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From time to time the Arduino Pro Mini clones, such as the Funduino, come without the bootloader installed. This means you cannot programme them with the Arduino software until you have loaded the bootloader onto the board.

However, this can be resolved by using an Arduino Uno to act as a bootload programmer using the ArduinoISP sketch and following the steps below:

1. Connect the Arduino Uno via USB to the PC.
2. Open the Arduino IDE.
3. Select the correct COM port and board (Arduino Uno).
4. Open the ArduinoISP sketch (File>Examples>ArduinoISP).
5. Upload the sketch. Once completed, your Arduino Uno is now programmed to be an ISP programmer.
6. Power the Uno off and wire the Uno to the Arduino Pro Mini (see below)
7. Power on the Uno.
8. Select the correct COM port.
9. IMPORTANT: Select board Arduino Pro Mini 5v w/ATmega328 as the board we are uploading to.
10. From the Tools menu, select Burn Bootloader > w/Aduino as ISP

After a few seconds the IDE should show "Done burning bootloader". If this is also your result you have successfully reinstalled the bootloader on you Arduino Pro Mini.

Next, connect the FTDI board to the Arduino Pro Mini and attempt to upload a sketch.

Connections:

1. Uno--------------------------Pro Mini
2. 5v----------------------------VCC
3. GND------------------------GND
4. Digital Pin 11(MOSI)----pin 11 (MOSI)
5. Digital Pin 12(MISO)----pin 12 (MISO)
6. Digital Pin 13(SCK)-----pin 13 (SCK)
7. Digital Pin 10-------------RST

If you want to see more diagnostics the sketch offers some LED positions.