Troubleshooting Arduino Not Detected on COM Port in Windows

Dessad — Thu, 14 Nov 2024 14:18:26 +0000

Overview:

This guide provides step-by-step troubleshooting for when your Arduino isn't showing up on COM ports in Windows, particularly useful if you’re seeing errors in the Arduino IDE like: avrdude: stk500_recv(): programmer is not responding

Problem

When connecting your Arduino to your computer, it should be listed in Device Manager under Ports (COM & LPT) or Unknown Devices. If it’s not showing up, this could indicate issues with the cable, driver, or USB port configuration.

Possible Causes

Faulty or power-only USB cable
Driver issues (e.g., CH340 USB-to-Serial drivers)
USB port issues
COM port conflicts on Windows

Solution

Step 1: Check the USB Cable

Ensure you’re using a data-capable USB cable, as some cables only provide charging capabilities.

Try a different USB cable.
Test the cable with another data device if possible.

Step 2: Try a Different USB Port or Computer

Try different USB ports (both USB 2.0 and USB 3.0 if available).
Test the Arduino on a different computer to see if it’s detected there.

Step 3: Install or Reinstall CH340 Driver

If your Arduino board uses a CH340 chip (common in clone boards), you’ll need the CH340 driver.

Download the latest CH340 driver from here.
Extract the file and locate CH341SER.inf (or similar).
Right-click the .inf file and select Install.
Restart your computer, then reconnect your Arduino.

Step 4: Update USB Drivers in Device Manager

Open Device Manager.
Expand Universal Serial Bus controllers.
Right-click each USB controller and select Update driver.
Choose Search automatically for updated driver software.

Step 5: Disable USB Power Management

In Device Manager, expand Universal Serial Bus controllers.
Right-click each USB Root Hub and select Properties.
Go to the Power Management tab and uncheck Allow the computer to turn off this device to save power.
Restart your computer.

Step 6: Install USB Serial Driver with Zadig

If the Arduino still isn’t detected, try using Zadig:

Download and run Zadig.
Under Options, select List All Devices.
Find your Arduino device in the dropdown (it might appear as “Unknown Device”).
Select USB Serial (CDC) driver and click Install Driver.

Step 7: Reset COM Ports (Advanced)

If previous COM port assignments are causing conflicts, reset them:

Open Command Prompt as Administrator.
Type:
```
set devmgr_show_nonpresent_devices=1
```
Open Device Manager > View > Show hidden devices.
Expand Ports (COM & LPT) and uninstall any greyed-out devices.
Restart your computer and reconnect the Arduino.

Summary

By following these steps, you should be able to resolve issues with your Arduino not showing up on COM ports in Windows. Most of the time, the problem is related to the USB cable or drivers.

Additional Resources

Upgrading Node.js on Linux using NVM

Dessad — Sun, 20 Oct 2024 15:09:30 +0000

If you're trying to upgrade Node.js from version 12 to a more recent version (e.g., 18 LTS) on a Linux distribution like Parrot OS and encountering issues along the way, this guide is for you. It will cover each step in detail, including common problems and solutions.

Prerequisites

Before you begin, make sure you have the following:

A Linux distribution (e.g., Parrot OS)
An existing installation of Node.js version 12
Administrative access to your system

1. Installing NVM

Check your package manager:
Update your package manager to ensure you have the latest package information.

sudo apt update

Install NVM (Node Version Manager):
NVM will allow you to easily switch between Node.js versions.

curl -o- https://raw.githubusercontent.com/nvm-sh/nvm/v0.39.0/install.sh

source ~/.bashrc # Source NVM in your current session

List available Node.js versions:
See the available Node.js versions for installation.

nvm ls-remote

2. Upgrading Node.js

Install Node.js version 18:
Replace 18 with the version you want.

nvm install 18

Set Node.js 18 as the default version:
To set it as the default:

nvm alias default 18

Or, for the current session:

nvm use 18

Update npm (Node Package Manager):

npm install -g npm@latest

3. Troubleshooting Common Issues

NVM Command Not Found

If you encounter the "nvm command not found" error:

Source NVM in your shell profile (e.g., ~/.bashrc or ~/.zshrc) or use the correct shell-specific configuration file.

Node.js Version Rolls Back to 12

If Node.js version rolls back to 12 after closing the terminal:

Check that the NVM sourcing commands are present and correctly placed in your shell profile.
Ensure the shell profile is sourced when opening a new terminal session.

Issues with .bashrc

If you face issues with ~/.bashrc:

Create the ~/.bashrc file if it doesn't exist.

touch ~/.bashrc

Add the NVM sourcing commands to ~/.bashrc.

nano ~/.bashrc

Source ~/.bashrc to apply changes to your current session.

export NVM_DIR="$HOME/.nvm"
[ -s "$NVM_DIR/nvm.sh" ] && \. "$NVM_DIR/nvm.sh"  # This loads nvm
[ -s "$NVM_DIR/bash_completion" ] && \. "$NVM_DIR/bash_completion"  # This loads nvm bash_completion

After you've saved the ~/.bashrc file, you need to source it to apply the changes to your current terminal session.

source ~/.bashrc

Verify NVM installation and set the default Node.js version.

nvm --version

These steps should help you upgrade Node.js and address common problems that may arise during the process. Remember to test your Node.js projects to ensure compatibility with the new version.

Forem: Dessad