VS Arduino - Upload via external programmer stopped working

Nov 27^th, 2025 at 8:55am (UTC)

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VS Arduino › Visual Micro › Visual Studio 2019, 2022, 2026 › Upload via external programmer stopped working

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Upload via external programmer stopped working (Read 15989 times)

HarryS Junior Member Offline Posts: 43 Joined: Sep 8^th, 2023	Upload via external programmer stopped working Sep 9^th, 2023 at 12:06pm	Print Post
	Hello VisualMicro Team! I recently stumbled over a problem with uploading Arduino code to an AtTiny85 via „mySmartUSB light“. This formerly worked without issues. I update VS2017 and VM regularly when I receive the notification for an update in the VS IDE. As far as I remember, the upload ceased after updating VS2017 to the last version 15.9.56, or updating VM to „Visual.Micro.Arduino.Studio_19.vsix“ downloaded at 05.08.2023, but that is not assured. Updating VM to „Visual.Micro.Arduino.Studio_19.vsix“ downloaded at 08.09.2023 was to no avail either. The funny fact: „Compile + Upload“ does not work, whereas „vMicro – Uploader – Upload last build“ works fine. When hitting „Compile + Upload“ I get the following error message: „'Upload Using' requires a programmer. Upload cancelled.“ In this case I set „STK500“ as programmer and checked „Enable Programmer for Uploads“. When I uncheck „Enable Programmer for Uploads“ I get the following error: „avrdude: Can't find programmer id "{upload.protocol}"“ and then a bulky list of supported programmers. Any ideas how to proceed? Thanks! nota bene: There are other peculiarities with and after updating VM within VS2017, but the described above one is the most urgent problem to solve. Harry [edit] Programming via Arduino IDE runs without problems [\edit]
	« Last Edit: Sep 12^th, 2023 at 11:47am by Simon@Visual Micro »

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Tim@Visual Micro Administrator Offline Posts: 12203 Location: United Kingdom Joined: Apr 10^th, 2010	Re: Upload via external programmer stopped working Reply #1 - Sep 9^th, 2023 at 3:24pm	Print Post
	Thanks for the information. We have some questions. 1) please enabled vMicro>Compiler>verbose and vMicro>uploader>verbose then send your output again. 2) Confirm that you have an STK500 programmer? 3) Confirm which button or menu item you are clicking in the Arduino IDE to upload? Thanks Updates: Upates for vs2017 and 2019 are via our web site. Since microsoft released vs2022, which is 64 bit, there is no gallery facility for the 32 bit version of Visual Micro. It is the Microsoft gallery that only supports the one type 32bit or 64bit, not both.
	« Last Edit: Sep 9^th, 2023 at 3:28pm by Tim@Visual Micro »

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HarryS Junior Member Offline Posts: 43 Joined: Sep 8^th, 2023	Re: Upload via external programmer stopped working Reply #2 - Sep 9^th, 2023 at 4:13pm	Print Post
	Hi Tim, thanks for the fast reply! "vMicro>uploader>verbose" was enabled, "vMicro>Compiler>verbose" was not. I send another log via mail. 2) Confirmed. See attachment 1 Keep in mind that uploading via "vMicro - Uploader - Upload last Build" works flawlessly. 3) see attachment 2
	« Last Edit: Sep 9^th, 2023 at 4:14pm by HarryS »
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Tim@Visual Micro Administrator Offline Posts: 12203 Location: United Kingdom Joined: Apr 10^th, 2010	Re: Upload via external programmer stopped working Reply #3 - Sep 9^th, 2023 at 4:28pm	Print Post
	Thanks for all the info. My question about which button you are using related to the Arduino IDE not to Visual Micro. Confirm which button or menu item you are clicking in the Arduino IDE to upload?


