Attiny85 with arduino as ISP

Question

After serveral attempts, I can't make my arduino UNO to program an attiny85, no matter what I do. I've tried under windows 7 and also under ubuntu 14.04, to no avail. I've followed instructions on hi low tech site and similar ones on arduino site. Even some youtube video. Nothing. The wiring of my arduino is as described in those sites, so it should be correct. I'm using the 10uF capacitor too.

This is the output running avrdude manually, extra verbose:

 zop@mikasa:~$ sudo /usr/share/arduino/hardware/tools/avrdude -C/usr/share/arduino/hardware/tools/avrdude.conf -q -pattiny85 -cstk500v1 -P/dev/ttyACM0 -b19200 -Uflash:w:/tmp/build2861466093518309047.tmp/Fade.cpp.hex:i -v -v -v -v -v -v -v -v 
 avrdude: Version 6.0.1, compiled on Oct 21 2013 at 15:55:32
 Copyright (c) 2000-2005 Brian Dean, http://www.bdmicro.com/
 Copyright (c) 2007-2009 Joerg Wunsch
 System wide configuration file is "/usr/share/arduino/hardware/tools/avrdude.conf"
 User configuration file is "/home/zop/.avrduderc"
 User configuration file does not exist or is not a regular file, skipping
 Using Port : /dev/ttyACM0
 Using Programmer : stk500v1
 Overriding Baud Rate : 19200
 avrdude: Send: 0 [30] [20] 
 avrdude: Send: 0 [30] [20] 
 avrdude: Send: 0 [30] [20] 
 avrdude: Send: 0 [30] [20] 
 avrdude: Recv: . [14] 
 avrdude: Recv: . [10] 
 AVR Part : ATtiny85
 Chip Erase delay : 4500 us
 PAGEL : P00
 BS2 : P00
 RESET disposition : possible i/o
 RETRY pulse : SCK
 serial program mode : yes
 parallel program mode : yes
 Timeout : 200
 StabDelay : 100
 CmdexeDelay : 25
 SyncLoops : 32
 ByteDelay : 0
 PollIndex : 3
 PollValue : 0x53
 Memory Detail :
 Block Poll Page Polled
 Memory Type Mode Delay Size Indx Paged Size Size #Pages MinW MaxW ReadBack
 ----------- ---- ----- ----- ---- ------ ------ ---- ------ ----- ----- ---------
 eeprom 65 6 4 0 no 512 4 0 4000 4500 0xff 0xff
 Memory Ops:
 Oeration Inst Bit Bit Type Bitno Value
 ----------- -------- -------- ----- -----
 READ 31 VALUE 7 1
 30 VALUE 6 0
 29 VALUE 5 1
 28 VALUE 4 0
 27 VALUE 3 0
 26 VALUE 2 0
 25 VALUE 1 0
 24 VALUE 0 0
 23 VALUE 7 0
 22 VALUE 6 0
 21 VALUE 5 0
 20 IGNORE 4 0
 19 IGNORE 3 0
 18 IGNORE 2 0
 17 IGNORE 1 0
 16 ADDRESS 8 0
 15 ADDRESS 7 0
 14 ADDRESS 6 0
 13 ADDRESS 5 0
 12 ADDRESS 4 0
 11 ADDRESS 3 0
 10 ADDRESS 2 0
