In this guide, we will be showing you how to reinstall Linux on your Arduino Uno Q. Whether you are fixing the "error checking for updates" bug or just want a completely fresh start, this process will get your board back to an out-of-the-box state.
Important Note: This process performs a complete factory reset. You will lose all your data, projects, and custom configurations stored on the board. So please, if you have anything important on there, go ahead and back it up now!
We will be using the Arduino Flasher CLI tool to handle the heavy lifting. It's a straightforward process, so let's get into it!
What You Will Need:
To follow along with this guide, you will need:
- An Arduino Uno Q
- A USB-C Cable to connect to your PC
- A way to connect two pins together. This can be a Jumper Wire (Female to Female) or a Jumper Block/Shunt.
Reflashing
To reflash the board, we need to put it into a specific mode. To do this, you will need a way to short the two pins highlighted in the image on the right. You can use a female-to-female jumper wire, or if you have other boards or modules lying around, you might find one of those small plastic shunts or jumper blocks. However you achieve it, ensure these two pins on the board are connected together.
Next, we need the software tool that handles the flashing process. Go ahead and download the Arduino Flasher CLI from the official Arduino software page (ensure you grab the version suitable for your operating system).
Once downloaded, you may need to extract it. Go ahead and extract the contents to a handy location— this guide will assume you extracted it to your Downloads folder to keep things simple.
Now we’ll need to open up a new Command Prompt window and tell it to work in the file location of our extracted folder. To do this, open the folder that you just extracted in your file explorer. Copy the address from the address bar up top. Then, in your Command Prompt window, type in cd, and paste in that address. It should look something like this:
cd C:\Users\YourName\Downloads\arduino-flasher-cli-0.4.0-windows-amd64
Hit enter, and your terminal will now be working in this file.
Now let’s check that everything is working by punching in the following command:
arduino-flasher-cli
If you see a block of text showing you the available commands, you are good to go!
Next, ensure your Uno Q has those pins shorted as we discussed earlier, and go ahead and plug it into your PC. To start the process, run the following command:
arduino-flasher-cli flash latest
Note: This step might also prompt you to install the required USB drivers. If this window doesn’t pop up, you’ve likely already got them, but if it does, just hit install.
Throughout this process, you may be prompted to type in yes a few times to confirm steps in the process. This will take between 5 and 15 minutes, so be patient and let it do its thing. Do not unplug your board during this process.
Once you see the success message, you can unplug your Uno Q and remove the jumper block or wire you used to short the pins. Your Arduino will now be fully reflashed, factory reset, and ready to go through its first-time setup again.
If you need a hand with anything from this guide, or if the flasher gives you any trouble, feel free to drop a post in the forum below. We are all makers and happy to help. Until next time,
Happy making!
