Firmware upload fails

[paulskirk53]

Hi, I'm using the arduino IDE 1.8.13 and can't get the firmware to upload.
My arduino pro micro has a reset pin and I tried grounding that as the upload started, but it has no effect. Anything else I can try please?

Edit:
Part of the problem is that when I connect the pro micro, although the board shows a continuous red led, device manager does not show a port for it. So I think the upload is using COM1 which just fails.
end edit

error msg from IDE:

Arduino: 1.8.13 (Windows 10), Board: "microUPDI Firmware Uploader"

Sketch uses 0 bytes (0%) of program storage space. Maximum is 28672 bytes.

Global variables use 0 bytes (0%) of dynamic memory, leaving 2560 bytes for local variables. Maximum is 2560 bytes.

Couldn't find a Board on the selected port. Check that you have the correct port selected. If it is correct, try pressing the board's reset button after initiating the upload.

This report would have more information with
"Show verbose output during compilation"
option enabled in File -> Preferences.

[paulskirk53]

I tried using a Uno as ISP with SPI and gnd pins connected to the pro micro, with both devices powered, in order to burn a bootoader for the pro micro. It didn't work, so I also used avrdude from a windows command line with -F as below, but no success, just get 'invalid device signature' when burning the bootloader. Any thoughts much appreciated.

C:\Users\Paul\AppData\Local\Arduino15\packages\arduino\tools\avrdude\6.3.0-arduino17/bin/avrdude -CC:\Users\Paul\AppData\Local\Arduino15\packages\arduino\tools\avrdude\6.3.0-arduino17/etc/avrdude.conf -v -F -patmega32u4 -cstk500v1 -PCOM24 -b19200 -e -Ulock:w:0x3F:m -Uefuse:w:0xCB:m -Uhfuse:w:0xD8:m -Ulfuse:w:0xFF:m

[paulskirk53]

ok so I got the sparkfun bootlaoder loaded (I missed out pin 10 of the arduino programmer which resets the pro micro), but the pro micro does not present a COM port in the arduino IDE. So I have tried :
-reset twice within 0.75 seconds to set the bootloader timeout to 8 seconds
-reset as I upload a sketch
but no port becomes available.
thanks for help with this.

[paulskirk53]

looks like it was a faulty USB cable...:( I now have a port assigned to the pro micro using the reset immediately before upload technique.

[paulskirk53]

ok, now finally got mEDBG virtual com port in windows device manager. The board has to be reset manually (two wires and a pushbutton switch temporarily installed onto pro micro rst and gnd) before upload even when the pro micro port is selected.
It's worth knowing that the standard sparkfun bootloader timeout is 750mS, which can be changed to 8 seconds by resetting the board twice within the 750 mS. It makes it much easier later on when the pro micro has to be reset when uploading the firmware. Good luck :)

[paulskirk53]

Ok so I made good progress, but the code upload just hangs. Using Arduino ide, the tools menu has these items in it when the microUPDI is connected:
Board ATMega4809
clock internal 16Mhz
BOd 2.6V
Pinout "40 pin standard"
reset pin "Reset"
Bootloader no bootloader
Port "COM10 (Arduino Uno wifi Rev 2)"
get board info
Programmer "Atmel mEDBG (ATmega32U4)"
Burn bootloader

The IDE just contains empty setup() and Loop() functions

When I click the upload icon in the ide, the message window shows the following and the process just hangs indefinitely.

Any help much appreciated

Sketch uses 510 bytes (1%) of program storage space. Maximum is 49152 bytes.
Global variables use 4 bytes (0%) of dynamic memory, leaving 6140 bytes for local variables. Maximum is 6144 bytes.
C:\Users\Paul\AppData\Local\Arduino15\packages\arduino\tools\avrdude\6.3.0-arduino18/bin/avrdude -CC:\Users\Paul\AppData\Local\Arduino15\packages\MegaCoreX\hardware\megaavr\1.0.7/avrdude.conf -v -patmega4809 -cxplainedmini_updi -Pusb -Uflash:w:C:\Users\Paul\AppData\Local\Temp\arduino_build_12643/sketch_may08a.ino.with_bootloader.hex:i -Ufuse0:w:0x00:m -Ufuse1:w:0x54:m -Ufuse2:w:0x01:m -Ufuse4:w:0x00:m -Ufuse5:w:0xC9:m -Ufuse6:w:0x06:m -Ufuse7:w:0x00:m -Ufuse8:w:0x00:m -Ulock:w:0xC5:m

avrdude: Version 6.3-20201216
Copyright (c) 2000-2005 Brian Dean, http://www.bdmicro.com/
Copyright (c) 2007-2014 Joerg Wunsch

     System wide configuration file is "C:\Users\Paul\AppData\Local\Arduino15\packages\MegaCoreX\hardware\megaavr\1.0.7/avrdude.conf"

     Using Port                    : usb
     Using Programmer              : xplainedmini_updi

when I unplug the USB cable, the message window shows:

avrdude: usbhid_open(): No response from device
avrdude: jtag3_open_common(): Did not find any device matching VID 0x03eb and PID list: 0x2145

avrdude done. Thank you.

An error occurred while uploading the sketch

[MCUdude]

Hi Paul!

megaavr\1.0.7

Please download the latest MegaCoreX version. Avrdude 6.3 has been replaced with Avrdude 7.1, which should work much better with the microUPDI

[paulskirk53]

Hi, I have installed avrdude 7.1 and its .conf file

I tried to reinsall the firmware, but I now get the output below from Arduino IDE, any help much appreciated.