 9 ADDRESS 1 0
 8 ADDRESS 0 0
 7 OUTPUT 7 0
 6 OUTPUT 6 0
 5 OUTPUT 5 0
 4 OUTPUT 4 0
 3 OUTPUT 3 0
 2 OUTPUT 2 0
 1 OUTPUT 1 0
 0 OUTPUT 0 0
 WRITE 31 VALUE 7 1
 30 VALUE 6 1
 29 VALUE 5 0
 28 VALUE 4 0
 27 VALUE 3 0
 26 VALUE 2 0
 25 VALUE 1 0
 24 VALUE 0 0
 23 VALUE 7 0
 22 VALUE 6 0
 21 VALUE 5 0
 20 IGNORE 4 0
 19 IGNORE 3 0
 18 IGNORE 2 0
 17 IGNORE 1 0
 16 ADDRESS 8 0
 15 ADDRESS 7 0
 14 ADDRESS 6 0
 13 ADDRESS 5 0
 12 ADDRESS 4 0
 11 ADDRESS 3 0
 10 ADDRESS 2 0
 9 ADDRESS 1 0
 8 ADDRESS 0 0
 7 INPUT 7 0
 6 INPUT 6 0
 5 INPUT 5 0
 4 INPUT 4 0
 3 INPUT 3 0
 2 INPUT 2 0
 1 INPUT 1 0
 0 INPUT 0 0
 LOADPAGE_LO 31 VALUE 7 1
 30 VALUE 6 1
 29 VALUE 5 0
 28 VALUE 4 0
 27 VALUE 3 0
 26 VALUE 2 0
 25 VALUE 1 0
 24 VALUE 0 1
 23 VALUE 7 0
 22 VALUE 6 0
 21 VALUE 5 0
 20 VALUE 4 0
 19 VALUE 3 0
 18 VALUE 2 0
 17 VALUE 1 0
 16 VALUE 0 0
 15 VALUE 7 0
 14 VALUE 6 0
 13 VALUE 5 0
 12 VALUE 4 0
 11 VALUE 3 0
 10 VALUE 2 0
 9 ADDRESS 1 0
 8 ADDRESS 0 0
 7 INPUT 7 0
 6 INPUT 6 0
 5 INPUT 5 0
 4 INPUT 4 0
 3 INPUT 3 0
 2 INPUT 2 0
 1 INPUT 1 0
 0 INPUT 0 0
 WRITEPAGE 31 VALUE 7 1
 30 VALUE 6 1
 29 VALUE 5 0
 28 VALUE 4 0
 27 VALUE 3 0
 26 VALUE 2 0
 25 VALUE 1 1
 24 VALUE 0 0
 23 VALUE 7 0
 22 VALUE 6 0
 21 IGNORE 5 0
 20 IGNORE 4 0
 19 IGNORE 3 0
 18 IGNORE 2 0
 17 IGNORE 1 0
 16 ADDRESS 8 0
 15 ADDRESS 7 0
 14 ADDRESS 6 0
 13 ADDRESS 5 0
 12 ADDRESS 4 0
 11 ADDRESS 3 0
 10 ADDRESS 2 0
 9 VALUE 1 0
 8 VALUE 0 0
 7 IGNORE 7 0
 6 IGNORE 6 0
 5 IGNORE 5 0
 4 IGNORE 4 0
 3 IGNORE 3 0
 2 IGNORE 2 0
 1 IGNORE 1 0
 0 IGNORE 0 0
 Block Poll Page Polled
 Memory Type Mode Delay Size Indx Paged Size Size #Pages MinW MaxW ReadBack
 ----------- ---- ----- ----- ---- ------ ------ ---- ------ ----- ----- ---------
 flash 65 6 32 0 yes 8192 64 128 4500 4500 0xff 0xff
 Memory Ops:
 Oeration Inst Bit Bit Type Bitno Value
 ----------- -------- -------- ----- -----
 READ_LO 31 VALUE 7 0
 30 VALUE 6 0
 29 VALUE 5 1
 28 VALUE 4 0
 27 VALUE 3 0
 26 VALUE 2 0
 25 VALUE 1 0
 24 VALUE 0 0
 23 VALUE 7 0
 22 VALUE 6 0
 21 VALUE 5 0
 20 VALUE 4 0
 19 ADDRESS 11 0
 18 ADDRESS 10 0
 17 ADDRESS 9 0
 16 ADDRESS 8 0
 15 ADDRESS 7 0
 14 ADDRESS 6 0
 13 ADDRESS 5 0
 12 ADDRESS 4 0
 11 ADDRESS 3 0
 10 ADDRESS 2 0
 9 ADDRESS 1 0
 8 ADDRESS 0 0
 7 OUTPUT 7 0
 6 OUTPUT 6 0
 5 OUTPUT 5 0
 4 OUTPUT 4 0
 3 OUTPUT 3 0
 2 OUTPUT 2 0
 1 OUTPUT 1 0
