Vista Tutorial - Won't charge phone through USB

On my old XP machine, I could plug my Motorola into the USB port, and it
started charging automatically. I now have a dual-core Pentium Toshiba with
Vista. I was certainly surprised when I plugged my phone in and was met with
a message box requesting that I install a driver. I don't want Vista to find
and install software or a driver. I just want to charge my phone.

Vista asks for a disc, which I've never had, and it can't find any driver
online.

My phone will not charge, because I can't complete the "install new
hardware" process, but I don't want to install anything. I just want to use
the computer as a power source.

What do I do? Is my shiny new Toshiba and whizzer new Vista unable simply
to charge a cell phone?

Thanks!

I suggest you contact the manufacturer of your cell phone for the
answers to your questions.
If a driver is needed, they will be able to tell if one is available.
If a driver is not needed, they should be able to help as well.

--
Jupiter Jones [MVP]
http://www3.telus.net/dandemar
http://www.dts-l.org


"Lance" <Lance@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:031D9676-B010-4C4D-B486-A09636318F97@microsoft.com...
> On my old XP machine, I could plug my Motorola into the USB port,
> and it
> started charging automatically. I now have a dual-core Pentium
> Toshiba with
> Vista. I was certainly surprised when I plugged my phone in and was
> met with
> a message box requesting that I install a driver. I don't want
> Vista to find
> and install software or a driver. I just want to charge my phone.
>
> Vista asks for a disc, which I've never had, and it can't find any
> driver
> online.
>
> My phone will not charge, because I can't complete the "install new
> hardware" process, but I don't want to install anything. I just
> want to use
> the computer as a power source.
>
> What do I do? Is my shiny new Toshiba and whizzer new Vista unable
> simply
> to charge a cell phone?
>
> Thanks!

Why would Vista require a driver when XP did not?

Seems odd, that's all. I just assumed I could use the computer as a power
source. Vista shouldn't need a driver for that, right?


"Jupiter Jones [MVP]" wrote:

> I suggest you contact the manufacturer of your cell phone for the
> answers to your questions.
> If a driver is needed, they will be able to tell if one is available.
> If a driver is not needed, they should be able to help as well.
>
> --
> Jupiter Jones [MVP]
> http://www3.telus.net/dandemar
> http://www.dts-l.org
>
>
> "Lance" <Lance@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
> news:031D9676-B010-4C4D-B486-A09636318F97@microsoft.com...
> > On my old XP machine, I could plug my Motorola into the USB port,
> > and it
> > started charging automatically. I now have a dual-core Pentium
> > Toshiba with
> > Vista. I was certainly surprised when I plugged my phone in and was
> > met with
> > a message box requesting that I install a driver. I don't want
> > Vista to find
> > and install software or a driver. I just want to charge my phone.
> >
> > Vista asks for a disc, which I've never had, and it can't find any
> > driver
> > online.
> >
> > My phone will not charge, because I can't complete the "install new
> > hardware" process, but I don't want to install anything. I just
> > want to use
> > the computer as a power source.
> >
> > What do I do? Is my shiny new Toshiba and whizzer new Vista unable
> > simply
> > to charge a cell phone?
> >
> > Thanks!
>
>

Are you sure windows XP did not have and use a native driver for that
phone?

--
Jupiter Jones [MVP]
http://www3.telus.net/dandemar
http://www.dts-l.org


"Lance" <Lance@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:51F1A529-4604-405D-A141-F1379FB06134@microsoft.com...
> Why would Vista require a driver when XP did not?
>
> Seems odd, that's all. I just assumed I could use the computer as a
> power
> source. Vista shouldn't need a driver for that, right?

Lance,

Also, Windows doesn't know you only want to charge your batteries. When you
connect a device to a USB port, Windows thinks you want to run some program,
and that takes a driver.

