Won't charge phone through USB

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Guest

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.
 
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?
 
Are you sure windows XP did not have and use a native driver for that
phone?
 
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.
 
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.
 
Dominic Payer said:
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.
Click to expand...

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

Windows help - www.rickrogers.org
My thoughts http://rick-mvp.blogspot.com
 
Tell Vista to look in the windows folder. Seems to work often with this
common Vista/USB problem.
 
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.
 
But laptops provide one 500mA supply for all USB ports, not the 500mA to 
each port that a desktop will provide.
Click to expand...

That is more correct than your first statement:
Laptops will not supply power to external devices - it would drain 
their batteries.
Click to expand...

In fact my Averatec not only supplies power to USB but it does not turn it
off when you turn off the laptop -- so you can charge iPods or phones
without having the laptop on. It's a dam' nuisance if you have a mouse
plugged in <g>

Depending on the Toshiba they may have a mix of always on and only on when
power on USB ports.
 
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