Windows 7 not recognizing USB cable

[snakebitekiss]

I have a USB cable for my phone, it worked up until 2 days ago.
I plug the cable in, and nothing pops up. I click "Connect to PC" on my phone and it tells me 'Please connect USB cable"

I have looked under Devices & Printers, Computer, and Windows Explorer...Nothing shows up.
Tried clicking all the drives/devices under computer, still nothing.

Basically it's acting like it's not even plugged in.

My computer is a Windows Vista, with Windows 7.

 

[alphanumeric]

How old is the phone/cable? I've seen one or more wires in the cable break after a lot of use. Usually right where the cable goes into the connector on the end. Try it on another PC, if it still doesn't work I'd replace the USB cable.

 

[snakebitekiss]

"How old is the phone/cable?"

I just got the phone&cable on Friday. It was working until last night. Tried it on a friends PC & it works, so it's not the cable.

 

[alphanumeric]

Try it in another USB port on that PC. Reboot the PC and try again. Check device manager for problem devices? Do other USB devices on that PC work?

 

[snakebitekiss]

Tried all USB ports. Still nothing.
Tried rebooting & trying again at least 3 times since Monday night.
No problem devices.
Some of the other USB devices work, some don't, but the ones that do work don't automatically open, we have to locate them, and then it dissappears.

 

[alphanumeric]

Power down the PC and unplug the power supply from the wall. Push the power button on the case to drain any power left over in the power supply. Plug the power supply back in and power up the PC. Now see it the USB ports work again.