USB Cable Connection Problems! Please Help!

Hi,  I'm new here, and I am having all kinds of trouble with my lg vx9700 dare!  It was a gift from a friend, I decided to go with Page Plus for my service.  the phone and texting works great, but I cannot get the web to work.  I have done some research online and found the wap setting for page plus, and also the program code to enable me to enter the settings, but the phone wont save the settings.  I have read online that I must edit a file in the phone to be able to save the settings.  the problem is that I cannot get it to connect to any of my computers with the data cable!!

I have tried using windows 7, win xp sp3 and I even pulled out my old laptop that still had a fresh install of Win xp sp1.  they all tell me that the usb device is not recognized. I have attempted to install the drivers manually, but then the pc tells me that the device cant start due to an error!!   all the data cable does is charge the phone!

at one point I thought it was the data cable, so I borrowed my neighbors data cable and it did the same thing!!

I there something I am missing?  the version of software on the phone is vx9700v03 

Please Help me!!!