempt 8 of 10: not in sync: resp=0x46
avrdude: stk500_recv(): programmer is not responding
avrdude: stk500_getsync() attempt 9 of 10: not in sync: resp=0x46
avrdude: stk500_recv(): programmer is not responding
avrdude: stk500_getsync() attempt 10 of 10: not in sync: resp=0x46

avrdude done.  Thank you.

Problem uploading to board.  See http://www.arduino.cc/en/Guide/Troubleshooting#upload for suggestions.

This report would have more information with
"Show verbose output during compilation"
option enabled in File -> Preferences.

Make sure you have selected the port of your Arduino board from the Tools > Port menu.

Sometimes the port will be labeled with the board name in the menu. Other times it will not. If you don’t know which port is your Arduino, you can find it like this:

  • Unplug your Arduino board from the computer.
  • Tools > Port
  • Note the ports, if any, listed in the menu.
  • Close the Tools menu
  • Plug your Arduino board into the computer.
  • Tools > Port - The new port listed in the menu is your Arduino board.

reddski:
In the arduino programmer I seem to be failing to connect, despite having Com1 set as the port. When I try to get board info, it says it's a "native serial port, can't obtain info". There are no other port numbers listed, "serial" is there, but grayed out. So much struggle.

It seems very likely that COM1 is the native serial port of your computer, not the virtual COM port assigned to your Arduino. Thus, this error when uploading to COM1 is expected, since you're not uploading to the Arduino.

Hmm, I have tried this, but am still hitting the same wall. Whether or not my Arduino is plugged in, the only port listed in Tools>Port is COM1. There are zero other options for me to select. Like before, it still shows "Serial ports" above "COM1", but it is always grayed out, and cannot be selected. The board selected is the Uno. This thing is seriously kicking my butt. I'm a grown man who programs (longhand no less) CNC machines for a living. I thought this was something I could approach, but I am so discouraged I just don't even know what to think.

Interestingly, and perhaps this means nothing, but the reset button on my Arduino seems to do nothing. When plugged in, the "on" and "L" led's are lit, I would assume that it would cause at least a short flicker in the lights, but they remain constantly lit, even while pressing and/or holding down the reset button.

Did I screw up by buying a non-official Uno? I am more than happy to throw a little more money at this if there is a reasonable chance I have bad hardware, but I also don't want to buy two of these if I am hopeless. I bought "Exploring Arduino" by Jeremy Blum, but I can make no progress until I can plug this board in and communicate with it. I am so dejected. So much time invested into something that kids should be able to do, and all I have to show for it is a pile of my pulled out hair.

pert:
It seems very likely that COM1 is the native serial port of your computer, not the virtual COM port assigned to your Arduino. Thus, this error when uploading to COM1 is expected, since you're not uploading to the Arduino.

Honestly, I am not 100% clear on what that means.

Device manager says its location is Port_#0001.Hub_#0006, but again, the only option given under Tools>Port> is COM1. Device status is shown as working properly. Device is called ATmega16U2 per device manager. The device is a Lafvin Uno R3. The data on the main chip is: ATMEL 35473D ATMEGA328P U 1822415. The smaller chip (I assume this guy is in charge of USB communications as it matches the info found on my PC) is ATMEL MEGA16U2 1828H TH 1828HE8. The driver date is 10-2-2010, v1.2.2.0, and searching around, that seems to be the latest and greatest.

Any ideas on why I am only given the COM1 option? Thanks for letting me pick your brain.

Please tell me about the Windows Device Manager entry in Boards Manager that appears when you plug your Uno in. Is it under the "Ports (COM and LPT)" section of the Device Manager device tree? Does it say the COM port in the name of the device in the Device Manager device tree? The "Port_#0001.Hub_#0008" thing isn't relevant. That's referring to the USB port, not the COM port.

reddski:
the reset button on my Arduino seems to do nothing. When plugged in, the "on" and "L" led's are lit, I would assume that it would cause at least a short flicker in the lights, but they remain constantly lit, even while pressing and/or holding down the reset button.

That's right. On the Uno, after you press the reset button, the "L" LED should blink a couple times. This could indicate the bootloader is missing from your Uno's ATmega328P chip. However, that wouldn't cause your issue with the board not getting a COM port because the COM port is generated by the CH340 chip on your Uno. Without a COM port, an upload can not happen, so that's the first problem that needs to be solved. After that, we can look into the bootloader situation if necessary.

reddski:
I am more than happy to throw a little more money at this if there is a reasonable chance I have bad hardware, but I also don't want to buy two of these if I am hopeless.

It's certainly possible that you have bad hardware. I haven't had much problem with this, but it certainly happens. It's always nice to have a "known good" spare board stashed away to pull out as a sanity check when your working board is acting in an inexplicable manner. It's also nice to have a backup board so that in the event of a "magic smoke" event, you aren't blocked from progress on your project while waiting on a replacement board. Killing a few pieces of hardware seems to be an inevitable part of the learning process. A spare Arduino board could also be helpful if you do need to fix the bootloader because you will need an ISP programmer for that and you can convert an Arduino board into an "Arduino as ISP" programmer.

You certainly aren't hopeless. Many thousands of people are successfully using Arduino every day. For most of them, they install the IDE, plug in the board, and are blinking an LED in a matter of minutes. Rarely, there are some difficulties and it takes a little longer to get things working. If you keep working at this, I'm certain you'll get it eventually. It's possible that could mean getting a replacement board, but we can still work on getting your current board going.

reddski:
Device is called ATmega16U2 per device manager.

Interesting. If it's an ATmega16U2 then the correct drivers are under the drivers subfolder of the Arduino IDE installation folder and I'm extremely surprised you were able to do anything with the CH340 driver, since that's for an entirely different chip. Try installing the proper Arduino drivers and see if that gets you a port.

reddski:
Any ideas on why I am only given the COM1 option?

Many computers have a build in serial port, even if they don't actually provide a connector for it on the back any more. That serial port will normally be COM1. When you plug in a properly working and configured Arduino board to your computer, Windows will assign it its own COM port. I already told you how to check if the COM1 port is your Arduino board. If COM1 still shows even when your Uno is not connected to your computer, then it's obviously not the port of your Uno and you need to forget about COM1, since it's not going to be of any use to you.