How to install USB driver for Windows?

I'm trying to connect my LG VS980 phone to a Windows XP computer. I'm having difficulty installing the USB driver.

After following several false trails, I found what I think is the right file: on a "Product Support" page which says it's for a "G2 Verizon VS980," there's a button labeled, "Install the USB DRIVER / USB DRIVER for Windows / DOWNLOAD." I clicked the button and downloaded a file 8 MB file. Its name is LG. Not LG.exe or LG.msi or LG.zip. Just LG.

When I double click the file, Windows quite reasonably asks me what program to use to run it. I don't know what program to use any more than Windows does.

There's a link labeled "Instructions... LG G2 VS980 SOFTWARE UPDATE below the download button. When I click it, it loads instructions for installing software on the phone.

Can anyone make sense of this for me?

Accepted answers

unknown

Orthoducks wrote:
I'll so my best to answer the questions.
>...what you're looking to do a transfer with...?
Initially I want to download pictures taken with the phone's camera. I've considered other uses for a USB connection that I can explore once it's working. I'm puzzled by the question, though. Why should the type of data I want to transfer affect the fact that I can't find an installable driver? I wonder whether my question means the same thing to you as it does to me.
Because photos and music are the basic media people want to transfer between their phones and computers. (Computers in this sense are laptops, desktops, note books etc.) So the question to you was valid.
>Also, have you tried any other computers?
No. Again, I'm puzzled. What difference would another computer make? Would I be able to find a download from one computer that I can't find from another? (Only by blind chance.) Might another computer be able to execute or load a file with no filetype? (Only if it has magical powers.)
Different computers may work where the computer you own evidently does not work. It is good to check the connection of the device to another computer to rule that out. I will answer the obvious of different operating systems and how they function.
>And which software version if your phone currently running?
That question makes sense. Unfortunately I can't answer it. I've looked up how to find the version number, and the instructions tell me to select an "About phone" item in the Settings menu, which doesn't exist.
Doesn't exist? open the Settings Menu go all the way to the bottom (scroll down) the last entry is "ABOUT PHONE" click it. It will give hardware and software versions operating system number etc. Its there trust me. My wife just bought this phone and loves it.
>Often times, the device drivers you're prompted to install are supported solely by the computer's software.
I'm not sure what you're saying here. Taken at face value, it's a trivial and obvious: any driver that one installs on any computing device is supported solely by (i.e., depends on) the device's software. But how does that relate to the question about the version of Android? Android runs on the phone; the driver has to run on the computer.
You stated you are using an older Windows XP computer, I can tell you I hooked my wife's phone to our Windows 8.1 computer and no drivers were necessary. It came up with an option on the phone screen and I chose USB Mass Storage for the connection. This option is also in the phones settings. Read the manual it has loads of information form you to use.
The device had a drive letter assigned and it was labeled LG-Network and once you double click it the folders for music, photos, etc. are all there. Via using windows manager you can simply do a copy and paste to and from the different folders and drives with ease.

Good Luck

All comments

Verizon_Support

Orthoducks,

Really good questions here. First, may I ask what you're looking to do a transfer with (pictures, music, etc)? Also, have you tried any other computers? And which software version if your phone currently running? Often times, the device drivers you're prompted to install are supported solely by the computer's software.

EvanO_VZW

Follow us on twitter @VZWSupport

Orthoducks

I'll so my best to answer the questions.

>...what you're looking to do a transfer with...?

Initially I want to download pictures taken with the phone's camera. I've considered other uses for a USB connection that I can explore once it's working. I'm puzzled by the question, though. Why should the type of data I want to transfer affect the fact that I can't find an installable driver? I wonder whether my question means the same thing to you as it does to me.

>Also, have you tried any other computers?

No. Again, I'm puzzled. What difference would another computer make? Would I be able to find a download from one computer that I can't find from another? (Only by blind chance.) Might another computer be able to execute or load a file with no filetype? (Only if it has magical powers.)

>And which software version if your phone currently running?

That question makes sense. Unfortunately I can't answer it. I've looked up how to find the version number, and the instructions tell me to select an "About phone" item in the Settings menu, which doesn't exist.

>Often times, the device drivers you're prompted to install are supported solely by the computer's software.

I'm not sure what you're saying here. Taken at face value, it's a trivial and obvious: any driver that one installs on any computing device is supported solely by (i.e., depends on) the device's software. But how does that relate to the question about the version of Android? Android runs on the phone; the driver has to run on the computer.

