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Burn a New Bootloader - Arduino Pro Mini

By Legandir in Circuits > Arduino 41,835 32 27

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I wanted to re-purpose an Arduino Pro Mini that I hadn't used for a while, so - as I do with
all the Arduinos I re-use - I tried to upload the Blink sketch to return it to a sort of 'default'
state and to prove to myself that it is still working.. This failed miserably, and led to a fair bit
of wasted time checking connections, the voltage of the Pro Mini and using a couple of
di erent programmers, and so on.

So I thought it may be useful to someone if I brie y explained what I did to x the issue I
had, and return the Pro Mini to a working state. It may also be of use if your Pro Mini has
arrived without a bootloader.

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Step 1: Stuff
Obviously, an Arduino Pro Mini that you can't upload sketches to

Arduino Uno (can be done with other variants)

6 male-to-male breadboard patch cables

Solderless breadboard

FTDI programmer and cable (to check the x has worked)

Arduino IDE

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Step 2: Symptoms and Investigation

I normally upload sketches to to a Pro Mini using a USB-Serial FTDI programmer, and plug
the Pro Mini opposite it on a breadboard. This way, the pins match up and it does away
with any messy cabling. This arrangement has worked without issue numerous times in the
past.

This time, however, when I tried to upload the Blink sketch, the Arduino IDE started
bleating on about the "programmer not responding" and giving an avrdude error:-

avrdude:stk500_recv():programmer is not responding (sorry, I didn't screenshot it at the

time)

I also noticed that the LEDs on the FTDI programmer only ickered a couple of times, when
they normally go berserk during a successful upload.

So, I

Checked the connections on the breadboard - looked ne.

Tried another programmer (same model) - no change.
Changed USB port on the pc - waste of time
Updated and repaired the drives for the FTDI device - no di erence
 Tried another Pro Mini in the same arrangement - worked like a dream.

Aha. Must be the Pro Mini. I tried to think back to the last time I used this one but it was
more than a day ago, so I had little chance. I was about to resort to the Internet when I did
remember (it works sometimes) that I had an ESP8266 arrive with a corrupted bootloader
and had similar issues. The more I though about it, the more it made sense and tied in with
what i was seeing.

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Step 3: Fix

There are a number of ways to burn a bootloader to an Arduino device, but the one I used
(for convenience and speed) was to use an Arduino Uno as an ISP (In-System Programmer).
This is well documented and I've used it a few times for di erent things.

First step is to set up the Uno to be an ISP:-

Connect the Uno to the PC (using USB)

Open the Arduino IDE (I'm using v1.6.11)
Check the board: Tools Menu -> Board ->Arduino Uno
Check the port: Tools Menu -> Serial Port -> [select the port for the Uno]
Load the ISP sketch: File menu -> Examples -> ArduinoISP ->ArduinoISP
Upload - once complete, the Uno is con gured as ISP
Remove connection from Uno (power o )

Second Step is to connect the two devices for programming:-

 UnoPro Mini
5V (vcc) ------------------- VCC
GND ------------------------GND
Pin 10 ---------------------- RST
Pin 11 ---------------------- Pin 11
Pin12 ---------------------- Pin 12
Pin 13 ------------------- -- Pin 13

The connections are straightforward and, as can be seen in the photograph, I used a
breadboard. I was going to include a Fritzing diagram, but it was more confusing.

Third step is to burn the bootloader:-

Connect the Uno to the PC (Arduino IDE still open)

Change the board: Tools Menu -> Board ->Arduino Pro or Pro Mini
Check the speed and processor: Tools Menu -> Processor -> ATmega328 (5V, 16MHz)
Choose the programmer> Tools Menu -> Programmer -> Arduino as ISP
Burn the bootloader: Tools Menu -> Burn Bootloader

The LEDs on the two Arduinos should now perform a synchronised dance while the
bootloader is written - only takes a few seconds, and then the IDE shows a completed
message.

Fourth step, if you want, is to perform a test upload using your FTDI programmer. If the
new bootloader is working, you should see the LEDs on the FTDI programmer and the Pro
Mini showing activity.

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Step 4: Wrap Up
I hope I've made it easy to see that, if you come across an Arduino or similar device whose
bootloader is messed up, it isn't too arduous a task to burn a new one. As long as you have
access to a Uno or similar, the IDE and some cables, you can be on the way to uploading the
sketch for your next Evil Genius weapon or World Domination IoT thing in next to no time.

This is my rst Instructable. I've enjoyed putting it together, and I'd be happy to receive any
constructive comments or criticism.

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3 People Made This Project!

danielgass made it! Gandalph made it!

bergpb made it!

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27 Comments

danielgass Question 8 months ago

Answer / Upvote

Hello, With your help I was able to reset my Arduino Mini Pro.
After that I directly load the example "blink". It works fine.
But when I want to reload the same program (by changing the timing) the loading doesn't
happen anymore.
Then I have to reset the Mini Pro again in order to be able to reload a program.
Do you have any idea what happens?
Thank you again for your publication.
My best regards.
Dan

hrprada. 9 months ago

Reply / Upvote

I'd like to use a Nano as the ISP, because I do not have a Uno. I assume the same pins will
apply, correct?

1 reply F
 JohnN3 4 years ago
Reply / Upvote

This doesn't work for me, I get this:

Arduino: 1.8.1 (Windows 10), Board: "Arduino Pro or Pro Mini, ATmega328 (5V, 16 MHz)"
avrdude: Yikes! Invalid device signature.
Double check connections and try again, or use -F to override
this check.
Error while burning bootloader.
This report would have more information with
"Show verbose output during compilation"
option enabled in File -> Preferences.