--
freddy


"Lance" wrote:

> Why would Vista require a driver when XP did not?
>
> Seems odd, that's all. I just assumed I could use the computer as a power
> source. Vista shouldn't need a driver for that, right?
>
>
> "Jupiter Jones [MVP]" wrote:
>
> > I suggest you contact the manufacturer of your cell phone for the
> > answers to your questions.
> > If a driver is needed, they will be able to tell if one is available.
> > If a driver is not needed, they should be able to help as well.
> >
> > --
> > Jupiter Jones [MVP]
> > http://www3.telus.net/dandemar
> > http://www.dts-l.org
> >
> >
> > "Lance" <Lance@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
> > news:031D9676-B010-4C4D-B486-A09636318F97@microsoft.com...
> > > On my old XP machine, I could plug my Motorola into the USB port,
> > > and it
> > > started charging automatically. I now have a dual-core Pentium
> > > Toshiba with
> > > Vista. I was certainly surprised when I plugged my phone in and was
> > > met with
> > > a message box requesting that I install a driver. I don't want
> > > Vista to find
> > > and install software or a driver. I just want to charge my phone.
> > >
> > > Vista asks for a disc, which I've never had, and it can't find any
> > > driver
> > > online.
> > >
> > > My phone will not charge, because I can't complete the "install new
> > > hardware" process, but I don't want to install anything. I just
> > > want to use
> > > the computer as a power source.
> > >
> > > What do I do? Is my shiny new Toshiba and whizzer new Vista unable
> > > simply
> > > to charge a cell phone?
> > >
> > > Thanks!
> >
> >

If your new Toshiba is a laptop it will not provide power through the USB
ports. Laptops will not supply power to external devices - it would drain
their batteries.



"Lance" <Lance@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:031D9676-B010-4C4D-B486-A09636318F97@microsoft.com...
> On my old XP machine, I could plug my Motorola into the USB port, and it
> started charging automatically. I now have a dual-core Pentium Toshiba
> with
> Vista. I was certainly surprised when I plugged my phone in and was met
> with
> a message box requesting that I install a driver. I don't want Vista to
> find
> and install software or a driver. I just want to charge my phone.
>
> Vista asks for a disc, which I've never had, and it can't find any driver
> online.
>
> My phone will not charge, because I can't complete the "install new
> hardware" process, but I don't want to install anything. I just want to
> use
> the computer as a power source.
>
> What do I do? Is my shiny new Toshiba and whizzer new Vista unable simply
> to charge a cell phone?
>
> Thanks!

"Dominic Payer" <dcp@fsv.co.uk> wrote in message
news:5053AEF5-0769-4E50-81DB-83A5E01980B0@microsoft.com...
> If your new Toshiba is a laptop it will not provide power through the USB
> ports. Laptops will not supply power to external devices - it would drain
> their batteries.
>
>
>
> "Lance" <Lance@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
> news:031D9676-B010-4C4D-B486-A09636318F97@microsoft.com...
>> On my old XP machine, I could plug my Motorola into the USB port, and it
>> started charging automatically. I now have a dual-core Pentium Toshiba
>> with
>> Vista. I was certainly surprised when I plugged my phone in and was met
>> with
>> a message box requesting that I install a driver. I don't want Vista to
>> find
>> and install software or a driver. I just want to charge my phone.
>>
>> Vista asks for a disc, which I've never had, and it can't find any driver
>> online.
>>
>> My phone will not charge, because I can't complete the "install new
>> hardware" process, but I don't want to install anything. I just want to
>> use
>> the computer as a power source.
>>
>> What do I do? Is my shiny new Toshiba and whizzer new Vista unable
>> simply
>> to charge a cell phone?
>>
>> Thanks!
>

Not true. My Toshiba laptop will supply power to USB devices. I use a Belkin
keyboard light that clips to the top of the display and is powered by the
USB port, no drivers required.
Also, I can charge my cell phone by plugging the charging cable into a USB
port. Note that I'm using a charging cable and not a data cable.

Hi,

All USB devices, like most hardware, require a driver. In XP, the driver for
your device may have been included as part of the OS, or as a part of a
supporting software installation you need when you originally got the phone.
In Vista, your phone manufacturer needs to supply you with a compatible one.