unknown

Orthoducks wrote:
I'll so my best to answer the questions.
>...what you're looking to do a transfer with...?
Initially I want to download pictures taken with the phone's camera. I've considered other uses for a USB connection that I can explore once it's working. I'm puzzled by the question, though. Why should the type of data I want to transfer affect the fact that I can't find an installable driver? I wonder whether my question means the same thing to you as it does to me.
Because photos and music are the basic media people want to transfer between their phones and computers. (Computers in this sense are laptops, desktops, note books etc.) So the question to you was valid.
>Also, have you tried any other computers?
No. Again, I'm puzzled. What difference would another computer make? Would I be able to find a download from one computer that I can't find from another? (Only by blind chance.) Might another computer be able to execute or load a file with no filetype? (Only if it has magical powers.)
Different computers may work where the computer you own evidently does not work. It is good to check the connection of the device to another computer to rule that out. I will answer the obvious of different operating systems and how they function.
>And which software version if your phone currently running?
That question makes sense. Unfortunately I can't answer it. I've looked up how to find the version number, and the instructions tell me to select an "About phone" item in the Settings menu, which doesn't exist.
Doesn't exist? open the Settings Menu go all the way to the bottom (scroll down) the last entry is "ABOUT PHONE" click it. It will give hardware and software versions operating system number etc. Its there trust me. My wife just bought this phone and loves it.
>Often times, the device drivers you're prompted to install are supported solely by the computer's software.
I'm not sure what you're saying here. Taken at face value, it's a trivial and obvious: any driver that one installs on any computing device is supported solely by (i.e., depends on) the device's software. But how does that relate to the question about the version of Android? Android runs on the phone; the driver has to run on the computer.
You stated you are using an older Windows XP computer, I can tell you I hooked my wife's phone to our Windows 8.1 computer and no drivers were necessary. It came up with an option on the phone screen and I chose USB Mass Storage for the connection. This option is also in the phones settings. Read the manual it has loads of information form you to use.
The device had a drive letter assigned and it was labeled LG-Network and once you double click it the folders for music, photos, etc. are all there. Via using windows manager you can simply do a copy and paste to and from the different folders and drives with ease.

Good Luck

Baroque13

This wasn't helpful to me. I plug my phone into my Windows XP computer and nothing happens. When I check under PC Connection on my phone settings, it says there is no USB connection. But the phone is obviously connected because it shows the phone charging. So I need to know how to install the phone on my computer or at least get the two devices to comunicate.

Tidbits

http://tool.xcdn.gdms.lge.com/dn/downloader.dev?fileKey=UW00520120427

That's the direct link from LG.com

http://www.lg.com/us/support-mobile/lg-LGVS980

Orthoducks

Tidbits, that link is for the file I already downloaded, which has no filetype.

Elector, your explanations of the original questions make no more sense than the questions did. I appreciate your desire to help, but you really don't seem to understand what's happening, or understand that you don't understand.

With your advice, I did find the Android version number: it's 4.2.2. The "About phone" item does not display it, but the "Software update" subitem does, although its name fails to communicate that.

The only thing I've gotten out of this discussion so far is that if I put a newer version of Windows on my laptop, the problem might go away. That's not going to happen, though. I hope I can replace the laptop in the near future, and maybe that will make the problem moot. I wish LG could tell me how to install the driver they've provided, though.

My desktop computer runs Windows 7, so maybe I can connect the phone to it. If it works that will tell me something, but it won't solve the problem. The phone is supposed to mobile; the desktop computer isn't. It isn't even accessible to me except on weekends.

unknown

The non understanding is on your end. Not mine.

One of the things I told you was the rep was inferring the win XP is the issue. It is.

It works on windows 7 and windows 8 & 8.1 that is a certainty

You are in a catch 22 because windows XP does not reconginize the device or the drivers. So your only option as verizon and I told you is try to access the device with a newer version of windows.

Verizon's questions as were mine are 100% valid. You either take the advice or don't. That is your choice, not mine.

Again Good Luck

Tidbits

The problem is your computer. If you can't download the drivers from the website. It does have a file extension. You may need to try a different browser or even play around with your addons which may cause the extension to be removed.

Slaet

Download the file that has no extension and add .exe to it (so LG.exe) make sure you have full path names enabled on your folder properties.

SLCJoe

I was having the same problem on my Windows 7 laptop. The file that you download from LG does not have an extension. Slaet has the correct answer in that you just need to add the .exe extension to the download. I can't help but shake my head an laugh at the other useless replies that you got.

dhwco

The answer has nothing to do with the drivers, it has to do with the new way Win 8.1 handles USB settings. (My phone has no prob on any Win 7 computer but has failed to connect to one Win 8.1 computer with USB 3.0 ports even if they also have 2.0 ports).

Can't say I have found the answer but I am getting close I think. I will report if I ever figure it out.

Go Microsoft! Please keep making those changes that keep us from getting anything done. 10,000 new jobs created for consultants to figure how to use what worked yesterday. Thanks for helping save our economy

Tidbits

It does have to do with the drivers...

I have no trouble at all with connection. I use Windows 8.1 and windows 10(testing partition). The only difference between your computer and my computer will be drivers and hardware. Drivers are the main culprit if it worked before.

dhwco

Well...could be. How is yours working if the drivers are bad? I have D/L'd and installed the latest G2 drivers and NADA for me. I have read many articles saying it has to do with the USB power settings for Win 8.1. That said, I have not been able to get those solutions to work either...but likely because I don't understand them, they are rather techie and involve registry additions and changes...something that I am kinda leery of doing.

And it works on all of my Win 7 computers (4 ea) and none of my Win 8.1 computers (3 ea)

Tidbits

Not all drivers work like they should. I did a clean install of 8.0 and upgraded to 8.1. I didn't up an upgrade disc. Drivers affects computers differently. No two computers are the same. Do you use a X99 Intel chip set board?

Try uninstall the drivers and install them as administrator. Restart your computer. Then plug in your G2. Still didn't install? Open your device manager and see what has an exclamation. Then pick the correct driver and you may get an unsigned errorr and make it install anyway. Wait it out until finished. Unplug and restart computer if not connected. Then it should work after that.

Snn5

I have the VS980 and Windows 8.1. The LG drivers from LG com work for me.