USB Connection issue w/ laptops
 

We have quite a few users with HP 6220 laptops and a docking station. I've noticed that there is a problem when connecting the blackberries with the provided cables via the docking station in that the handheld is rarely recognized by the laptop software (xp). Just wondering if anyone else has noticed this problem.

Through troubleshooting I've come to the conclusion that there is not enough power going through the USB cable from the docking station to the bberry to provide enough charge/connection to recognize the bberry. I've been able to connect a camera usb camera with the power adapter built into the usb cable and it works fine.

FYI:

STANDARD USB CABLE - included with bberry when you get one

http://www.laptopsforless.com/usbmini.jpg

USB CABLE - with built in power adapter normally used by digital cameras

http://www.adeal.com/images/5-Pin_Mini-B_USB_CBL.jpg

The Adapter used by bberries is a 5 PIN Mini B.

1. Does anyone know where to buy 3ft usb cables with the power adapter built into the cable?

2. Does anyone know if RIM has acknowledged a problem with certain hardware not allowing enough "juice" through the USB cables to recognize a handheld?

It has been discussed a lot in the forums, laptops don't always provide the power needed. One possible solution is to disable power management on the USB ports in the device manager.

If I remember correctly, this is a known issue with that series HP laptop dock. One of the USB ports is powered, the other is not. The one that is not powered barely works at all. Try switching ports, plug the BlackBerry directly into the laptop.

I've disabled the powerdowns on the USB ports in device manager, I'm going to see how it goes. I'll post the results.

I'm going to monitor of the next few weeks but this seemed to have done it! Thanks!

We use the HP nc6000 and Evo n600 and n610 and Dell D600 laptops... But now that you mention it, I think we've seen the issue more on the nc6000.

yeah we were using the EVO 800C and HP 4000 before the rollout of the new laptops to users, which are the nc6220. This is when the problem started to arise. We've also just rolled out our XP image to coincide with the new laptops. The bberry and usb doesn't have a problem with the older laptops, just the new nc6220's.

Seems to be ok with hardwiring the software to assume the usb is on all the time though.

I have a Dell D610 and the only thing I notice is that I sometimes have to restart the desktop manager. When I look at the task manager, I don't see the Bberry USBconnect executable. After the Desktop manager restart, all is well.

-G2D