Unable to select USB mode when connecting USB cable to PC since upgrading to Marshmallow

[Thwomp]

Hi there, I'm having the problem I describe in the post title - I have tried multiple USB cables and PCs, but it always goes straight to "charging only" without giving me any choice (no notification appears). It makes no difference whether or not Xperia Companion is installed on the PC in question. I have also tried changing the USB mode setting in the developer options, but this does not have any effect. Can anybody help? I want to be able to use MTP again. Firmware version is 23.5.A.0.575.

[Uliwooly]

@Thwomp

Does your computer detects the phone at all? 

[Thwomp]

No, none of the PCs/laptops I have tried connecting to have acknowledged the device in any way. They all successfully supply charge to the device, however.

[Uliwooly]

@Thwomp

Could you boot in >>> safe mode and also try different cables?

[Thwomp]

I have just been educated - previously I had been trying USB cables that originally came with different devices, but I have just borrowed a cable from somebody else who has an Xperia phone (I lost mine a long time ago, and had been using the wi-fi pairing feature which is now removed in Marshmallow), and this particular cable seems to work and bring up the notification (although I have to hold the cable *extremely* steady for the connection to remain active, which is odd). I assume that there must be something special about this cable - I had thought all USB cables were the same, but I guess that cannot be true now?

[Uliwooly]

@Thwomp

not all usb cables are the same, cheap usb cables might not work to transfer data other than charge the phone. 

[Uliwooly · Accepted solution]

@Thwomp

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File%3aUSB.svg

if you have a "USB" cable that only connects pins 1 & 4 then you will get power and no data. Likewise, if you have a cable with only 2 & 3, you will get data but no power.

[Thwomp]

That's very interesting, thank you very much for your help.

[Uliwooly]

@Thwomp

Anytime

[Melissa8]

 he probado varios cables USB y PC, pero siempre va directamente a "cargar solo" sin darme ninguna opción (no aparece ninguna notificación). No importa si Xperia Companion está instalado o no en la PC en cuestión. También intenté cambiar la configuración del modo USB en las opciones del desarrollador, pero esto no tiene ningún efecto. ¿Alguien puede ayudar

I have tried several USB and PC cables, but it always goes directly to "charge alone" without giving me any options (no notification appears). It does not matter if Xperia Companion is installed or not on the PC in question. I also tried changing the USB mode settings in the developer options, but this has no effect. Can anyone help

gt