Arduino: 1.8.13 (Windows 10), Board: "microUPDI Firmware Uploader"

Sketch uses 0 bytes (0%) of program storage space. Maximum is 28672 bytes.

Global variables use 0 bytes (0%) of dynamic memory, leaving 2560 bytes for local variables. Maximum is 2560 bytes.

Forcing reset using 1200bps open/close on port COM10

PORTS {COM1, COM10, } / {COM1, COM10, } => {}

PORTS {COM1, COM10, } / {COM1, COM10, } => {}

PORTS {COM1, COM10, } / {COM1, COM10, } => {}

PORTS {COM1, COM10, } / {COM1, COM10, } => {}

PORTS {COM1, COM10, } / {COM1, } => {}

PORTS {COM1, } / {COM1, } => {}

PORTS {COM1, } / {COM1, } => {}

PORTS {COM1, } / {COM1, } => {}

PORTS {COM1, } / {COM1, } => {}

PORTS {COM1, } / {COM1, COM10, } => {COM10, }

Found upload port: COM10

C:\Users\Paul\AppData\Local\Arduino15\packages\microUPDIcore\hardware\avr\1.0.2/scripts/avrdude-wrapper.bat C:\Users\Paul\AppData\Local\Arduino15\packages\arduino\tools\avrdude\6.3.0-arduino17/bin/avrdude C:\Users\Paul\AppData\Local\Arduino15\packages\arduino\tools\avrdude\6.3.0-arduino17/etc/avrdude.conf atmega32u4 avr109 COM10 57600 C:\Users\Paul\AppData\Local\Arduino15\packages\microUPDIcore\hardware\avr\1.0.2 C:\Users\Paul\AppData\Local\Temp\arduino_build_456569

avrdude: Version 7.1

     Copyright the AVRDUDE authors;

     see https://github.com/avrdudes/avrdude/blob/main/AUTHORS

     System wide configuration file is C:\Users\Paul\AppData\Local\Arduino15\packages\arduino\tools\avrdude\6.3.0-arduino17\etc\avrdude.conf

     Using Port                    : COM10

     Using Programmer              : avr109

     Overriding Baud Rate          : 57600

     AVR Part                      : ATmega32U4

     Chip Erase delay              : 9000 us

     PAGEL                         : PD7

     BS2                           : PA0

     RESET disposition             : possible i/o

     RETRY pulse                   : SCK

     Serial program mode           : yes

     Parallel program mode         : yes

     Timeout                       : 200

     StabDelay                     : 100

     CmdexeDelay                   : 25

     SyncLoops                     : 32

     PollIndex                     : 3

     PollValue                     : 0x53

     Memory Detail                 :

                                       Block Poll               Page                       Polled

       Memory Type Alias    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    1      0  9000  9000 0x00 0x00

       hfuse                   0     0     0    0 no          1    1      0  9000  9000 0x00 0x00

       efuse                   0     0     0    0 no          1    1      0  9000  9000 0x00 0x00

       lock                    0     0     0    0 no          1    1      0  9000  9000 0x00 0x00

       signature               0     0     0    0 no          3    1      0     0     0 0x00 0x00

       calibration             0     0     0    0 no          1    1      0     0     0 0x00 0x00



     Programmer Type : butterfly

     Description     : Atmel for bootloader using AppNote AVR109

connecting to programmer: .avrdude butterfly_recv() error: programmer is not responding

avrdude butterfly_recv() error: programmer is not responding

avrdude butterfly_recv() error: programmer is not responding

avrdude butterfly_recv() error: programmer is not responding

avrdude butterfly_recv() error: programmer is not responding

avrdude butterfly_recv() error: programmer is not responding

Programmer id = 0�����; type = $

Software version =

[paulskirk53]

In windows device manager the baord presents itself as expected:

but when I look in the tools > programmer menu, the only atmel option is Atmel ICE. The Atmel mEDBG (microUPDI) does not appear.

Not much hair left now :) :)

Would it be useful perhaps to erase the Pro Micro and start again from scratch?
thanks for any thoughts.

[MCUdude]

Why would you want to reinstall the firmware?

The firmware that's currently on the AVR is not designed to play nicely with the built-in bootloader, so I've not been able to flash it one more time using the bootloader.

You can flash the firmware directly using Avrdude. Here's the command if you're using an Atmel ICE. I think this command should work. If not, manke sure the path to avrdude.exe, avrdude.conf and mEDBG_UPDI_1.13_no_bootloader.hex is correct.

C:\Users\Paul\AppData\Local\Arduino15\packages\arduino\tools\avrdude\6.3.0-arduino17/bin/avrdude.exe -C "C:\Users\Paul\AppData\Local\Arduino15\packages\arduino\tools\avrdude\6.3.0-arduino17\etc\avrdude.conf -catmelice_isp -patmega32u4 -Uflash:w:"C:\Users\Paul\AppData\Local\Arduino15\packages\microUPDIcore\hardware\avr\1.0.2/firmwares/mEDBG_UPDI_1.13_no_bootloader.hex":i

[paulskirk53]

HI thanks for reply. I don't have an Atmel ICE. I have been through process as described for flashing the mEDBG firmware to the Pro Micro, but as I've posted, when I try to program my AVR4809 chip, the Atmel mEDBG (microUPDI) does not appear in the IDE's programmer menu.

So where to go from here ? Any ideas much appreciated.

[paulskirk53]

Also tried the programmer in Microchip studio and although it appears in the device programming tool dropdown, and is selectable, when 'Apply' is selected a 'failed to connect' error appears.