Freeduino No USB Communications

I've already emailed the following but have further added to this.

Hi,
I've just purchased a Franzis Tutorial Kit for Arduino (Freeduino).

Laptop Dell Vostro (Windows 8 Pro), Nothing else connected to it.

Installed the CDM20600.exe FTDI Driver on the CD.
Powered the board with 9VDC. Green PWR LED Lite and Red Blinking LED on Pin 13.
Plug in between the Laptop and the Freeduino.

I get a warning message on my laptop "Power Surge on the USB Port (unkown USB Device needs more power than the Port can supply)".

I further looked at the board and there's a solder bridge between two of the 4 pins in a square pattern underneath for USB Connecions that doesn't look right (not sure there should be a bridge).

My USB Connections also stopped working and I had to resovle this by uninstalling and reinstalling the USB Controller drivers.

I did consider unbridging but am now worried my laptop might be damaged. Have tried support@franzis.de but there's been no reply. Do you think its is a faulty manufactured board.

Also I tried the USB cable Only with the USB Jumper set to USB should this not Power the board without having to install fTDI drivers?

thanks

Paul

Is it possible to take a picture of the "bridge" and post back?

Hi I couldn't attach a photo here but have a link to is on photo bucket below

thanks

Paul

That bridge is a manufacturing defect. You should remove the bridge or get a replacement.

Thanks for confirming.