Arduino 1.8.6 Error Downloading 3rd party boards

[NathanielJS1541]

When trying to download 3rd party boards, I put the link (for example I will use https://adafruit.github.io/arduino-board-index/package_adafruit_index.json) into the Additional board URLs in the preferences, and then go to the board manager and I get this error:

Error downloading https://adafruit.github.io/arduino-board-index/package_adafruit_index.json.

Arduino boards are installed just fine, and Arduino is whitelisted in my security software (Kaspersky). I have also tried disabling my security software completely.

I have completely uninstalled Java and Arduino, and re-installed them and I still get the same error. I have trawled through so many forums but none of the methods posted there seem to work.

I am using Windows 10 Home x64 bit Version 10.0.15063 Build 15063.

[bluemurder]

Similar error is showed when internet connection is not available or there's a proxy server blocking some network requests. Check if you are in one of above conditions

[NathanielJS1541]

I definitely have an internet connection, and I'm pretty sure there isn't a proxy server as I can download and install the arduino boards that are already listed in the boards manager. I can access all of the links without an issue in my browser too.

[facchinm]

Hi @NathanielJS1541, would you mind testing the Beta version of the IDE (https://www.arduino.cc/en/Main/Software#beta) ? They can happily coexist side by side so it should be easy to test it.
Anyway, it looks like a firewall/proxy issue.
/self-reminder We should add some more information to the error output to ease troubleshooting 🙂

[NathanielJS1541]

I tried "arduino-PR-beta1.9-BUILD-24" but unfortunately got the same result. The thing that I'm confused about is that I can install any of the boards that are listed in the boards manager by default, so the IDE can access the internet.

[facchinm]

DNS problems on .io domains in your world region maybe?

[NathanielJS1541]

Could be... I did read a forum where Japan I think it was had that issue. Although I can access the .json from my browser? Not sure if this is relevant to that point though as I don't know enough in that area. I am in the UK and haven't found anyone experiencing the same issue but I'm not ruling it out.

[feikname]

I did read a forum where Japan I think it was had that issue

I believe you're referring to #6767?

[NathanielJS1541]

Yes that's the one. Unfortunately it looks less similar than I remember it being, I may try using a VPN to the US to see if anything changes.

[NathanielJS1541]

I just gave up in the end and "refreshed" my windows install, basically just uninstalled everything and reinstalled windows. Everything works now, so must have been an error in my registry or settings...

[BILLGLENN]

The Windows reinstall will work for a while. I have been battling this issue for 3 weeks now. At one point, I installed my cloned C:/ drive that I had created 2 weeks before this problem began. After swapping out the problematic C:/ with the clone, everything worked just great. So, I thought whatever was the problem was now banished from my system. Not so fast! About 1 week later, all of a sudden, the EXACT problem was back:

Error downloading https://adafruit.github.io/arduino-board-index/package_adafruit_index.json
Error downloading https://www.adafruit.com/package_adafruit_index.json

Keep in mind that NOTHING about the internet network or connectivity has been modified. Everyday, just routine usage of the Arduino UI and the same Adafruit board project was conducted. Then, one day, one just wakes up, turns on the computer, loads Arduino and BAM! --- the Adafruit boards will not load and thus there is no access to them. It's a complete disruption of what has been a long and prosperous development cycle. But no more. I am literally at my wits end trying to guess why this boards manager cannot get the Adafruit boards. They are the only ones that are blocked for some unknown reason. And, just for those who may be thinking viruses/malware etc., a full scan has been accomplished and there is nothing there. I hope there is some IT techy who will figure this one out. (It occurs across platforms) and it's only the Adafruit, third party files that are inaccessible. Thanks in advance.

[BILLGLENN]

After a couple hours (at least), I solved this bad boy. Having a known-good clone of my C:/ drive from 3 weeks ago (before this issue reared its ugly head), I was able to go through the ARDUINO15 directory of files and do a substitution, 1-by-1, of the files there. The annoying thing about other methods I tried was that once fixed, the problem would re-surface because one can edit the ARDUINO15 directory files only when the UI is not running. Else, the application will write over the "fix" and put you back to square one. Anyway, no soap opera. The bad files were the package_adafruit_index.json.sig.tmp and package_index.json.sig. Instead of deleting them, I just renamed them ....sig.xxx and .tmp.xxx followed by restarting the Arduino UI. Presto... no more issues downloading the Adafruit boards from GitHub. Damn, I am really glad to solve this one. It seemed to come back to life after updating the boards.

Enjoy.
PS: To confirm, I re-instated the bad files and, presto, the problem was back. Then it took all of 60 seconds to fix a problem that has cost me many, many days of lost time. I wish I knew more details but I'm not wasting any more time going through each of those files to figure out why they are so troublesome. Cao