vB Easy Archive - Pink Razr only charges from factory charger, not USB

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Pink Razr only charges from factory charger, not USB
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Posted by: DJS_TX

Forgive me if this has been covered, I tried a couple of searches and skimmed the FAQ with no luck.

Bought my wife a pink Razr (cingular) because that is what she wanted. Even though the phone has a standard mini USB 5 pin connection, it refuses to charge off of any of my USB cables or my USB chargers I have for other gadgets.

Shouldn't the phone respond when you plug it into a computer?

Is my wife's razr broken or do I not understand how it is supposed to work?

Thanks,
David

Posted by: XcitadelX

Unless the battery is completely dead, it should charge from the computer.
The fact that it charges from the OEM charger and not others is confusing. I'd probably bring it back for a replacement.

Posted by: DJester

You need MPT installed to charge from your computer.

Posted by: Frank_c

Or at least appropriate drivers installed. The phone has to be recognized properly as a device before it will charge from the PC.

Posted by: DJS_TX

????
I appreciate the responses but that totally confuses me...

The USB port on a computer puts out +5V and ground all the time regardless of the presence or absense of a driver. That's why all those goofy USB gadgets work that have no data like USB powered keyboard lights and USB powered fans.

There is always power available on a USB bus as long as the computer is powered even when no OS is loaded on the machine. How can drivers on the computer affect whether the phone charges?

This is pure supposition but I think Motorola must be using that unassigned pin 4 of the mini USB 5 pin (see http://www.networktechinc.com/technote.html) to charge from the wall charger. That way you can charge the phone without it recognizing it is connected to a computer.

But I have nothing to lose by installing a demo of the phonetools package and seeing if that makes a difference.

Oh yeah, one other thing. My buddy has a SLVR that has the same USB port. When I connect the mini USB 5 pin charger that came with my Garmin Forerunner to his SLVR, it charges but it mistakenly shows on the phone "connected to computer" so the phone must be sensing the voltage.

Posted by: choco

the phone needs the drivers, not the computer.

Posted by: DJS_TX

So let me get this straight....

Installing software on the phone causes USB power to be routed to the battery for charging?

That sounds ridiculous but I'll give it a shot. Why on earth would Motorola do that? Why not simply accept power if it is there?
David

Posted by: dianebrat

no no no.. you do not install drivers on the phone, choco is incorrect.

The Computer needs drivers installed so it can properly recognize the device attached to the USB port and give it the appropriate power needs.

The drivers are readily available via many sites including the ones listed in the hofomoto stickies.

Diane