I have a simple sketch that simply causes it to send out a message to the Serial Monitor. I compile and upload the sketch and it appears to simply DESTROY the ItsyBitsy.
I purchased TWO more ItsyBitsys. I purchased a brand new micro USB cable, on the off chance that it was a problem with cable.
I connected one of the new ItsyBitsys to the new cable and plugged the cable into my computer, where I'm doing the sketch development using the Arduino IDE.
When I connect the ItsyBitsy to the computer my computer (a Windows computer) responds properly to it being connected by making the standard connection sound and by displaying a momentary notice that it has successfully connected as a new COM Port 6. I also have the Windows Device Manager up and can see that it, too, shows the newly connected and recognized COM Port 6. So far, so good.
I go to the IDE and select to Upload. It starts up and succeeds in compiling the sketch. When it starts to do the Upload it SEEMS to do the upload but the IDE shows
"Error opening serial port "COM 6"
I look at the diagnostic messages of the IDE and it shows...
Sketch uses 3538 bytes (12%) of program storage space. Maximum is 28672 bytes.
Global variables use 165 bytes of dynamic memory.
Forcing reset using 1200bps open/close on port COM6
PORTS {COM6, } / {} => {}
PORTS {} / {COM7, } => {COM7, }
Found upload port: COM7
WHY did it force an open/close of COM6??
Doing so appears to have only succeeded in CLOSING COM6. And then it indicates that it FOUND COM7.
And when it forced that close on 6 and open on 7 Windows reported that it now DOES NOT RECOGNIZE what's connected to COM7!!!! It's no longer recognizing that the ItsyBitsy is properly connected!!! Windows says that it's an UNRECOGNIZED DEVICE. The Windows Device Manager no longer shows ANY COM Ports. NEITHER COM6 NOR COM7.
From additional information out put by the IDE it SEEMS that MAYBE it somehow succeeded in actually sending the sketch out to the ItsyBitsy . . .
Code: Select all
Connecting to programmer: .
Found programmer: Id = "CATERIN"; type = S
Software Version = 1.0; No Hardware Version given.
Programmer supports auto addr increment.
Programmer supports buffered memory access with buffersize=128 bytes.
Programmer supports the following devices:
Device code: 0x44
avrdude: devcode selected: 0x44
avrdude: AVR device initialized and ready to accept instructions
Code: Select all
avrdude: writing flash (3538 bytes):
Writing | ################################################## | 100% 0.28s
avrdude: 3538 bytes of flash written
Code: Select all
Error opening serial port 'COM6'.
But WORST OF ALL !!!! When I now disconnect the ItsyBitsy from the computer and then PLUG IT BACK IN, Windows no longer recognizes it as an ItsyBitsy. It says that it's an unrecognized device. It no longer shows up, after plugging it back in, as a COM Port. The Red LED on the ItsyBitsy now DOES NOT BLINK when I plug it in.
Clicking the reset button on the ItsyBitsy causes nothing to blink on the ItsyBitsy but causes Windows to think a new device has been connected but is not recognized.
Double-clicking the reset button on the ItsyBitsy causes the LED on the ItsyBitsy to fade in and out and then turn off (no subsequent blinking) and again causes Windows to think a new device has been connected but is not recognized.
All I keep getting is this:
Whatever the upload to the ItsyBitsy did it resulted in the ItsyBitsy no longer being recognizable by Windows as a COM Port. It is now USELESS.
I tried this entire procedure with the OTHER ItsyBitsy that I had just purchased and the exact same thing happened I now have THREE totally useless ItsyBitsys.
TOTALLY USELESS ItsyBitsys
It appears that the attempt to upload a sketch to it caused the ItsyBitsy to LOSE it's ability to respond to being plugged in, and when Windows queries the newly connected device the ItsyBitsy is unable to respond, it's unable to tell Windows that it's an ItsyBitsy, and as a result Windows flags it as an unrecognized device and does NOT assign it as a COM Port.
ONE LAST NOTE
I AM able to connect an Arduino Mega to my computer and upload and run this very same sketch to it. My computer fully recognizes the Arduino Mega. It's only the ItsyBitsys that it has fatal problems with.