Proprietary micro USB data cable

[Guest]

Hello,I'm using SW to sync Outlook with my cell phone telephone book. I'm using a data cable that I got with an external HD (they're both micro USB). When I connect the cable I get a message that windows can't find the driver for the cable. Why would a cable need a driver. The SW mfg wants to sell me a cable. They claim they're product has only been tested with their cable. I suspect that they've rigged things to only work with their cable. Anyone have any insight into this issue. I can't find anything about by searching the web except that there's lots of "proprietary" data cables for sale. I would think that would negate the value of standards, USB in particular.

 

[Boxa786]

The USB cables used for cell phones and some media devices do have their own drivers. These cables usually have a block just before the standard usb connection and this is what the driver is used for. That block, Im guessing, has some kind of circuit in it with preloaded software.