apple mobile device missing in device manager

Hope I am putting this in the right forum. I recently purchased a new Dell XPS L501 labtop with windows 7 64-bit. I installed the 64 bit itunes but when I went to connect my iphone 3G to the labtop windows 7 does not recognize it, itunes does not see it but the phone does charge when connected to the labtop. I have been all over the web tried everything you can imagine and nothing has worked. I've done a clean uninstall of itunes and reinstalled it with no luck. I've gone into device manager and there is no apple mobile device showing up at all so I cant do anything with the device manager advice I've been given. I've taken pictures while connected to the labtop with my phone as someone said that would start the apple mobile device usb driver install-it didn't, it did nothing.

I am starting to wonder if maybe its a usb cable issue? I haven't been able to purchase a new one yet but that is next on the list . I would appreciate any help at all cause I am at a loss after 10 hours of trying to figure this out.

I am travelling right now so internet is sketchy but will respond to any questions of information I might have left out as soon as I can.
Thanks
Sandra

Message was edited by: sandraadamson