 0 OUTPUT 0 0
 READ_HI 31 VALUE 7 0
 30 VALUE 6 0
 29 VALUE 5 1
 28 VALUE 4 0
 27 VALUE 3 1
 26 VALUE 2 0
 25 VALUE 1 0
 24 VALUE 0 0
 23 VALUE 7 0
 22 VALUE 6 0
 21 VALUE 5 0
 20 VALUE 4 0
 19 ADDRESS 11 0
 18 ADDRESS 10 0
 17 ADDRESS 9 0
 16 ADDRESS 8 0
 15 ADDRESS 7 0
 14 ADDRESS 6 0
 13 ADDRESS 5 0
 12 ADDRESS 4 0
 11 ADDRESS 3 0
 10 ADDRESS 2 0
 9 ADDRESS 1 0
 8 ADDRESS 0 0
 7 OUTPUT 7 0
 6 OUTPUT 6 0
 5 OUTPUT 5 0
 4 OUTPUT 4 0
 3 OUTPUT 3 0
 2 OUTPUT 2 0
 1 OUTPUT 1 0
 0 OUTPUT 0 0
 LOADPAGE_LO 31 VALUE 7 0
 30 VALUE 6 1
 29 VALUE 5 0
 28 VALUE 4 0
 27 VALUE 3 0
 26 VALUE 2 0
 25 VALUE 1 0
 24 VALUE 0 0
 23 VALUE 7 0
 22 VALUE 6 0
 21 VALUE 5 0
 20 IGNORE 4 0
 19 IGNORE 3 0
 18 IGNORE 2 0
 17 IGNORE 1 0
 16 IGNORE 0 0
 15 IGNORE 7 0
 14 IGNORE 6 0
 13 IGNORE 5 0
 12 ADDRESS 4 0
 11 ADDRESS 3 0
 10 ADDRESS 2 0
 9 ADDRESS 1 0
 8 ADDRESS 0 0
 7 INPUT 7 0
 6 INPUT 6 0
 5 INPUT 5 0
 4 INPUT 4 0
 3 INPUT 3 0
 2 INPUT 2 0
 1 INPUT 1 0
 0 INPUT 0 0
 LOADPAGE_HI 31 VALUE 7 0
 30 VALUE 6 1
 29 VALUE 5 0
 28 VALUE 4 0
 27 VALUE 3 1
 26 VALUE 2 0
 25 VALUE 1 0
 24 VALUE 0 0
 23 VALUE 7 0
 22 VALUE 6 0
 21 VALUE 5 0
 20 IGNORE 4 0
 19 IGNORE 3 0
 18 IGNORE 2 0
 17 IGNORE 1 0
 16 IGNORE 0 0
 15 IGNORE 7 0
 14 IGNORE 6 0
 13 IGNORE 5 0
 12 ADDRESS 4 0
 11 ADDRESS 3 0
 10 ADDRESS 2 0
 9 ADDRESS 1 0
 8 ADDRESS 0 0
 7 INPUT 7 0
 6 INPUT 6 0
 5 INPUT 5 0
 4 INPUT 4 0
 3 INPUT 3 0
 2 INPUT 2 0
 1 INPUT 1 0
 0 INPUT 0 0
 WRITEPAGE 31 VALUE 7 0
 30 VALUE 6 1
 29 VALUE 5 0
 28 VALUE 4 0
 27 VALUE 3 1
 26 VALUE 2 1
 25 VALUE 1 0
 24 VALUE 0 0
 23 VALUE 7 0
 22 VALUE 6 0
 21 VALUE 5 0
 20 VALUE 4 0
 19 ADDRESS 11 0
 18 ADDRESS 10 0
 17 ADDRESS 9 0
 16 ADDRESS 8 0
 15 ADDRESS 7 0
 14 ADDRESS 6 0
 13 ADDRESS 5 0
 12 IGNORE 4 0
 11 IGNORE 3 0
 10 IGNORE 2 0
 9 IGNORE 1 0
 8 IGNORE 0 0
 7 IGNORE 7 0
 6 IGNORE 6 0
 5 IGNORE 5 0
 4 IGNORE 4 0
 3 IGNORE 3 0
 2 IGNORE 2 0
 1 IGNORE 1 0
 0 IGNORE 0 0
 Block Poll Page Polled
 Memory Type Mode Delay Size Indx Paged Size Size #Pages MinW MaxW ReadBack
 ----------- ---- ----- ----- ---- ------ ------ ---- ------ ----- ----- ---------
 signature 0 0 0 0 no 3 0 0 0 0 0x00 0x00
 Memory Ops:
 Oeration Inst Bit Bit Type Bitno Value
 ----------- -------- -------- ----- -----
 READ 31 VALUE 7 0
 30 VALUE 6 0
 29 VALUE 5 1
 28 VALUE 4 1
 27 VALUE 3 0
 26 VALUE 2 0
 25 VALUE 1 0
 24 VALUE 0 0
