I created a new design using the FT231XS chip that has RTS and DTR pins to allow me to program an ESP8266-01 module without holding down a button and powering it up. The two NPN transistors used in other designs should take care of things.
Right now in the Arduino IDE things look fine.
-power is going where it should
-the FTDI com port appears
-programming leds blink for a second but the sketch will not upload
Can someone take a look at the attached schematic to see if anything obvious was left out? I'll poke around with the oscilloscope over the next few days to find the problem.
Mike - See more at: http://www.esp8266.com/viewtopic.php?f=13&t=10223#sthash.6nc9Gyd7.dpuf[0_1464802364297_Schematic.1PDF.PDF](Uploading 100%)