"device not recognized" strange charging

[Joe Harkins]

My Samsung Galaxy Nexus recently started behaving strangely. When I plug into my desktop, I get "USB device not recognized" errors that pop up, off and on. While plugged into my own desktop, it charges but the charging indicator at the top of the battery symbol usually is not showing. Sometimes it does.

Because of the lack of that symbol, and because the dashboard displays "not charging" I have not been able to confirm or eliminate if it charges with any other desktop connection.

Also, I cannot charge the battery at all with a charger. Note I say "a charger" because I have tried with with approximately 5 different chargers and cords at different locations. So I think we can eliminate a bad or broken charger or cord or jack on the phone as the issue.

Some have suggested a virus and that I should do a factory reset. Comment? Suggestions?

 

[Hadron]

The GNex is an old handset. Are you sure the problem isn't just that the battery is dying?

How do you eliminate a failing jack on the phone? Using different chargers and cables would rule them out, but there's only one USB/charge port on the handset, so if that's the issue then changing chargers isn't going to make any difference.

"Virus" is a common suggestion from people who can't think of an answer: they don't know what's happening, so blame a virus. Actually there are no real viruses for Android: there is malware, but the only way it can infect your phone is if you install it yourself. So if you only download and install apps from places like the Play Store or Amazon the chances of you having a malware infection are actually very small (not impossible, but very unlikely). Conversely sites which engage in app piracy (e.g. offering paid apps for free) often insert malware into them, and if you receive a download link via email or find an apk in your download folder that you weren't expecting (i.e. something that was downloaded automatically when you visited a website) you obviously shouldn't just install it .

If you can't find any other cause then you could try backing up then doing a factory reset - it's the first thing any repair shop will do, so no harm trying it yourself - but I'd not be surprised if this is hardware (in which case I hope it's the battery, as that's the easiest to fix).

 

[joeharkins]

Thanks for the cogent reply. I think that you've put your finger on it with the battery suggestion. This is the original battery. I was planning on replacing it anyway. So, I'll try that and report the results.

 

[chatty101]

they have many you consider maybe the problem is in the USB cord you used, or the battery ,, just check will all that maybe the cause.

 

[joeharkins]

they have many you consider maybe the problem is in the USB cord you used, or the battery ,, just check will all that maybe the cause.

I appreciate your response, but please read the details of my post where it says I have tried MANY different chargers and cords at various locations.