Well I rember exactly a year ago when i was on a rookie team with the exact same problem. It gets better, since them I have learned a third programming language and written 6 different auton codes for the bot, This time last year I could do little more than program a TI 83 in a dummed down version of basic, once you get it it just keeps coming.
Now to solve your problem (or atleast to help) are you uasing a laptop or desk top. With a laptop make sure it sees the port your using, with a desktop dont bother fighting with it if you have acess to another computer use that instead, I have an HP and an Emachine at home with Identical processors, memory and operating systems, however I can only load code from my HP and not my parents Emachine, go figure. Have someone take it home and try, It seemed to me that the edu rc is far more tempermental than its FRC counter part.
Like I said I was in the same place last year, I had no mentor help and no experience (I don't know what your mentor situation is like) If you need more help then PM or Email me. I'd be more than happy to give you a hand, also if you have a phone with free long distance Id be happy to give you my cell number let me know. Email is
James_brown830@yahoo.com
James