6 replies F

gns5280 11 months ago on Step 4

Reply / Upvote

After completing the 4th step, the Arduino which was flashed with the new bootloader
from the UNO, now all future uploading of new sketches, you must select "UNO" as you
destination board for your sketches.

Step 5: Change the board: Tools Menu -> Board ->Arduino Uno

Amazing, as I was reading through this, though, familiar with the process because I'm
been researching to do just this, I was thinking what a excellent cleanly written and to the
point article!!! Your use of the KISS principle is spot on.

I look forward to seeing your future Insturtables.

MrKevinMan 1 year ago

Reply / Upvote

This issue can also occur due to these two problems:

Maybe you are trying to upload program while your rx and tx pins are connected with
other components.
Or maybe your Arduino is bricked.
For the 1st problem solution is just disconnect wires rx,tx and try to upload the sketch. For
2nd problem use another Arduino to upload program on it(SPI connection). You can follow
these steps to resolve your issue written in this article:Programmer is Not Responding
Arduino - avrdude: stk500v2_getsync() | Solution
 nbenm 1 year ago Reply / Upvote

Thanks to this "I did remember (it works sometimes) that I had an ESP8266 arrive with a
corrupted bootloader and had similar issues", I've understood why one of my Arduino Pro
Mini refuses to upload sketchs.
So I have flashed the bootloader, with an usbasp in my case.
After that it worked. But at next upload, I had the same error.
In fact, after flashing the bootloader, I can upload a sketch only once!
I always need to reflash the bootloader before.

I use IDE option "Burn bootloader". It uses the 2 following commands:

/Applications/Arduino.app/Contents/Java/hardware/tools/avr/bin/avrdude -
C/Applications/Arduino.app/Contents/Java/hardware/tools/avr/etc/avrdude.conf -v -
patmega328p -cusbasp -Pusb -e -Ulock:w:0x3F:m -Uefuse:w:0xFD:m -Uhfuse:w:0xDA:m -
Ulfuse:w:0xFF:m

/Applications/Arduino.app/Contents/Java/hardware/tools/avr/bin/avrdude -
C/Applications/Arduino.app/Contents/Java/hardware/tools/avr/etc/avrdude.conf -v -
patmega328p -cusbasp -Pusb -
Uflash:w:/Applications/Arduino.app/Contents/Java/hardware/arduino/avr/bootloaders/atmeg
-Ulock:w:0x0F:m

Any idea?

nekton123 Question 1 year ago

Answer / Upvote

I solved the Pin 11 = MOSI, Pin12 = MISO and Pin 13 - SCLK I think but now I get this error
on the upload.

avrdude: Version 6.3-20190619

Copyright (c) 2000-2005 Brian Dean, http://www.bdmicro.com/
Copyright (c) 2007-2014 Joerg Wunsch
System wide configuration file is
"/Applications/Arduino.app/Contents/Java/hardware/tools/avr/etc/avrdude.conf"
User configuration file is "/Users/roberthancock/.avrduderc"
User configuration file does not exist or is not a regular file, skipping
Using Port : /dev/cu.wchusbserial1420
Using Programmer : stk500v1
Overriding Baud Rate : 19200
AVR Part : ATmega328P
Chip Erase delay : 9000 us
PAGEL : PD7
BS2 : PC2
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 3600 3600 0xff 0xff
flash 65 6 128 0 yes 32768 128 256 4500 4500 0xff 0xff
lfuse 0 0 0 0 no 1 0 0 4500 4500 0x00 0x00
hfuse 0 0 0 0 no 1 0 0 4500 4500 0x00 0x00
efuse 0 0 0 0 no 1 0 0 4500 4500 0x00 0x00
lock 0 0 0 0 no 1 0 0 4500 4500 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 : STK500
Description : Atmel STK500 Version 1.x firmware
Hardware Version: 2
Firmware Version: 1.18
Topcard : Unknown
Vtarget : 0.0 V
Varef : 0.0 V
Oscillator : Off
SCK period : 0.1 us
avrdude: AVR device initialized and ready to accept instructions
Reading |
################################################## |
100% 0.08s
avrdude: Device signature = 0x059505
avrdude: Expected signature for ATmega328P is 1E 95 0F
Double check chip, or use -F to override this check.
avrdude done. Thank you.
Error while burning bootloader.
 nekton123 Question 1 year ago
Answer / Upvote

Nice description and I now have Uno in Arduino ISP mode but the target device is an
Elecrow LoRa Radio Node v1.0, which uses the Arduino Pro or Pro Mini bootloader and
none of the Pins 11, 12, or 13 are labelled! So how to complete the connection between
the Arduino ISP and the Elecrow?

I do have a choice of pin labels

D8 DIO5
D7 DIO3
D6 DIO2
D5 DIO1

and
MOSI
MISO
SCK
RXI
TXO
DTR

Can any of these be used for the Pin 11, 12, and 13 connections from the Arduino Uno?

Thanks

ssachser 1 year ago

Reply / Upvote

Hi Mr., thank you by help me, but it don´t work for me with Arduino IDE 1.6..., 1.8...
versions, it works properly when I use 1.05 version. Ok, no problem. Bye...

StephenW209 Question 2 years ago

Answer / Upvote

Nice work. Thank You. helped heaps. BUT.....on first run, error msge:avrdude: Error: Could
not find USBtiny device (0x2341/0x49). Another site suggested select
TOOLS>Programmer:Arduino As ISP. Subtle difference. Now gets to about 10 seconds with
error msge: avrdude: stk500_getsync() attempt 9 of 10: not in sync: resp=0xe0 . avrdude:
stk500_getsync() attempt 10 of 10: not in sync: resp=0x00
Error while burning bootloader.

1 answer F
 laponi 2 years ago
Reply / Upvote

Merci j'ai suivi le tutoriel et tout est correct. merci pour cette application.

1 reply F

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