Computer won't recognize phones via USB

[mastamind518]

I wasn't sure which section to ask this under to I put it here...

For some reason, my computer is not able to connect to phones using usb. It started about a year ago when iTunes would not recognize my iPhone half the time. I thought my phone was faulty because I had dropped it, and ignored the problem. But I recently got a new phone, Samsung Focus with WP7, and I am not able to connect it to Zune player to add/remove songs. It worked the very first time i connected it, but since then it has not. I also tried another phone (Pantech Laser) and it did the same thing; worked the very first time I connected, was able to transfer files, but after that, it didn't work.
The phones charge when connected, but the computer does not recognize it as a phone, or at all for that matter. And they work fine when I connect them to my netbook, so its not the phones or the cables.

All other USB devices function normally (flash drive, hard drive, printer, keyboard/mouse).

Any specific settings I can check for phones not working?

Thanks for any help.

Edit:
When i connect the phone, Zune player does open up, so I assume it sees it as a phone initially. But Zune says no device connected. Similar problem happened with my iPhone n iTunes, the program started when I connected, but unable to actually recognize the phone.

 

[nate42nd]

This is just a thought but I wonder if Windows is set to get drivers itself. I assume it is unless you have changed it.

This sounds like a driver problem or a USB port problem. Have you tried all USB ports? Maybe your motherboard has a problem with front panel USB or not enough power to the USB (although that doesn't sound probable with a phone) You might try a splitter which plugs into 2 USB ports on the machine and then into the phone if it's not proprietary. That's all I can think if everything else works.

I hope someone can help you. I would post this in hardware. Someone there can help. Good luck. If it works on one machine it will work on this one. We just need to find the right problem.

 

[mastamind518]

This is just a thought but I wonder if Windows is set to get drivers itself. I assume it is unless you have changed it.

This sounds like a driver problem or a USB port problem. Have you tried all USB ports? Maybe your motherboard has a problem with front panel USB or not enough power to the USB (although that doesn't sound probable with a phone) You might try a splitter which plugs into 2 USB ports on the machine and then into the phone if it's not proprietary. That's all I can think if everything else works.

I hope someone can help you. I would post this in hardware. Someone there can help. Good luck. If it works on one machine it will work on this one. We just need to find the right problem.

Thanks for your input. I tried front and back usb ports. I also tried updating the controller drivers from device manager.

I guess my last option is to reinstall windows. Hopefully someone can find a solution before I have to take that route.

Can mods move the thread to hardware? Or should i just repost it? (or is there a way for me to move it myself?)

Edit:

Reposted here: http://www.sevenforums.com/hardware-devices/144876-computer-wont-recognize-phones-via-usb.html

Please reply there