Help wiring a pic processor to a FTD chip
The &quot;FTD1232&quot; is actually an FTDIchip.com product such as FT232.
Also, it is possible that the reset button is actually wired (not like in the diagram but really on the board) to the wrong side of the resistor? In that case pressing the button would directly short the 5V supply to ground, which matches the symptoms you describe.