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HarryS Junior Member Offline Posts: 43 Joined: Sep 8^th, 2023	Re: Upload via external programmer stopped working Reply #4 - Sep 9^th, 2023 at 4:49pm	Print Post
	Oh, sorry! I missed the exact wording, just read over "Arduino" I used the "Compile & Upload" button in the Arduino IDE. (Attachment 1) Resulting in (Attachment 2) [edit] The error you see in the screendump of Arduino IDE (after "Reading \| ###...") resulted from a misspelled boards JSON location. I messed this up yesterday and fixed it now. Error message was gone on the next build. [\edit]
	« Last Edit: Sep 9^th, 2023 at 4:56pm by HarryS »
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HarryS Junior Member Offline Posts: 43 Joined: Sep 8^th, 2023	Re: Upload via external programmer stopped working Reply #5 - Sep 9^th, 2023 at 5:05pm	Print Post
	Tim@Visual Micro wrote on Sep 9^th, 2023 at 3:24pm: Updates: Upates for vs2017 and 2019 are via our web site. Since microsoft released vs2022, which is 64 bit, there is no gallery facility for the 32 bit version of Visual Micro. It is the Microsoft gallery that only supports the one type 32bit or 64bit, not both. I don't really understand what is meant by "gallery facility" and the 32 bit vs. 64 bit versions of Microsoft and Visual Micro, respectively. When I updated VS2017 via the inbuild "Tools and Features" in the past, did I blast the compatibility with the Visual Micro addin? [edit] My VS2017 is 32 bit [\edit] [edit2] Reading your sentence over and over I am anticipating what you might say... MS "Tools and Features" does not offer the VM addin any more. I have to use the visualmicro site to get updates for my version of Visual Micro. Did I get it right? If so, what is the correct path to install an updated VSIX of VM into VS2017? [\edit2]
	« Last Edit: Sep 9^th, 2023 at 5:14pm by HarryS »

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Tim@Visual Micro Administrator Offline Posts: 12203 Location: United Kingdom Joined: Apr 10^th, 2010	Re: Upload via external programmer stopped working Reply #6 - Sep 9^th, 2023 at 5:14pm	Print Post
	Gallery: You are on vs2017. It's a 32bit ide, therefore you are unable to use "tools>extension and updates" to update Visual Micro. In the past you were able to update visual micro from that option (which uses the gallery) but you have obviously found the download from our web site. All good. In the arduino ide you are not using a programmer to upload. Therefore in visual micro you should not enable "use programmer". Questions 1) Please use the mouse to highlight all of the output you have in the arduino ide so that we can ensure you are using the same settings. Please email that output. 2) Confirm the url you used to obtain the attiny core you have installed. Thanks


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HarryS Junior Member Offline Posts: 43 Joined: Sep 8^th, 2023	Re: Upload via external programmer stopped working Reply #7 - Sep 9^th, 2023 at 5:17pm	Print Post
	Gallery: Ok, got it. My question from [edit2] above still is pending: What is the correct path for updating VM within VS2017? Thanks


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HarryS Junior Member Offline Posts: 43 Joined: Sep 8^th, 2023	Re: Upload via external programmer stopped working Reply #8 - Sep 9^th, 2023 at 5:24pm	Print Post
	Tim@Visual Micro wrote on Sep 9^th, 2023 at 5:14pm: In the arduino ide you are not using a programmer to upload. Therefore in visual micro you should not enable "use programmer". It's the same path for programming: see attachment The mySmartUSB light ist connected via COM 5.