--
Best of Luck,

Rick Rogers, aka "Nutcase" - Microsoft MVP
http://mvp.support.microsoft.com/
Windows help - www.rickrogers.org
My thoughts http://rick-mvp.blogspot.com

"Lance" <Lance@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:51F1A529-4604-405D-A141-F1379FB06134@microsoft.com...
> Why would Vista require a driver when XP did not?
>
> Seems odd, that's all. I just assumed I could use the computer as a power
> source. Vista shouldn't need a driver for that, right?
>
>
> "Jupiter Jones [MVP]" wrote:
>
>> I suggest you contact the manufacturer of your cell phone for the
>> answers to your questions.
>> If a driver is needed, they will be able to tell if one is available.
>> If a driver is not needed, they should be able to help as well.
>>
>> --
>> Jupiter Jones [MVP]
>> http://www3.telus.net/dandemar
>> http://www.dts-l.org
>>
>>
>> "Lance" <Lance@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
>> news:031D9676-B010-4C4D-B486-A09636318F97@microsoft.com...
>> > On my old XP machine, I could plug my Motorola into the USB port,
>> > and it
>> > started charging automatically. I now have a dual-core Pentium
>> > Toshiba with
>> > Vista. I was certainly surprised when I plugged my phone in and was
>> > met with
>> > a message box requesting that I install a driver. I don't want
>> > Vista to find
>> > and install software or a driver. I just want to charge my phone.
>> >
>> > Vista asks for a disc, which I've never had, and it can't find any
>> > driver
>> > online.
>> >
>> > My phone will not charge, because I can't complete the "install new
>> > hardware" process, but I don't want to install anything. I just
>> > want to use
>> > the computer as a power source.
>> >
>> > What do I do? Is my shiny new Toshiba and whizzer new Vista unable
>> > simply
>> > to charge a cell phone?
>> >
>> > Thanks!
>>
>>

Tell Vista to look in the windows folder. Seems to work often with this
common Vista/USB problem.

Lance wrote:
> On my old XP machine, I could plug my Motorola into the USB port, and it
> started charging automatically. I now have a dual-core Pentium Toshiba with
> Vista. I was certainly surprised when I plugged my phone in and was met with
> a message box requesting that I install a driver. I don't want Vista to find
> and install software or a driver. I just want to charge my phone.
>
> Vista asks for a disc, which I've never had, and it can't find any driver
> online.
>
> My phone will not charge, because I can't complete the "install new
> hardware" process, but I don't want to install anything. I just want to use
> the computer as a power source.
>
> What do I do? Is my shiny new Toshiba and whizzer new Vista unable simply
> to charge a cell phone?
>
> Thanks!

But laptops provide one 500mA supply for all USB ports, not the 500mA to
each port that a desktop will provide.
This is enough for most USB powered peripherals, but laptop USB ports are
not intended to provide significant power drain. If too much power is drawn
some or all of the connected devices will either not work or malfunction.

If you need a serious power supply for laptop USB devices, e.g. to charge a
phone or run a bus powered scanner, you should use an external powered hub.


"Administrator" <mzw@mailinator.com> wrote in message
news:eDUR5QgxHHA.3400@TK2MSFTNGP03.phx.gbl...
> "Dominic Payer" <dcp@fsv.co.uk> wrote in message
> news:5053AEF5-0769-4E50-81DB-83A5E01980B0@microsoft.com...
>> If your new Toshiba is a laptop it will not provide power through the USB
>> ports. Laptops will not supply power to external devices - it would drain
>> their batteries.
>>
>>
>>
>> "Lance" <Lance@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
>> news:031D9676-B010-4C4D-B486-A09636318F97@microsoft.com...
>>> On my old XP machine, I could plug my Motorola into the USB port, and it
>>> started charging automatically. I now have a dual-core Pentium Toshiba
>>> with
>>> Vista. I was certainly surprised when I plugged my phone in and was met
>>> with
>>> a message box requesting that I install a driver. I don't want Vista to
>>> find
>>> and install software or a driver. I just want to charge my phone.
>>>
>>> Vista asks for a disc, which I've never had, and it can't find any
>>> driver
>>> online.
>>>
>>> My phone will not charge, because I can't complete the "install new
>>> hardware" process, but I don't want to install anything. I just want to
>>> use
>>> the computer as a power source.
>>>
>>> What do I do? Is my shiny new Toshiba and whizzer new Vista unable
>>> simply
>>> to charge a cell phone?
>>>
>>> Thanks!
>>
>
> Not true. My Toshiba laptop will supply power to USB devices. I use a
> Belkin keyboard light that clips to the top of the display and is powered
> by the USB port, no drivers required.
> Also, I can charge my cell phone by plugging the charging cable into a USB
> port. Note that I'm using a charging cable and not a data cable.
>