[Tutorial] How to burn 1Mhz & 8Mhz bootloader using Arduino IDE 1.6.5-r5

[pihome]

First of all thanks to all who worked on this tutorial and bootloaders. i got fascinated about 8mhz and 1mhz with internal clock after reading this tutorial.

Some might say 1mhz 8 times slower then 8mhz hence need longer awake time to do perform task before it can go back to sleep and consumes more power but what i found: point is not it takes 8 times longer to perform task but it can run it on battery longer and on lower voltage when battery ist at its peak youth.

Anyway i wanted to share my experience and errors i had and the fix i found after googling around and spending hours trying to figure out what is going on.

if you follow instructions as it is then you will end up with second boards.txt file located at C:\Program Files (x86)\Arduino\hardware\breadboard\avr\boards.txt, this file contact info about ATmegaBOOT_168_atmega328_pro_8MHz.hex only. So far so good and it works but for some reason when i try to add 1mhz bootloader to C:\Program Files (x86)\Arduino\hardware\arduino\avr\boards.txt it just wouldn't work, the 1mhz bootloader wouldn't show in in board selection option but if i add info about 1mhz bootloader to "C:\Program Files (x86)\Arduino\hardware\breadboard\avr\boards.txt" then i could see option for "APM Optiboot internal 1MHz noBOD 9600baud" but when i try to burn this bootloader i get all sorts of error on burning bootloader, one of the error: Could not find tool avrdude (sorry didn't copy all error messages)

Then some forums suggest to start clean i.e uninstall Arduino ID and reinstall but simply uninstalling and reinstalling ID doesn't work you need to delete Arduino15 folder from following location(s) and reinstall Arduino ID:
C:\Users(username)\AppData\Local\Arduino15 or C:\Users<username>\AppData\Roaming\Arduino15 or C:\Users<username>\AppData\Local\Arduino15

What i think is best to keep your boards.txt file in one location and modify it and add bootloaders in it and this worked for me. Simply copy your bootloaders to C:\Program Files (x86)\Arduino\hardware\arduino\avr\bootloaders and modify C:\Program Files (x86)\Arduino\hardware\arduino\avr\boards.txt for additional bootloaders.
here is my boards.txt

##############################################################
# Add the new board to boards.txt (normally located at "C:\Program Files\Arduino\hardware\arduino\avr"
# The *.bootloader.* etries only matters if you want to program bootloader (and fuses) from Arduino IDE. 
# See http://www.engbedded.com/fusecalc (select Atmega328p) for interpretation of fuse values and how 
# extended fuses are written in different applications (07h in Arduino IDE = FFh in Atmel studio).
##############################################################

apm96.name=APM Optiboot internal 1MHz noBOD 9600baud

apm96.upload.tool=avrdude
apm96.upload.protocol=arduino
apm96.upload.maximum_size=32256
apm96.upload.speed=9600
apm96.bootloader.tool=avrdude
apm96.bootloader.low_fuses=0x62
apm96.bootloader.high_fuses=0xde
# all the possible values:
#bootloader.extended_fuses=0x04 -> BOD at 4.3V
#bootloader.extended_fuses=0x05 -> BOD at 2.7V
#bootloader.extended_fuses=0x06 -> BOD at 1.8V
#bootloader.extended_fuses=0x07 -> BOD disabled
apm96.bootloader.extended_fuses=0x07
apm96.bootloader.path=optiboot_v50
apm96.bootloader.file=atmega328_1a.hex
apm96.bootloader.unlock_bits=0x3F
apm96.bootloader.lock_bits=0x2F
apm96.build.mcu=atmega328p
apm96.build.f_cpu=1000000L
apm96.build.core=arduino
apm96.build.variant=standard

##############################################################

##############################################################

atmega328bb.name=ATmega328 on a breadboard (8 MHz internal clock)

atmega328bb.upload.protocol=arduino
atmega328bb.upload.maximum_size=30720
atmega328bb.upload.speed=57600

atmega328bb.bootloader.low_fuses=0xE2
atmega328bb.bootloader.high_fuses=0xDA
atmega328bb.bootloader.extended_fuses=0x05

atmega328bb.bootloader.file=atmega/ATmegaBOOT_168_atmega328_pro_8MHz.hex
atmega328bb.bootloader.unlock_bits=0x3F
atmega328bb.bootloader.lock_bits=0x0F

atmega328bb.build.mcu=atmega328p
atmega328bb.build.f_cpu=8000000L
atmega328bb.build.core=arduino:arduino
atmega328bb.build.variant=arduino:standard


atmega328bb.bootloader.tool=arduino:avrdude
atmega328bb.upload.tool=arduino:avrdude```

[FIRE FOX]

Dear Sir,
I'm trying to use the 8MHz bootloader, but I kindly ask you in detail where I've to copy the files extracted from the zip file breadboard-1-6-x.zip.

Actually I'm using an Arduino IDE 1.8.10, the sentence that I need some explanation/confirmation is the following one:

"Open your Arduino folder path and move the breadboard folder from the zip archive to the "hardware" folder of your Arduino sketchbook."

is the Arduino sketchbook folder located at the path listed from:

File=>Preferences=>Settings

at the text field with label "Sketchbook location"?

At this path I've no other "hardware" directory, just only a libraries folder, so if this is the right path I've just to simply copy and paste the "breadboard" folder into this one, I'm correct?

Thanks!
Fire

[MasMat]

@FIRE-FOX The answer depends a little on what OS you're using.
In linux I have an Arduino-folder where the program files (not necessarily the sketches) are AND a hardware folder. Also on OSX I have an Arduino-folder (where I have my sketch-directories and libraries and hardware.
Locate the hardware-folder (use whatever search-option your OS has) and you can pretty easily figure out where the breadboard-directory goes.

