Arduino Uno Is unable to load sketches!

I ordered Arduino UNO starter kit. Just after completing my 3rd project from the project book suddenly it stopped loading any sketches. It only gives an error “not is sync”. I googled but could not find a solution which works for me. Only option now i can think of is to reload the boot-loader. But, will it work? Do I need to buy few more stuff to get this done? Help!

Thanks,
Peeyush

Hi Peeyush,

It’s not likely a bootloader issue. Can you share a copy paste straight from the console debug panel?

Also:

  • What version of Arduino are you using?
  • Do you have the correct board + COM port selected from within the ‘Tools’ menu?
  • Not that you can go back in time to check, though did you observe if the Uno warm at the time it stopped working?

Thanks Graham for coming back. Below is the detailed debug output:

Arduino: 1.8.7 (Windows 8.1), Board: “Arduino/Genuino Uno”

“D:\Peeyush_kumar01\arduino-1.8.7-windows\arduino-1.8.7\hardware\tools\avr/bin/avr-gcc-ar” rcs “C:\Users\peeyush_kumar01\AppData\Local\Temp\arduino_build_586868\core\core.a” “C:\Users\peeyush_kumar01\AppData\Local\Temp\arduino_build_586868\core\wiring_pulse.S.o”
“D:\Peeyush_kumar01\arduino-1.8.7-windows\arduino-1.8.7\hardware\tools\avr/bin/avr-gcc-ar” rcs “C:\Users\peeyush_kumar01\AppData\Local\Temp\arduino_build_586868\core\core.a” “C:\Users\peeyush_kumar01\AppData\Local\Temp\arduino_build_586868\core\wiring_pulse.c.o”
“D:\Peeyush_kumar01\arduino-1.8.7-windows\arduino-1.8.7\hardware\tools\avr/bin/avr-gcc-ar” rcs “C:\Users\peeyush_kumar01\AppData\Local\Temp\arduino_build_586868\core\core.a” “C:\Users\peeyush_kumar01\AppData\Local\Temp\arduino_build_586868\core\wiring_shift.c.o”
Archiving built core (caching) in: C:\Users\peeyush_kumar01\AppData\Local\Temp\arduino_cache_912556\core\core_arduino_avr_uno_a4db2579d4e9ccba424823ba593a1c10.a
Linking everything together…
“D:\Peeyush_kumar01\arduino-1.8.7-windows\arduino-1.8.7\hardware\tools\avr/bin/avr-gcc” -w -Os -g -flto -fuse-linker-plugin -Wl,–gc-sections -mmcu=atmega328p -o “C:\Users\peeyush_kumar01\AppData\Local\Temp\arduino_build_586868/sketch_sep20a.ino.elf” “C:\Users\peeyush_kumar01\AppData\Local\Temp\arduino_build_586868\sketch\sketch_sep20a.ino.cpp.o” “C:\Users\peeyush_kumar01\AppData\Local\Temp\arduino_build_586868/core\core.a” “-LC:\Users\peeyush_kumar01\AppData\Local\Temp\arduino_build_586868” -lm
“D:\Peeyush_kumar01\arduino-1.8.7-windows\arduino-1.8.7\hardware\tools\avr/bin/avr-objcopy” -O ihex -j .eeprom --set-section-flags=.eeprom=alloc,load --no-change-warnings --change-section-lma .eeprom=0 “C:\Users\peeyush_kumar01\AppData\Local\Temp\arduino_build_586868/sketch_sep20a.ino.elf” “C:\Users\peeyush_kumar01\AppData\Local\Temp\arduino_build_586868/sketch_sep20a.ino.eep”
“D:\Peeyush_kumar01\arduino-1.8.7-windows\arduino-1.8.7\hardware\tools\avr/bin/avr-objcopy” -O ihex -R .eeprom “C:\Users\peeyush_kumar01\AppData\Local\Temp\arduino_build_586868/sketch_sep20a.ino.elf” “C:\Users\peeyush_kumar01\AppData\Local\Temp\arduino_build_586868/sketch_sep20a.ino.hex”
“D:\Peeyush_kumar01\arduino-1.8.7-windows\arduino-1.8.7\hardware\tools\avr/bin/avr-size” -A “C:\Users\peeyush_kumar01\AppData\Local\Temp\arduino_build_586868/sketch_sep20a.ino.elf”
Sketch uses 444 bytes (1%) 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.
D:\Peeyush_kumar01\arduino-1.8.7-windows\arduino-1.8.7\hardware\tools\avr/bin/avrdude -CD:\Peeyush_kumar01\arduino-1.8.7-windows\arduino-1.8.7\hardware\tools\avr/etc/avrdude.conf -v -patmega328p -carduino -PCOM4 -b115200 -D -Uflash:w:C:\Users\peeyush_kumar01\AppData\Local\Temp\arduino_build_586868/sketch_sep20a.ino.hex:i

