Can't upload, tried Flashlight and Reset [Solved]

[bateske (Kevin)]

If you get the usb chime, then flashlight mode SHOULD work, if it doesn’t then the reset button really should.

I don’t know, maybe there is some strange bug in osx we are dealing with here.

But if it worked before then, I suspect perhaps part of the bootloader may be corrupted?

But it kind of looks like there is some other problem with arduino, unfortunately I’m not that well veresed in how it runs on OS X.

Maybe @crait can be of some assistance, if he is around?

If you can try it on a different computer and it still doesn’t work let me know at arduboy.com/contact and I’ll try to help you from there.

[eried (Erwin)]

meaning, you used the same USB cable (possibly the included one) during the succesful upload and now with the same cable it’s not working… There was some history of that app having the ability to overwrite the bootloader.

That is fake news. Newer versions will refuse to write bad hex files (with bootloader or too big).

[polymoth (Neil)]

Thanks all,

I will contact via the Arduboy site contact link soon — I’m happy to wait and see if/when @crait weighs in. I did try on Windows 10 with the same results > USB connected chime, green light blinks, USB disconnected chime, Arduboy reboots, loads Space Cab, and upload fails. Below is the copied errors for more info:

Arduino: 1.8.9 (Windows Store 1.8.21.0) (Windows 10), Board: "Arduino Leonardo"

Sketch uses 7000 bytes (24%) of program storage space. Maximum is 28672 bytes.
Global variables use 1216 bytes (47%) of dynamic memory, leaving 1344 bytes for local variables. Maximum is 2560 bytes.
Forcing reset using 1200bps open/close on port COM3
PORTS {COM3, } / {} => {}
PORTS {} / {COM3, } => {COM3, }
Found upload port: COM3
C:\Program Files\WindowsApps\ArduinoLLC.ArduinoIDE_1.8.21.0_x86__mdqgnx93n4wtt\hardware\tools\avr/bin/avrdude -CC:\Program Files\WindowsApps\ArduinoLLC.ArduinoIDE_1.8.21.0_x86__mdqgnx93n4wtt\hardware\tools\avr/etc/avrdude.conf -v -patmega32u4 -cavr109 -PCOM3 -b57600 -D -Uflash:w:C:\Users\ni\AppData\Local\Temp\arduino_build_882802/HelloWorld.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 "C:\Program Files\WindowsApps\ArduinoLLC.ArduinoIDE_1.8.21.0_x86__mdqgnx93n4wtt\hardware\tools\avr/etc/avrdude.conf"

         Using Port                    : COM3
         Using Programmer              : avr109
         Overriding Baud Rate          : 57600
         AVR Part                      : ATmega32U4
         Chip Erase delay              : 9000 us
         PAGEL                         : PD7
         BS2                           : PA0
         RESET disposition             : dedicated
         RETRY pulse                   : SCK
         serial program mode           : yes
         parallel program mode         : yes
         Timeout                       : 200
         StabDelay                     : 100
         CmdexeDelay                   : 25
         SyncLoops                     : 32
         ByteDelay                     : 0
         PollIndex                     : 3
         PollValue                     : 0x53
         Memory Detail                 :

                                  Block Poll               Page                       Polled
           Memory Type Mode Delay Size  Indx Paged  Size   Size #Pages MinW  MaxW   ReadBack
           ----------- ---- ----- ----- ---- ------ ------ ---- ------ ----- ----- ---------
           eeprom        65    20     4    0 no       1024    4      0  9000  9000 0x00 0x00
           flash         65     6   128    0 yes     32768  128    256  4500  4500 0x00 0x00
           lfuse          0     0     0    0 no          1    0      0  9000  9000 0x00 0x00
           hfuse          0     0     0    0 no          1    0      0  9000  9000 0x00 0x00
           efuse          0     0     0    0 no          1    0      0  9000  9000 0x00 0x00
           lock           0     0     0    0 no          1    0      0  9000  9000 0x00 0x00
           calibration    0     0     0    0 no          1    0      0     0     0 0x00 0x00
           signature      0     0     0    0 no          3    0      0     0     0 0x00 0x00

         Programmer Type : butterfly
         Description     : Atmel AppNote AVR109 Boot Loader

Connecting to programmer: .avrdude: butterfly_recv(): programmer is not responding

avrdude: butterfly_recv(): programmer is not responding
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.

[bateske (Kevin)]

That is fake news.

Yeah I didn’t really think it was the cause for sure but this does sound like a corrupted bootloader, and it does sound like the tool was the last thing used…

@polymoth you’ll want to use the contact form. I’m going to probably have you send it in so I can figure out what’s wrong and repair it for you.

[polymoth (Neil)]

Thank you. I sent a message via the contact form.

[Mr.Blinky]

Have you tried this?

