PC Connection Issues...please advise!

[CelticWarrior]

Hello all,

I am having a MAJOR difficulty trying to connect the HTC Droid Incredible to my computer in order to transfer files back and forth.

Whenever I plugged the device (which, I think it is important to state, was a "certified like-new replacement" I received back in January due to an unrelated issue...I purchased the original in August of last year) into my computer using its data cable, it keeps connecting and disconnecting on its own. (Not the cable, the device itself; the connection status goes on and off.) It will go the menu where you can choose the various sync options (charge only, disk drive, etc.) but then this will disappear and so will the icons indicating a connection. (USB icon, battery charging, etc.) This keeps happening over and over until, out of frustration, I finally disconnect the phone. It's almost as if the device is possessed or something.

I know it isn't anything wrong with the USB ports on my computer because I have tried using other devices in them. I have tested them using my mouse and keyboard, as well as an extra mouse and flash drive I have. No problems at all. Thinking it was an issue with my actual device, I contacted customer service to explain the problem and after going through the laundry list of standard troubleshooting steps that every rep thinks solve all problems (battery pull, factory reset, etc.) they sent me a "certified like-new replacement," which I received today. Went through the whole setup process to restore my contacts and set up my Google account and such, and then attempted to connect the phone to the PC again. Did this solve the problem? NOPE! The previously described "poltergeist" phenomenon kept happening. It is also worth mentioning that this just started happening a few weeks ago. Prior to that point, I had no issues with doing this. I am at a complete loss. Neither Incredible has taken any liquid or physical damage whatsoever.

So anyway, listed below are the troubleshooting steps I have attempted:

-A number of battery pulls.

-A number of factory resets.

-Trying no less than THREE different data cables.

-Switching between the four different USB ports on my tower. (Again, I know it isn't an issue with those because I have used other devices in them with no difficulty.)

-Trying two different "certified like-new replacements" (which I'm starting to think is a misnomer, regardless of how many "test points" they pass), the one from January and the one from today.

-Putting the device in "safe mode" during startup (by holding the volume down key, menu key, and trackball as told by a rep).

-Adjusting the PC Connection settings (default type and such)

None of these steps did anything to solve the problem. Once again, this just started happening a handful of weeks ago. Prior to that point, I was able to freely transfer files without incident. So, yeah...please help! If it makes any difference, I am running Froyo, Android 2.2 on my device. Thanks in advance!