Can't charge my phone using Optimus V USB port

G

gartuc

Member
I can't charge my phone using my new Optimus V laptop. Its a blackberry 9790 and I'm using the official blackberry USB cable. When I plug it into my desktop or old laptop, the phone asks if I want to 'charge or sync'. I usually just press charge and leave it for a couple of hours.

When I plug it into the new Optimus V (USB 3 or 2 sockets), the charger icon on the phone just flickers and it continuously brings up the 'charge or sync' options. The battery eventually runs flat. I can't be sure, but I think it worked OK a few weeks ago when the laptop was new.

Am I doing something wrong or is this a technical fault - how can I test/diagnose the problem?

Thanks,
Gareth
 
ubuysa

ubuysa

The BSOD Doctor
Does the phone require software and/or a driver to be installed on your Optimus V first?
 
G

gartuc

Member
ubuysa said:
Does the phone require software and/or a driver to be installed on your Optimus V first?
Click to expand...

The software is not needed for a simple charge, but to synchronise etc. I have the software installed anyway - it detects the phone then it is instantly lost again it sees the same behaviour as the phone sees - the USB port seems to turn on and off several times per second!

(Is this technical support forum the correct way to get technical support from PCS?)
 
ubuysa

ubuysa

The BSOD Doctor
gartuc said:
The software is not needed for a simple charge, but to synchronise etc. I have the software installed anyway - it detects the phone then it is instantly lost again it sees the same behaviour as the phone sees - the USB port seems to turn on and off several times per second!
Click to expand...

Ok, I guessed that but it was worth asking. :)

Can you use the USB ports to charge other devices?

Can you power other devices from them?

Can you read and write to other devices through them?

I'm trying to establish whether your USB ports are working ok, we know the phone is ok because you've tried it on another laptop.

I assume you have all the required drivers installed?

Did you order the laptop with Windows pre-installed or did you install it yourself?

I see that you think it might have worked a few weeks ago, what have you done to it since then do you think? Windows updates? Driver updates? Any other software updates? Any new software installed?

Do you have any other external devices plugged in to USB ports? If so unplug them all and try the phone again.

Sorry for all the questions but I'm trying to get a picture of what might be wrong. :)
 
G

gartuc

Member
Don't worry about questions - I'm used to it as I do PC support myself sometimes!

Here's all the facts that I can see are relevant:
The laptop is an Optimus V and came pre-installed with Window 8. I've added Office and a few other standard bits and pieces and it has updated itself several times from the MSUpdate site.

I have a 2.4ghz wireless mouse dongle thingy permanently in one USB port. I've tried it in all 4 USB ports and it works fine. I have a USB reading light which also works in all 4 ports (at the same time as the dongle). This proves (to me) that the USB ports all have power (small amount at least) and I can use at least 2 simultaneously.

The drivers for the phone are up-to-date, but like I said they are not actually required for just a charge. Unfortunately, I don't have any other USB devices that charge or transfer data.

The odd thing is that I just tried it again today and the phone is quite happily charging right now! Its only dropped off once or twice.

This suggests to me that something is interfering with the USB port operation, or that the phone is doing something. I've therefore tried turning on and off all the settings I can think of - wireless on the phone, wireless and Bluetooth on the laptop, but nothing makes any difference today! The phone is now Bluetooth connected to the laptop as well as USB and they are both on the same Wi-Fi network. I can't find any setting that breaks the charging! I've even tried the Optimus switch (that what its called?) to switch to high power CPU and GPU settings. No effect - phone still charging!

Now I'm stumped - it ain't broke any more!! Not sure what I do next, but I won't trust it as a charging station while I'm away for a good few weeks again!
 
G

gartuc

Member
Another update, 5 mins after last post:

I have 2 micro usb cables. Both charge the phone perfectly on my desktop PC. One cable seems to charge the phone just fine from my laptop on the USB3 ports (today!), but not from the USB2 ports. The other cable won't charge the phone from any of the laptop USB ports.

Both cables charged the phone just fine from my old Dell 6400 laptop.

The fault does seem to be in the laptop, but I can't figure out what it is!
 
ubuysa

ubuysa

The BSOD Doctor
Hmmm, that's curious. :)

My best guess would be that there is some minor incompatibility with the two cables you have. As you say, if the USB ports power a light they can deliver charging current (500mA max for USB2 and 900mA max for USB3). Is it charging now using one of those two cables you mentioned, or is it using a different one? Try waggling the cables in the USB ports a little see whether that breaks it?

I'd have thought it has to be the cables, you've proved the phone and (it seems) the PC USB ports too. Cable qualities do vary, avoid the cheap Chinese imports, look for named brands, ideally you want gold-plated pins, and be sure it has the USB certified logo on it:

usb2logo.gif

USB2 certified logo

899961085usb-3-0-superspeed1.jpg

USB3 certified logo
 
G

gartuc

Member
The two cables I have are from both ends of the quality spectrum. One is the official blackberry cable that came with the phone and the other is a cheap, retractable cable from ebay (plastic already broken off the end!). Both cables behave perfectly in my desktop and old laptop, so I had ruled out an issue with the cables.

That is, I had rules out cable issues until I used my new laptop. The retractable cable simply doesn't work when plugged into my new laptop - its perfect elsewhere (in fact, I'm now using it as a blackberry dock on my desktop PC and it is perfect). Even the official blackberry usb cable won't charge my phone when plugged into the USB 2 ports on my new laptop.

In summary, it seems that the USB ports on the new Optimus V laptop are extremely fussy and temperamental. This seems to fit with the quality of some other features of the chassis - the fan is ridiculous (see other threads) and the speakers are the worst I have even encountered on any laptop, anywhere, ever (I've seen quite a few too over the last 25 years!). This is not a reflection of PCS build quality or the rest of the components in the computer, just the chassis is *really* cheap!! I wouldn't buy another!

I bought this laptop to replace a very old Dell 6400 and a few times I've nearly ditched it and gone back to the 8 years old Dell. I travel with work and play games in the evenings, so it seemed like a perfect upgrade - GTX765 graphics, SSD, spare HD slot, 4th gen intel, 3 DIMM slots etc etc.

So now, instead of a laptop, power lead and a couple of tiny retractable USB cables, my compact laptop bag now has an external bluetooth speaker rammed in beside the laptop charger and now I'll need add my mains mobile phone charger in there too. Not impressed at all!!

Beware buyers - the Optimus laptop isn't quite the bargain you think!!
 
ubuysa

ubuysa

The BSOD Doctor
The chassis of the Optimus V is, I understand, exactly the same as the Optimus IV which I've had for a few months now. The speakers are awful, on that we agree, but I knew that before I bought mine. I have never had any issues with any of the the USB ports on mine, though I'm quite fussy about what USB cables I use. The fan issue doesn't exist on the Optimus IV which leads me to think the BIOS upgrade Clevo are promising will be a proper solution to that problem on the Optimus V. I don't recognise your labelling the chassis as "cheap", it's robust, well put together and as rugged as any other laptop I've had (and I've had a few). I most certainly would buy another one.

If you think you might have a hardware problem with your USB ports you're best bet is to call PCS and get it RMA'd.
 
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