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

     System wide configuration file is "D:\Peeyush_kumar01\arduino-1.8.7-windows\arduino-1.8.7\hardware\tools\avr/etc/avrdude.conf"

     Using Port                    : COM4
     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=0xfd
avrdude: stk500_recv(): programmer is not responding
avrdude: stk500_getsync() attempt 2 of 10: not in sync: resp=0xfd
avrdude: stk500_recv(): programmer is not responding
avrdude: stk500_getsync() attempt 3 of 10: not in sync: resp=0xfd
avrdude: stk500_recv(): programmer is not responding
avrdude: stk500_getsync() attempt 4 of 10: not in sync: resp=0xfd
avrdude: stk500_recv(): programmer is not responding
avrdude: stk500_getsync() attempt 5 of 10: not in sync: resp=0xfd
avrdude: stk500_recv(): programmer is not responding
avrdude: stk500_getsync() attempt 6 of 10: not in sync: resp=0xfd
avrdude: stk500_recv(): programmer is not responding
avrdude: stk500_getsync() attempt 7 of 10: not in sync: resp=0xfd
avrdude: stk500_recv(): programmer is not responding
avrdude: stk500_getsync() attempt 8 of 10: not in sync: resp=0xfd
avrdude: stk500_recv(): programmer is not responding
avrdude: stk500_getsync() attempt 9 of 10: not in sync: resp=0xfd
avrdude: stk500_recv(): programmer is not responding
avrdude: stk500_getsync() attempt 10 of 10: not in sync: resp=0xfd

avrdude done. Thank you.

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

  • What version of Arduino are you using?
    It is Genuine Arduino Uno (From the starter KIT K000007)

  • Do you have the correct board + COM port selected from within the ‘Tools’ menu?
    Yes, I am able to detect Board and COM port (COM4). I also get board info.

  • Not that you can go back in time to check, though did you observe if the Uno warm at the time it stopped working?
    I do think it would have happened, because I just did three projects. Only thing I did was after uploading my last sketch I disconnected from PC and powered arduino with 9V battery.

Not sure what is the issue. Even I tried Ubuntu but same issue.

Thanks,

When you power up the Uno does the L13 LED blink?

My other question is how did you wire up the 9V to the Uno board?

Hi Clinton,

When I power up, yes L13 glows but does not blink. When I use USBasp programmer and upload the blink sketch, yes it then keeps on blinking. When I press the reset button L13 blinks as well. That said, I am able to upload using USBasp programmer but not via USB. I used bread board to connect to 9V battery and then used 5v and GND slot of UNO board to get the power.

also here some some more detailed output by adding -v in the arvdude

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

         System wide configuration file is "D:\Peeyush_kumar01\arduino-1.8.7-windows\arduino-1.8.7\hardware\tools\avr/etc/avrdude.conf"

