Would it help/make sense to use an FTDI driver like the SparkFun FTDI Basic Breakout - 5V?

I am getting very frustrated by this and I don't know how to proceed here. Everything I try seems to turn to mud. HELP!

I have tried repeatedly to get the driver working with only partial success. I can compile and upload sketches using the Arduino IDE but the VS/VM IDE fails every time. 

I have attached a simpler sketch (no external libraries) to show the problem. The compiler output is in output.txt in the root folder.

The results are identical every time: the upload failed:

Uploading to I/O board using 'Arduino as ISP'
Uploader started for board Arduino/Genuino Uno
Uploader will use programmer name: arduinoasisp
C:\Program Files (x86)\Arduino\hardware\tools\avr\bin\avrdude "-CC:\Program Files (x86)\Arduino\hardware\tools\avr/etc/avrdude.conf" -v -patmega328p -cstk500v1 -PCOM3 -b19200 le1\uno/TimerInterruptExample1.ino.hex:i"
avrdude: Version 6.0.1, compiled on Apr 15 2015 at 19:59:58
         Copyright (c) 2000-2005 Brian Dean, http://www.bdmicro.com/
         Copyright (c) 2007-2009 Joerg Wunsch
         System wide configuration file is "C:\Program Files (x86)\Arduino\hardware\tools\avr/etc/avrdude.conf"
         Using Port                    : COM3
         Using Programmer              : stk500v1
         Overriding Baud Rate          : 19200
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
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
Error during upload using programmer
Upload timed out waiting for a response

Upload failed

Upload timed out waiting for a response

Upload failed
The uploader returned an error
avrdude: stk500_recv(): programmer is not responding
avrdude: stk500_getsync() attempt 10 of 10: not in sync: resp=0x03
avrdude done.  Thank you.

I have been experiencing the upload problem with both the Mega and the Uno. The UNO is on COM3 and the MEGA comes up on COM4 or COM5. 

At any given time, I have only one of these two boards / sketches loaded, but the problem occurs with ALL boards.

The programmer is currently "Arduino as ISP" and the Always Use Programmer for Upload is enabled, but the graphic is not very bright so it is easy to miss seeing what state it is in. 

I just turned the "Always Use Programmer" feature off and VOILA! it uploaded. Finally!

Thanks, Tim.