Windows 7 x64 drivers issues are actually bad/damaged Arduino Mega 2560 board?

Using Arduino IDE 1.x
1

Right now I've been emailing the tech support @ arduino.cc but I figured I'd try to drum up some information on here, so here we go...

What I had was a perfectly functioning Arduino Mega 2560 board working with the RAMPS 1.4 controller board used with reprap 3d printers, but while tuning my Pololu stepper drivers I ran into an issue. The software I was using (Pronterface) locked up. Afterwards (had to end task software, restart) i found that plugging in my arduino instantly popped up with a drivers failed to install for device message in the system tray, and then my Arduino Mega 2560 DFU showed up under "other devices" with an warning sign. Properties of the device showed "The drivers for this device are not installed (Code 28)". I downloaded the latest CDM v2.08.30 WHQL certified drivers and followed some of the other tutorials, and eventually got my Arduino to show up under Com ports again without any device failed to start messages. But now when I try to upload to the controller I do not see any TX/RX lights and I eventually get the following message in the Arduino IDE console:

Binary sketch size: 103,144 bytes (of a 258,048 byte maximum)
avrdude: stk500v2_ReceiveMessage(): timeout
avrdude: stk500v2_ReceiveMessage(): timeout
avrdude: stk500v2_ReceiveMessage(): timeout
avrdude: stk500v2_ReceiveMessage(): timeout
avrdude: stk500v2_ReceiveMessage(): timeout
avrdude: stk500v2_ReceiveMessage(): timeout
avrdude: stk500v2_getsync(): timeout communicating with programmer

Pressing the reset button gets a flash from the "L" LED, which I assume indicates the bootloader is right. Also, my i installed Arduino software version is 1.0.5.

As always, any help is appreciated.

2

Try to upload Blink example. If passes, maybe you have the same problem as me. Inspect the HEX file in the TEMP folder and look for 212121 or 2121

http://forum.arduino.cc//index.php?topic=196897

Some other ideas you may find here:
http://forum.arduino.cc/index.php?topic=195337.msg1441988#msg1441988

3

Loopback test failed. I feel like that should be a giveaway to something. Bad serial converter on the Arduino chip or still driver issues?

4

Might be an issue with the bootloader.

The forum link here talks about it : Mega2560: timeout communicating with programmer - Avrdude, stk500, Bootloader issues - Arduino Forum
The reply by jako77 and crazyglinc on that forum might be useful to you.

If not, you could also try burning the bootloader again, using this hex file : https://github.com/cmaglie/Arduino/blob/06ee62afc6...

5

Checked my boards.txt for the "wiring" change, and that was there. It seems like there are a dozen different ways to load the bootloader, but they all need additional hardware, right?

Is this tutorial valid for the Mega 2560?

http://make.kosakalab.com/arduino/bootloader/index_en.html

6

If you have another Arduino lying around you could use that as a programmer too.

Try this tutorial for using an Arduino as the programmer : http://arduino.cc/en/Tutorial/ArduinoISP

The simple ID is to connect the pins as following :

Arduino Programmer -----------> Target Bootloader
5V -----------> 5V
GND -----------> GND
MOSI -----------> MOSI
MISO -----------> MISO
SCK -----------> SCK
SS -----------> Reset

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