I had a freaking 4 days now finding out what was going wrong while uploading sketches on Arduino Pro and Arduino Mini. Thanks to the net I found solutions, but unfortunately not all information in one place. This is why i thought i but this together in one post.
My Pro and Mini would terminate each attempt of uploading sketches with an error. The cause for this could only be wrong cabeling from FTDI to Arduino or missing bootloaders.
Therefore my first step has been to burn new bootloaders by turning an Arduino Uno into a bootloader:
Load Sketch ArduinoISP from Files/Examples on Arduino Uno
Uno Arduino Pro/Mini
D11 D11
D12 D12
D13 D13
5 or 3.3V VCC
GND GND
D10 RST
Select Arduino Pro or Mini according to what you are using from Tools/Board
Select w/ Arduino as ISP from Tools/BurnBootloader
Off you go...
No the wireing for the uploading
The FTDI used is the UM232R. Same wiring possible with any FTDI Board
For 3.3V Boards
Arduino Mini/Pro 3.3V FTDI
TX RX (5)
RX TX (1)
5/3.3V 3.3V (19)
GND GND (24)
RST DTR
Arduino Pro 5V FTDI
TX RX (5)
RX TX (1)
5/3.3V USB = 5V (14)
GND GND (24)
RST DTR
I did this with 4 different boards and it worked perfectly and smooth....Have fun