         Using Port                    : COM4
         Using Programmer              : arduino
         Overriding Baud Rate          : 115200

avrdude.exe: Send: 0 [30] [20]
avrdude.exe: Send: 0 [30] [20]
avrdude.exe: Send: 0 [30] [20]
avrdude.exe: ser_recv(): programmer is not responding
avrdude.exe: stk500_recv(): programmer is not responding
avrdude.exe: stk500_getsync() attempt 1 of 10: not in sync: resp=0x52
avrdude.exe: Send: 0 [30] [20]
avrdude.exe: ser_recv(): programmer is not responding
avrdude.exe: stk500_recv(): programmer is not responding
avrdude.exe: stk500_getsync() attempt 2 of 10: not in sync: resp=0x52
avrdude.exe: Send: 0 [30] [20]
avrdude.exe: ser_recv(): programmer is not responding
avrdude.exe: stk500_recv(): programmer is not responding
avrdude.exe: stk500_getsync() attempt 3 of 10: not in sync: resp=0x52
avrdude.exe: Send: 0 [30] [20]
avrdude.exe: ser_recv(): programmer is not responding
avrdude.exe: stk500_recv(): programmer is not responding
avrdude.exe: stk500_getsync() attempt 4 of 10: not in sync: resp=0x52
avrdude.exe: Send: 0 [30] [20]
avrdude.exe: ser_recv(): programmer is not responding
avrdude.exe: stk500_recv(): programmer is not responding
avrdude.exe: stk500_getsync() attempt 5 of 10: not in sync: resp=0x52
avrdude.exe: Send: 0 [30] [20]
avrdude.exe: ser_recv(): programmer is not responding
avrdude.exe: stk500_recv(): programmer is not responding
avrdude.exe: stk500_getsync() attempt 6 of 10: not in sync: resp=0x52
avrdude.exe: Send: 0 [30] [20]
avrdude.exe: ser_recv(): programmer is not responding
avrdude.exe: stk500_recv(): programmer is not responding
avrdude.exe: stk500_getsync() attempt 7 of 10: not in sync: resp=0x52
avrdude.exe: Send: 0 [30] [20]
avrdude.exe: ser_recv(): programmer is not responding
avrdude.exe: stk500_recv(): programmer is not responding
avrdude.exe: stk500_getsync() attempt 8 of 10: not in sync: resp=0x52
avrdude.exe: Send: 0 [30] [20]
avrdude.exe: ser_recv(): programmer is not responding
avrdude.exe: stk500_recv(): programmer is not responding
avrdude.exe: stk500_getsync() attempt 9 of 10: not in sync: resp=0x52
avrdude.exe: Send: 0 [30] [20]
avrdude.exe: ser_recv(): programmer is not responding
avrdude.exe: stk500_recv(): programmer is not responding
avrdude.exe: stk500_getsync() attempt 10 of 10: not in sync: resp=0x52

avrdude.exe done. Thank you.

Thanks Peeyush

Hey Peeyush,

If you connected the 9V battery directly to the 5V pin you may have damaged the board by over volting it. That you can still program it with the USBasp leads me to think you have cooked the serial to USB chip.

1 Like

Oh No! I was fearing something of that sort. Would you be able to advise how to check if Serial to USB still working or gone?I read RX and TX pins are also attached to USB Serial communication. Does that mean I won’t be able to use RX and TX anymore?

Thanks in advance.

Not sure if there is a way to test, but I am still not convinced how? Because everything works(Even I can get board info using USB). Thanks

Hi Peeyush,

I think we got to the cause of the problem already. If you connect anything other than regulated 5V power to the 5V pin it will fry the board. It’s a small miracle that anything is working on it still, and there is no real way of knowing what will work and what won’t. You could try to re burn the bootloader and see if that will work, but my honest opinion is that this board is done for. Sorry about that!

Thanks Stephen for your reply. I checked the board by running few programs. Everything is working except the access over USB (That too it can get board information, only that it can not write anything via USB, and separate RX and TX pin which i have not tested yet). I am using the board via an external programmer and using external display. Something is better than nothing! : :sweat: