All 3 have the same problem:
Symptoms vary as follows:
Compiling Sketch - Uploading
Will just sit there uploading forever until I either unplug the board or cancel the operation.
Will repond: Error: programmer is not responding Error: programmer is not responding *** failed Error: unable to write flash (rc = -1) Error: programmer is not responding Failed uploading: uploading error: exit status 1
They do not load code from the Arduino IDE (the latest) properly. This is despite trying the old bootloader, updating Windows FTDI drivers etc.
I eventually managed to get it to work sometimes but maybe 1 of 5 attempts by changing the Latency in the COM port Advanced settings from 16 to 6.
I later also found that setting the board to UNO instead of NANO seemed to help and I can maybe get it to load 3 out of 5 times.
The only support from Core suggested testing with the Blink sketch. I did that and for whatever reason, that loaded a lot better but is also very small in size.
Doing a sanity check by going to a previously purchased board also from Core, it works every single time - no issues.
There is also a mention somewhere that some of these may or may not need a different USB driver but I can’t find any working details of that.
There is only so much I can do here and I am all out of ideas.
Edit: Here is what I see when it failes and Verbose is enabled in the preferences:
Avrdude version 8.0-arduino.1
Copyright see
System wide configuration file is C:\Users\Admin\AppData\Local\Arduino15\packages\arduino\tools\avrdude\8.0.0-arduino1\etc\avrdude.conf
Using port : COM8
Using programmer : arduino
Setting baud rate : 115200
AVR part : ATmega328P
Programming modes : SPM, ISP, HVPP, debugWIRE
Programmer type : Arduino
Description : Arduino bootloader using STK500 v1 protocol
HW Version : 3
FW Version : 4.4
AVR device initialized and ready to accept instructions
Device signature = 1E 95 0F (ATmega328P, ATA6614Q, LGT8F328P)
Reading 21760 bytes for flash from input file LED_Display_CompSpeed_Nano.ino.hex
in 1 section [0, 0x54ff]: 170 pages and 0 pad bytes
Writing 21760 bytes to flash
Writing | ######################---------------------------- | 45% 6.36s
Error: programmer is not responding
Error: programmer is not responding
*** failed
Error: unable to write flash (rc = -1)
Error: programmer is not responding
Avrdude done. Thank you.
Failed uploading: uploading error: exit status 1
A new day, fresh PC startup.
This morning I only managed to load code once to the Arduino and so far, never again. Not even the blink sketch. It just sits in uploading as already explained, until I abort eventually. The Arduino itself is still running the previous code.
Hey there, @Bernt239001, and welcome to the forunms.
Because avrdude is reading the ATmega328P signature and starts writing flash, the USB driver is probably not the main culprit. A wrong/missing driver usually fails before it gets that far. Dropping out mid-write looks more like an unstable USB-serial link, reset/bootloader timing issue, or possibly a board fault.
Could you please perform the following isolation tests:
board completely bare — no breadboard, sensors, shields, or external power
short known-good USB data cable
Arduino IDE board set to Arduino Nano
processor set to ATmega328P, then try ATmega328P (Old Bootloader) only if that fails
If Blink still hangs after that, especially while your older Nano works on the same PC/cable/IDE, that’s strong evidence the issue is with those boards rather than your sketch.
A close-up photo of the USB-serial IC near the Mini-B connector would also help confirm whether these boards are using an FTDI or CH340-style chip, since that determines which Windows driver may be relevant.
This is not resolved. I cannot say for sure if it is sketch related but it should not be.
My USB cable is good as I use if for other debuggers and I have also tried one of those that came with the Arduinos just delivered. It is all just the same instability.
The Arduinos in question all have a FTDI chip FT232RQ fitted, which is supposedly good but could of course be some clone. But so does the older one I have here. The processor chip on the new ones says Mega328 and it is a QFP chip. On the older working one, I can’t read the number as it is much smaller and it is a leadless chip.
The Arduino IDE upgraded yet again today but that has not helped either.
I suspect you you will have access to the same batch of boards I received here and you could see if you have similar issues.
I grabbed a couple off the shelf and they all work exactly as expected. There are no issues with flaky uploads, working on multiple ports and multiple computers.
At this point, I am I think we need to rule out the USB ports and cables entirely. Can you please confirm that you have attempted uploading on all of the Nanos with all of the USB cables? Are you receiving the same issue on multiple USB ports?
That is interesting. Did you use a Win 11 Computer?
I have since finished the FW development for this application and I have given the 1 Arduino to our lab technician to install.
As I tried a lot of stuff an combinations, I can’t remember every single thing or detail I tried. so
I will re-test the remaining 2 tomorrow with the supplied extra short blue USB cables and report back..
But rest assured, I did test on multiple USB ports before.
Easy to say after the event I suppose but this is where a log or some sort of paper trail is extremely useful.
Without you would find a lot of duplication and finish going around in circles.
My advice at this stage would be to do nothing else for a bit. Sit down for a while and write down everything you can remember and the result. If you can get enough information and write down things as you remember them something will jump up and be noticed or you might see something you have not done.
A fair bit of my working life in the industry was in situations where recording any changes and results due to that change was mandatory. The Company had a document designed just for that purpose and was given an appropriate number and became accountable. Even after so many years this became a habit but I think it is a better habit than doing nothing.
I don’t think I have anything constructive to offer but just thought I might plant a seed and other interested parties might take note as this attitude applies to most projects.
Cheers Bob
Thank you, I don’t have that luxury though. I am a design engineer by trade and I am working on multiple project every day and that combined with meetings, calls email etc, does not go well for undisturbed time on something like this. And when one is trying to develop an application, these side distractions or as we call it rabbit hole problems are a secondary hindering and not necessarily investigated and documented with any precision. That said, I did record and send the logs and info as as as I had it. More coming tomorrow…
