installing an arduino bootloader
One thing that can happen with cheap arduino clones is that they sometimes come without a bootloader installed.
Fortunately it's not too hard to install yourself.
Here's a couple of methods - one that is easier (in my experience) than the other.
Feel free to comment on my mistakes in the convenient comment section below.
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My tip jar: / pileofstuff
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This isn't the only way to do it.
It's probably not the best way to do it.
But it's how I do it.