Error while burning bootloader

[mikee]

I have a V5.5 board, and I'm trying to upload the V4.1 software onto it, using the mini USB connected to a PC running Arduino IDE.
With the port selected, the board selected as "Arduino/Genuino Uno", and the programmer selected as "Arduino as ISP", I'm getting the following error:
avrdude: stk500_getsync(): programmer is not responding
..
Error while burning bootloader


Any ideas?
Happy New Year!

[mikee]

I think the bit I'm missing is that I still need to load the bootloader with an Arduino Uno - I thought I could do that directly from the PC, with the Arduino IDE software.

But, what pins on the Arduino Uno do I connect to what pins on the BlueSaab ISP header? Is that explained anywhere on the forum? I was unable to find this info earlier.
Thanks

[Karlis]

Yes, the ATMEGA chip needs to have a bootloader burned on it before flashing BlueSaab firmware. ISP header is your way in. I'm using Pocket AVR Programmer from SparkFun: https://www.sparkfun.com/products/9825 to do the job. Makes it super easy to burn bootloader via Arduino IDE.

[homerisback]

Hi and happy new year,
2 options :
1) Your board previously had a firmware uploaded - then you don't need to burn a bootloader into Atmega328, it is done once for good and USB should work. If you run windows on your computer maybe a fake "Trackball" or whatever it is named in device manager under "Mouse" appeared at Bluesaab's plug in. The best way to get rid of it it to Deactivate it, not uninstall otherwise you'll have to repeat the operation... Then you should be good to upload via USB.
2) Your board is virgin and then you must burn a bootloader into Atmega328 using ISP pins. I only own an Arduino Uno board and always burnt bootloader with it. Lot's of how-to are available to do it a search with "Arduino uno as ISP" should lead you into the right way.
When bootloader is burnt, get rid of the Uno board and connect BlueSaab to PC with USB cable. It would detect a new COM port and then you'll be ready to upload Bluesaab's firmware

Good luck !