This tutorial is a guide to install arduino environment to your computer. It can be used for the following boards: Arduino Uno, Arduino Duemilanove, Nano, or Diecimila.
First Step: Download the arduino software from here. http://arduino.cc/en/Main/Software
When the download finishes, unzip the downloaded file. Make sure to preserve the folder structure. Double-click the folder to open it. There should be a few files and sub-folders inside.
Step 2: Connect the board to your computer with the usb cable. The green power LED (labelled PWR) should go on.
Step 3: Install the driver
Installing drivers for the Arduino Uno with Windows7, Vista, or XP:
- Plug in your board and wait for Windows to begin it's driver installation process. Â After a few moments, the process will fail, despite its best efforts
- Click on the Start Menu, and open up the Control Panel.
- While in the Control Panel, navigate to System and Security. Next, click on System. Once the System window is up, open the Device Manager.
- Look under Ports (COM & LPT). Â You should see an open port named "Arduino UNO (COMxx)"
- Right click on the "Arduino UNO (COmxx)" port and choose the "Update Driver Software" option.
- Next, choose the "Browse my computer for Driver software" option.
- Finally, navigate to and select the Uno's driver file, named "ArduinoUNO.inf", located in the "Drivers" folder of the Arduino Software download (not the "FTDI USB Drivers" sub-directory).
- Windows will finish up the driver installation from there.
Installing drivers for the Arduino Duemilanove, Nano, or Diecimila with Windows7, Vista, or XP:
When you connect the board, Windows should initiate the driver installation process (if you haven't used the computer with an Arduino board before).
On Windows Vista, the driver should be automatically downloaded and installed. (Really, it works!)
On Windows XP, the Add New Hardware wizard will open:
- When asked Can Windows connect to Windows Update to search for software? select No, not this time. Click next.
- Select Install from a list or specified location (Advanced) and click next.
- Make sure that Search for the best driver in these locations is checked; uncheck Search removable media; check Include this location in the search and browse to the drivers/FTDI USB Drivers directory of the Arduino distribution. (The latest version of the drivers can be found on the FTDI website.) Click next.
- The wizard will search for the driver and then tell you that a "USB Serial Converter" was found. Click finish.
- The new hardware wizard will appear again. Go through the same steps and select the same options and location to search. This time, a "USB Serial Port" will be found.
You can check that the drivers have been installed by opening the Windows Device Mananger (in the Hardware tab of System control panel). Look for a "USB Serial Port" in the Ports section; that's the Arduino board. (quoted from arduino guide)
Step 4: Launch the arduino software by double clicking the arduino.exe. You will see the program launch up. You can try the example code given eg: the blinkWithoutDelay code.
Open the code example sketch: File > Examples > Digital > blinkWithoutDelay.
In this example, simply connect an led between pin 13 and ground on the arduino board. If you have no led, you can also see the onboard led pin13 light up
Step 5: Select your board. See your packaging to determine the board.
Step 6: Select your serial port
To find out, you can disconnect your Arduino board and re-open the menu; the entry that disappears should be the Arduino board. Reconnect the board and select that serial port.
Step 7: Upload your code
click the "Upload" button in the environment. Wait a few seconds - you should see the RX and TX leds on the board flashing. If the upload is successful, the message "Done uploading." will appear in the status bar.
If successful you should the led lights up.
If you face any problem let me know.
