I purchased a clone STLink V2 to program STM32 blue pills but I'm having problems. Using the STCube software, the STLink is recognized, but the blue pill is not.

Are some of the clone STLinks mismarked as to the connections? Mine is marked as shown in the picture, but in looking to verify my connections, I see two different configurations, where some of the pins are moved.

Also, I've read of bad solder joints in the clones. Any advice on getting the thing open?

 

interesting... also pins 7,9 and 10 are different. glad you bring this up as i was considering getting one...

 

I slid the board out by pressing on the USB connector. The silk screen on the case matches the labeling on the board. All the solder connections look decent. Sooo.... no headway so far.

 

bummer... sounds like something is wrong either with the programmer or the pill or software...
this looks straight forward:

 

I've read a lot of reports of flakey clones, but it could be the micros too. They do communicate via UART, but I've had no success using the Arduino bootloader once installed either.

I got the blue pills from Tayda Electronics, and they've been a reliable supplier.