 23 VALUE 7 0
 22 VALUE 6 0
 21 VALUE 5 0
 20 IGNORE 4 0
 19 IGNORE 3 0
 18 IGNORE 2 0
 17 IGNORE 1 0
 16 IGNORE 0 0
 15 IGNORE 7 0
 14 IGNORE 6 0
 13 IGNORE 5 0
 12 IGNORE 4 0
 11 IGNORE 3 0
 10 IGNORE 2 0
 9 ADDRESS 1 0
 8 ADDRESS 0 0
 7 OUTPUT 7 0
 6 OUTPUT 6 0
 5 OUTPUT 5 0
 4 OUTPUT 4 0
 3 OUTPUT 3 0
 2 OUTPUT 2 0
 1 OUTPUT 1 0
 0 OUTPUT 0 0
 Block
 Programmer Type : STK500
 Description : Atmel STK500 Version 1.x firmware
 avrdude: Send: A [41] . [80] [20] 
 avrdude: Recv: . [14] 
 avrdude: Recv: . [02] 
 avrdude: Recv: . [10] 
 avrdude: Send: A [41] . [81] [20] 
 avrdude: Recv: . [14] 
 avrdude: Recv: . [01] 
 avrdude: Recv: . [10] 
 avrdude: Send: A [41] . [82] [20] 
 avrdude: Recv: . [14] 
 avrdude: Recv: . [12] 
 avrdude: Recv: . [10] 
 avrdude: Send: A [41] . [98] [20] 
 avrdude: Recv: . [14] 
 avrdude: Recv: . [00] 
 avrdude: Recv: . [10] 
 Hardware Version: 2
 Firmware Version: 1.18
 Topcard : Unknown
 avrdude: Send: A [41] . [84] [20] 
 avrdude: Recv: . [14] 
 avrdude: Recv: . [00] 
 avrdude: Recv: . [10] 
 avrdude: Send: A [41] . [85] [20] 
 avrdude: Recv: . [14] 
 avrdude: Recv: . [00] 
 avrdude: Recv: . [10] 
 avrdude: Send: A [41] . [86] [20] 
 avrdude: Recv: . [14] 
 avrdude: Recv: . [00] 
 avrdude: Recv: . [10] 
 avrdude: Send: A [41] . [87] [20] 
 avrdude: Recv: . [14] 
 avrdude: Recv: . [00] 
 avrdude: Recv: . [10] 
 avrdude: Send: A [41] . [89] [20] 
 avrdude: Recv: . [14] 
 avrdude: Recv: . [00] 
 avrdude: Recv: . [10] 
 Vtarget : 0.0 V
 Varef : 0.0 V
 Oscillator : Off
 SCK period : 0.1 us
 avrdude: Send: A [41] . [81] [20] 
 avrdude: Recv: . [14] 
 avrdude: Recv: . [01] 
 avrdude: Recv: . [10] 
 avrdude: Send: A [41] . [82] [20] 
 avrdude: Recv: . [14] 
 avrdude: Recv: . [12] 
 avrdude: Recv: . [10] 
 avrdude: Send: B [42] . [14] . [00] . [00] . [01] . [01] . [01] . [01] . [03] . [ff] . [ff] . [ff] . [ff] . [00] @ [40] . [02] . [00] . [00] . [00] [20] . [00] [20] 
 avrdude: Recv: . [14] 
 avrdude: Recv: . [10] 
 avrdude: PAGEL and BS2 signals not defined in the configuration file for part ATtiny85, using dummy values
 avrdude: Send: E [45] . [05] . [04] . [d7] . [a0] . [01] [20] 
 avrdude: Recv: . [14] 
 avrdude: Recv: . [10] 
 avrdude: Send: P [50] [20] 
 avrdude: ser_recv(): programmer is not responding
 avrdude: stk500_recv(): programmer is not responding
zop@mikasa:~$