Can’t upload new game

A very general solution Using Arduino IDE: open blink example sketch from File > Examples > basics and go to the newly created window Go to preferences (CTRL+Comma) and at the option Show verbose output during: put a checkmark at the options compiler and upload and click OK Press reset button on Arduboy quickly (within 8 seconds) go to tools > port and select com port (usually the highest number) Ensure Leonardo board is selected from Tools > Board menu click upload button (or…

[polymoth (Neil)]

Thanks Mr. Blinky, I did try the Blink example and got the same results. After reset Arduboy is detected, green light flashes, boots into Space Cab, and upload fails.

[Vampirics (Stephane C)]

Do you have an Android phone? I usually reflash my Arduboy with my phone and so far never had any issues doing so. Even for the known to have issues.

Using Arduboy Mate app on Google store, you can plug in your Arduboy to your phone with a OTG cable, then have any .hex file in your phone of a small sketch. Turn on your Arduboy while plugged in your phone and try to upload a sketch. Chances are it will say that it failed, let the Arduboy plugged in and press the reset button on your Arduboy, yellow light should start blinking in the Arduboy and the sketch your tried to upload earlier will be uploaded. If even that method doesn’t work, I fear it’s more a hardware failure.

I used that same technique for flashing a game after Space Cab many times and it never failed me.

[polymoth (Neil)]

Thanks, I can likely borrow a friend’s android and try your suggestion.

[filmote (Simon)]

Any success?

[bateske (Kevin)]

By the way it does seem like something else is amiss here. If you aren’t able to solve it be sure to use the contact page.

I’m tracking down something down in Arduino that might be causing this.

Fresh install problems?

I’ve seen a number of problems recently of people who just installed Arduino for the first time not recognizing the Arduboy. Does anyone who already has a functioning Arduboy and development environment have another computer that doesn’t have Arduino on it? If someone who is familiar with how Arduboy is supposed to run and flash, can try a sanity check for me and install Arduino on a fresh system to check if there are any issues? I’m going to uninstall Arduino and reinstall it to test it myse…

[bateske (Kevin)]

I’ve looked into this pretty deeply, there is really no reason this shouldnt work. As best as I can tell there is something on the users system that is causing a problem with the bootloader being enumerated when the Arduboy resets.

But, then why does it happen on multiple computers?

@polymoth I’d love it if you could send this Arduboy for me for testing…

[eried (Erwin)]

@polymoth

Forcing reset using 1200bps open/close on port COM3 PORTS {COM3, } / {} => {} PORTS {} / {COM3, } => {COM3, } Found upload port: COM3

It is strange that the port is the same after the reset. I would say it is the typical bootloader corruption (Bring your Arduboy back from the dead (burn bootloader))

[Mr.Blinky]

I would say it is the typical bootloader corruption

I disagree. When the Arduino IDE tries to start bootloader mode and the program changes the magic key value then the program will just reset / restart and same COM port will pop up again.

[eried (Erwin)]

same comport for a different usb id? mmm… I am not sure

@polymoth, can you run http://www.nirsoft.net/utils/usb_log_view.html and try to upload again, posting the results here?

[Mr.Blinky]

@eried

same comport for a different usb id? mmm… I am not sure

The program (sketch) doesn’t change the USB VIDPID on power-on or reset. it only changes when you successfully enter the bootloader mode. which it doesnt.

@polymoth

• OS X Arduino IDE upload example while various states of clicking reset button
• IDE will reset Arduboy when attempting upload (lights flash and game is reset)

The most obvious: the magic key value is over written and prevents entering bootloader mode.

I think the solution lies in pressing the Arduboys reset button. When you press the small reset button Arduboy enters bootloader for about 8 seconds and then exits to run the game again.

To verify that youe arduboy can enter bootloader mode, open device manager on Windows and when you press the reset button you will see an ‘Arduino Leonardo bootloader’ COM port appear under ports. and dissapear after about 8 seconds.

When you have confirmed this. Start Arduino IDE and make sure you have the verbose option for upload enabled under preference and press the upload button. When you see the com ports logging press the reset button on Arduboy. If it still doesnt upload, try a few more times.

You can press the tiny reset button with a sim tool, toothpick, refillable pencil tip or other thin but non sharp object.

[eried (Erwin)]

Oh sorry I didnt saw that it was a Mac! you are right.

[bateske (Kevin)]

When the Arduino IDE tries to start bootloader mode and the program changes the magic key value then the program will just reset / restart and same COM port will pop up again.

I always get a different COM port, are you sure?

[Mr.Blinky]

I always get a different COM port, are you sure?

So you’re saying that when you turn off and on your Arduboy it get’s assigned a new COM port? I doubt that (unless you’re on an old OS or your OS is broken :D) You’d run out of COM ports quite fast then.

You do get a new COM port assigned when you connect it to a different USB port or USB hub

[eried (Erwin)]

So you’re saying that when you turn off and on your Arduboy it get’s assigned a new COM port?

No, it is only 2 different devices per arduboy. The same COM port every time, but not the same COM in normal “serial” vs “loading”.

But, this is on Windows.