I've messed with 5v and 3.3v pro-mini's and from the beginning up until now I have to manually reset the promini to get the upload to start. Usually it will start if I time the reset at about the same time it would be normally done by the ide. I don't know it that will help but it's been my solution with the cheap clones.
Now if I may I'd like to present an issue I've encountered with the pro-minis:
I have a 2.4" display with spi interface to save some gpio pins (particularly the interrupt 0 pin) for input. Documentation points to the voltages being 3.3v, and I thought I'd get ahead by using a 3.3v pro-mini to avoid level translation. That's where the problems started. So far I've been unable to upload any examples from anywhere that don't produce compiler errors such as:
"avrdude: verification error, first mismatch at byte 0x0406
0x3f != 0x7f
avrdude: verification error; content mismatch
avrdude: verification error; content mismatch
Obviously this isn't strictly a display issue, but I wonder if anyone else in an effort to remain at 3.3v has had similar issues?
I've uploaded the sketches to an UNO, and a Nano successfully, (I've yet to try running the script). I'm waiting for resistors for cheap and dirty level translation, (temporarily) even though I prefer a more solid method.
Throughout the frustration I was able to upload several "standard" sketches from the examples, such as blink etc. What has changed?