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By andyjohnson
#197740
I have two sparkfun redboards. Neither board will allow a sketch to be uploaded from the Arduino IDE.

I plug in a board and it powers on. In the Arduino software I select Tools->Port->COM4 (the only option) and Tools->Board->Arduino/Genuino Uno. Then compile and upload the Blink example. I get the following errors:
Code: Select all
Sketch uses 928 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.
C:\Program Files (x86)\Arduino\hardware\tools\avr/bin/avrdude -CC:\Program Files (x86)\Arduino\hardware\tools\avr/etc/avrdude.conf -v -patmega328p -carduino -PCOM4 -b115200 -D -Uflash:w:C:\Users\andy\AppData\Local\Temp\arduino_build_463875/Blink.ino.hex:i 

avrdude: Version 6.3, compiled on Jan 17 2017 at 12:00:53
         Copyright (c) 2000-2005 Brian Dean, http://www.bdmicro.com/
         Copyright (c) 2007-2014 Joerg Wunsch

         System wide configuration file is "C:\Program Files (x86)\Arduino\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=0x5f
avrdude: stk500_recv(): programmer is not responding
avrdude: stk500_getsync() attempt 2 of 10: not in sync: resp=0x5f
avrdude: stk500_recv(): programmer is not responding
avrdude: stk500_getsync() attempt 3 of 10: not in sync: resp=0x5f
avrdude: stk500_recv(): programmer is not responding
avrdude: stk500_getsync() attempt 4 of 10: not in sync: resp=0x5f
avrdude: stk500_recv(): programmer is not responding
avrdude: stk500_getsync() attempt 5 of 10: not in sync: resp=0x5f
avrdude: stk500_recv(): programmer is not responding
avrdude: stk500_getsync() attempt 6 of 10: not in sync: resp=0x5f
avrdude: stk500_recv(): programmer is not responding
avrdude: stk500_getsync() attempt 7 of 10: not in sync: resp=0x5f
avrdude: stk500_recv(): programmer is not responding
avrdude: stk500_getsync() attempt 8 of 10: not in sync: resp=0x5f
avrdude: stk500_recv(): programmer is not responding
avrdude: stk500_getsync() attempt 9 of 10: not in sync: resp=0x5f
avrdude: stk500_recv(): programmer is not responding
avrdude: stk500_getsync() attempt 10 of 10: not in sync: resp=0x5f

avrdude done.  Thank you.

Problem uploading to board.  See http://www.arduino.cc/en/Guide/Troubleshooting#upload for suggestions.
I understand that this is a fairly generic error indicating failure to communicate with the board, but I don't know what to do about it. I have various Arduino Unos and Arduino Megas and can upload sketches to them without a problem. Since it seems unlikely that both redboards are faulty (different batch numbers), I suspect a software problem relating to the ftdi-based serial comms used by the redboards.

I've tried using an ftdi cable to connect to the boards on pins 0 and 1. I get the same error message. I've also tried running avrdude manually and varying some of the parameters. No luck with that either.

I'm using Windows 10 x64 with Arduino IDE v1.8.5 and FTDI drivers v2.12.28.0 x64 (all latest). I've also tried another windows 10 machine and a different usb cable, with the same results.

I'd appreciate any suggestions.