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HarryS Junior Member Offline Posts: 43 Joined: Sep 8^th, 2023	Re: Upload via external programmer stopped working Reply #9 - Sep 9^th, 2023 at 5:27pm	Print Post
	Tim@Visual Micro wrote on Sep 9^th, 2023 at 5:14pm: 2) Confirm the url you used to obtain the attiny core you have installed. Sorry, I forgot... This are my boards: http://arduino.esp8266.com/stable/package_esp8266com_index.json https://raw.githubusercontent.com/damellis/attiny/ide-1.6.x-boards-manager/packa... http://digistump.com/package_digistump_index.json https://raw.githubusercontent.com/sleemanj/optiboot/master/dists/package_gogo_di... https://mcudude.github.io/MightyCore/package_MCUdude_MightyCore_index.json http://drazzy.com/package_drazzy.com_index.json I'm not sure which attiny package I use in this project ...found it: [edit] It is Spence Konde's AtTinyCore https://github.com/SpenceKonde/ATTinyCore ... referred to via "http://drazzy.com/package_drazzy.com_index.json" [\edit]
	« Last Edit: Sep 9^th, 2023 at 5:50pm by HarryS »
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Tim@Visual Micro Administrator Offline Posts: 12203 Location: United Kingdom Joined: Apr 10^th, 2010	Re: Upload via external programmer stopped working Reply #10 - Sep 9^th, 2023 at 7:10pm	Print Post
	Thanks, I thought you were using drazzy but the site is down. https://github.com/SpenceKonde/ATTinyCore/issues/803 You are using the no bootloader x5 board https://github.com/SpenceKonde/ATTinyCore/blob/v2.0.0-devThis-is-the-head-submit... In theory we don't need the package-index.json from drazzy, we should be able to manually install the \avr folder from github.com/SpenceKonde The SpenceKonde/ATTinyCore uses the arduino avr toolchain, therefore as long as that is installed it should work for us to test. You are using Arduino IDE 1x which has avr preinstalled. Extension Install Visual Micro has never been installed via Tools and Features. It used to be listed as an extension that could be installed via the "Tools>Extensions and Updates". Microsoft have always delivered extensions for the IDE via "Tools>Extensions and Updates". In background that uses the Microsoft Extension Gallery which is available on the web for manual download. The vsix should be downloaded as normal to your downloads folder and then run. The microsoft extension installed will run and install/unpack into the ide. A vsix is just a zip, it's the extension installer that manages everything. Works the same for all Visual Studio extensions.
	« Last Edit: Sep 9^th, 2023 at 7:30pm by Tim@Visual Micro »

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Tim@Visual Micro Administrator Offline Posts: 12203 Location: United Kingdom Joined: Apr 10^th, 2010	Re: Upload via external programmer stopped working Reply #11 - Sep 9^th, 2023 at 7:46pm	Print Post
	I've removed the comment about upload using programmer simply because you will need to enable it in Visual Micro. We will look into why the automatic switch to programmer is not happening for the "no bootloader" boards. I suspect the issue you are having when use programmer is enabled is that with so many cores of same name installed visual micro is picking up the wrong programmer. Only one "programmer name" can win. Using the latest arduino avr core I see they have changed some names. for example they have a programmer called "AVR ISP or Atmel SDK 500" and another called "SDK500 Development Board". Both of those work when I try them with your core. To know where the issue is, we would need to test with the same arduino ide version as you and with some of those attiny packages you have installed. Alternatively you can select "Arduino 2x" or "Visual Micro" in the visual micro apps list and then use board manager to install the latest Arduino AVR core. You don't need to install Arduino2 if you use that option. If that doesn't resolve the issue then removing unused packages should resolve. You can remove folders that contain packages you are not using from C:\Users\Harry\AppData\Local\arduino15\packages. The folders below packages are created when you use board manager to install boards. Remiving them and restarting arduino/visualmicro will auto detect the change. Reinstalling a package via board manager will put them back again. Possible quick fix: Finally, if you have a different STK500 programmer in the list try using that. It should matter which SDK500 is used.
	« Last Edit: Sep 9^th, 2023 at 7:48pm by Tim@Visual Micro »

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Tim@Visual Micro Administrator Offline Posts: 12203 Location: United Kingdom Joined: Apr 10^th, 2010	Re: Upload via external programmer stopped working Reply #12 - Sep 9^th, 2023 at 8:00pm	Print Post
	ahh, because drazzy is down you won't be able to use the arduino2 or visualmicro apps because because board manager won't be able to access drazzy. If you want to use it you would have to put the avr folder contents from the git site into C:\Users\Harry\Documents\Arduino\Hardware\drazzy\avr But that might cause duplicate toolchain problem when using arduino 1x. Simplest solution will be to clear out your unused attiny toolchains for now.
	« Last Edit: Sep 9^th, 2023 at 8:01pm by Tim@Visual Micro »

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Tim@Visual Micro Administrator Offline Posts: 12203 Location: United Kingdom Joined: Apr 10^th, 2010	Re: Upload via external programmer stopped working Reply #13 - Sep 9^th, 2023 at 8:46pm	Print Post
	I have replicated all of your config and can't reproduce. What other SDK500 programmers do you see in the visual micro programmers list?