I don't know what else to try, so suggestions are very welcome.

Thanks.

PS: I had to strip out some of the output text because it was bigger than 30000 chars, I hope the info is good enough.

• Omer: Some key information is missing; what board configuration did you target while uploading the sketch? High Low offers boards.txt with 3 different configurations, make sure to use the 1Mhz (ATtiny85 default). Also, please share your connections from the Arduino to the ATtiny
• Gerben: Try removing the capacitor, and add a wire between 5v and reset on the UNO. You did upload the ArduinoISP example sketch right? (before adding the cap/wire)
• microtherion: @Gerben, the fact that the responses to the first number of requests to the programmer were received is pretty clear evidence that the arduino reset was not a problem and the right sketch was loaded.
• Gerben: avrdude has some weird error messages so I'm not confident enough to say that Send and Recv messages indicate it's working. But it might. Could you post a picture of your wiring? Or maybe the fuses are incorrect. Is it a brand new chip?
• voidnull0x0: Thanks for your answers. The wiring of the Attiny85 is correct. No misidentifications with pin 1 to 5: Dot mark is pin 1. The attiny85 are fresh as they came from the (local) store. The ISP sketch was loaded previously, then using the attiny 1Mhz for the board when trying to upload the blink example (changing pin 13, obviously). Using arduino as ISP as a programmer for the upload to the attiny's (tried 2 different chips). I have to say that I'm sure I'm using a CLONE, eventhough it says "arduino" all over and has the whitish color on the back of the PCB. I don't know if that could be the probl

Answer 1

Your log demonstrates that

• Your programmer settings were correct.
• You have the right sketch loaded on the Arduino
• You have the Arduino auto-reset properly disabled.

The failure occurs at the point at which you're trying to enter programming mode. The two most likely error sources are:

• Your ATtiny85 is not wired up correctly (e.g. you misidentified pin 5 as pin 1, you used a wrong pin on the Arduino, you crossed two signals, etc).
• Your ATtiny85 is in a mode that prevents ISP reprogramming (programming the RSTDIBL fuse is the toughest of these mode, but merely setting the clock source to something odd will also cause this). Does your chip have a past, or is it fresh out of the box?

Answer 2

I spent days with exactly the same problem (well, trying to program a 328p). Then I purchased a USBISP (aka USBICSP), and all my problems went away. I got one which had a "program slowly" jumper - setting this jumper will do the equivalent of -b19200, but without needing to explicitly set it, so you can do it from the Arduino IDE. Just my 2c worth.