I wish you luck with the bootloader programming. I went crazy a couple of times but once I got the routine down, it's worth the trouble.

[evb]

@FIRE-FOX Today I should not go that way, see https://forum.mysensors.org/topic/2067/my-slim-2aa-battery-node. In the first topic you will see Update1 and to use the github project MiniCore. Much easier to use!
In the readme of the MiniCore github you will find how to install and how to use.

[emre299]

hi,
i am using pro mini, i installed the blink code, pro mini does not work at 2.3v. I burned minicore bootloader(1Mhz-1,98).
my purpose: running pro mini up to 1.8v and saving power.
The blink code continues to run. no longer working pro mini 2.3V. but I can't upload new code.
What can I do to use it again?

the error he gave:

avrdude: stk500_recv(): programmer is not responding
avrdude: stk500_getsync() attempt 1 of 10: not in sync: resp=0x03
avrdude: stk500_recv(): programmer is not responding
avrdude: stk500_getsync() attempt 2 of 10: not in sync: resp=0x03
avrdude: stk500_recv(): programmer is not responding
avrdude: stk500_getsync() attempt 3 of 10: not in sync: resp=0x03
avrdude: stk500_recv(): programmer is not responding
avrdude: stk500_getsync() attempt 4 of 10: not in sync: resp=0x03
Karta yüklenirken sorun oluştu. Tavsiyeler için http://www.arduino.cc/en/Guide/Troubleshooting#upload adresine göz atabilirsiniz.
avrdude: stk500_recv(): programmer is not responding
avrdude: stk500_getsync() attempt 5 of 10: not in sync: resp=0x03
avrdude: stk500_recv(): programmer is not responding
avrdude: stk500_getsync() attempt 6 of 10: not in sync: resp=0x03
avrdude: stk500_recv(): programmer is not responding
avrdude: stk500_getsync() attempt 7 of 10: not in sync: resp=0x03
avrdude: stk500_recv(): programmer is not responding
avrdude: stk500_getsync() attempt 8 of 10: not in sync: resp=0x03
avrdude: stk500_recv(): programmer is not responding
avrdude: stk500_getsync() attempt 9 of 10: not in sync: resp=0x03
avrdude: stk500_recv(): programmer is not responding
avrdude: stk500_getsync() attempt 10 of 10: not in sync: resp=0x03

[electrik]

@emre299 Did you changed the upload speed in boards.txt?
See in the first message of this topic
https://forum.mysensors.org/uploads/files/1454449114161-9.png

[evb]

@electrik said in [Tutorial] How to burn 1Mhz & 8Mhz bootloader using Arduino IDE 1.6.5-r5:

@emre299 Did you changed the upload speed in boards.txt?
See in the first message of this topic
https://forum.mysensors.org/uploads/files/1454449114161-9.png

@emre299 did use the Minicore project, so that is different. See my comment just above his.

@emre299 can you describe the steps you did? step by step
Which version of Arduino IDE did you use?
Without more information, it will be difficult to respond to your question.

[emre299]

Hi @evb and @electrik ,

First of all, for checking purposes, i installed the blink code to pro mini 3,3V with the ISP method(arduino nano). My goal is not to use the stupid booster circuit and using arduino up to 1.8v
I added arduino ide(1.8.13) minicore.

Then i chosed;
Board: minicore->ATmega328
Clock: internal 1MHZ
BOD: 1.8V
Arduino as ISP and Ctrl + shift + U
Then Blink works at 3.3v (but a little slow) but didn't work with 2.3v to the arduino.

Then;
Board: minicore->ATmega328
Clock: internal 1MHZ
BOD: 1.8V
Arduino as ISP and burn bootloader.

blink works well at 3.3v and 2,3v but now it gives an error when uploading new code to the arduino.I haven't made any other settings.

what is missing Is the minicore method wrong?

Thank you for your help.

[evb]

Ok, you programmed the blink sketch the first time via the ISP way of uploading

• the pro mini at 3.3V : works
• the pro mini at 2.3V : didn't do anything ==> this is already strange, it should also work

Then you did the same using the default way by uploading the sketch via the bootloader

• the pro mini at 3.3V : works
• the pro mini at 2.3V : works

And now you can't upload anymore new sketches to the pro mini.
Of course you upload your sketch with the pro mini again at 3.3V?

Further I should:

• double check your wirings
• is your programmer connected with fixed pinheaders or by folding the programmer a little in the holes of the pro mini? Verify if you have strong connections.
• Reprogram the bootloader. If this works, you should be able to upload a sketch.

Post some photo's that we can see something.

[emre299]

@evb
hello, yes, it gives an error while loading code right now (Pro mini 3.3v 1 mhz minicore bootloader).

i checked my cables 2 times. I already have a board for ISP code.!

Is there any detail picture you want? do you think the boot loader might be broken while writing

[evb]

@emre299 when you click on Burn Bootloader, you get these errors

avrdude: stk500_recv(): programmer is not responding
avrdude: stk500_getsync() attempt 1 of 10: not in sync: resp=0x03
avrdude: stk500_recv(): programmer is not responding
avrdude: stk500_getsync() attempt 2 of 10: not in sync: resp=0x03

So you verified the connections. Did you verify also with a multimeter? A wire can be broken internally

Do you have another pro mini to verify the connections?
I would try different settings like the normal settings 3.3V and 8Mzh externally, etc

If this does not work, I have no ideas anymore...