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HarryS Junior Member Offline Posts: 43 Joined: Sep 8^th, 2023	Re: Upload via external programmer stopped working Reply #14 - Sep 10^th, 2023 at 2:11pm	Print Post
	Hi Tim! Thanks for your intensive work on my problem! I will try to answer your questions (pronounced and implicit) one after the other... perhaps not in timely order. Ok, let's start with the last: I have only one Atmel STK500 programmer in the list:

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HarryS Junior Member Offline Posts: 43 Joined: Sep 8^th, 2023	Re: Upload via external programmer stopped working Reply #15 - Sep 10^th, 2023 at 3:10pm	Print Post
	Tim@Visual Micro wrote on Sep 9^th, 2023 at 8:00pm: ahh, because drazzy is down you won't be able to use the arduino2 or visualmicro apps because because board manager won't be able to access drazzy. I might happily got a time slot when drazzy was online yesterday, because I managed to deinstall and install back the AtTinyCore. Just now I'm stuck without it (deleted it from .json list in Arduino IDE) and it vanished everywhere).


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HarryS Junior Member Offline Posts: 43 Joined: Sep 8^th, 2023	Re: Upload via external programmer stopped working Reply #16 - Sep 10^th, 2023 at 4:23pm	Print Post
	Additional info: I switched to DIY ATtiny by James Sleeman, 2023.4.19-gcc7.3 Here I get the same problems as with drazzy. I'm not able to test Arduino IDE with drazzy, but DIY ATtiny works with Arduino IDE. Upload via Button "Compile and Upload" does exactly this. And an update to my initial claim: HarryS wrote on Sep 9^th, 2023 at 12:06pm: The funny fact: „Compile + Upload“ does not work, whereas „vMicro – Uploader – Upload last build“ works fine. At the moment I can call this option and it says "The upload process has finished.", but the entire process is very short and obviously it only reads the devices signature and the fuses. A change in the program is not transferred to the AtTiny. I'm not sure whether this was true yesterday, too, I missed to crosscheck with a change in the program


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Tim@Visual Micro Administrator Offline Posts: 12203 Location: United Kingdom Joined: Apr 10^th, 2010	Re: Upload via external programmer stopped working Reply #17 - Sep 10^th, 2023 at 4:43pm	Print Post
	Which arduino avr version did you install into board manager?


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HarryS Junior Member Offline Posts: 43 Joined: Sep 8^th, 2023	Re: Upload via external programmer stopped working Reply #18 - Sep 10^th, 2023 at 6:10pm	Print Post
	Arduino AVR Boards v1.8.6


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Tim@Visual Micro Administrator Offline Posts: 12203 Location: United Kingdom Joined: Apr 10^th, 2010	Re: Upload via external programmer stopped working Reply #19 - Sep 10^th, 2023 at 10:40pm	Print Post
	edited The Arduino avr v1.8.6 boards package implements a programmer called "Atmel STK500 development board". That programmer auto selects the STK500 version/protocol. The 1.8.6 package also implements a programmer called "AVRISP mkII" which uses STK500v2 and a programmer called "AVR ISP" which uses STK500v1 protocol. The programmers called "AVR ISP and "Atmel STK500 development board" use stk500v1 + COM port. Question 1) What version is the arduino ide that you have installed? btw: Now that you have uninstalled the mightCore you will proably only see "AVR ISP" programmer from the official arduino list. Any other programmer willbe from some other package you have installed.
	« Last Edit: Sep 10^th, 2023 at 11:07pm by Tim@Visual Micro »

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