iTunes 10.5.3.3 cannot see iPhone 3GS

I

have a serious problem which seems, looking at the web to be quite common. I am running iTunes 10.5.3.3 and want to sync my iPhone 3GS. iTunes seems totally unable to connect to the iPhone even after checking that Windows 7 x64 sees the 'Apple Mobile Device USB Driver' and that this is the latest version. I have attached snips taken of the various screens:

I have also attached the output from Diagnostics:

Microsoft Windows 7 x64 Ultimate Edition Service Pack 1 (Build 7601)

Dell Inc. Studio XPS 1640

iTunes 10.5.3.3

QuickTime 7.7.1

FairPlay 1.13.37

Apple Application Support 2.1.6

iPod Updater Library 10.0d2

CD Driver 2.2.0.1

CD Driver DLL 2.1.1.1

Apple Mobile Device 4.0.0.96

Apple Mobile Device Driver 1.57.0.0

Bonjour 3.0.0.10 (0.0)

Gracenote SDK 1.9.5.502

Gracenote MusicID 1.9.5.115

Gracenote Submit 1.9.5.143

Gracenote DSP 1.9.5.45

iTunes Serial Number 00DBAEB4031BC2E8

Current user is not an administrator.

The current local date and time is 2012-01-31 16:40:45.

iTunes is not running in safe mode.

WebKit accelerated compositing is enabled.

HDCP is supported.

Core Media is supported.

Video Display Information

ATI Technologies Inc., ATI Mobility Radeon HD 4670

**** External Plug-ins Information ****

No external plug-ins installed.

**** Device Connectivity Tests ****

iPodService 10.5.3.3 (x64) is currently running.

iTunesHelper 10.5.3.3 is currently running.

Apple Mobile Device service 3.3.0.0 is currently running.

Universal Serial Bus Controllers:

Intel(R) ICH9 Family USB Universal Host Controller - 2934. Device is working properly.

Intel(R) ICH9 Family USB Universal Host Controller - 2935. Device is working properly.

Intel(R) ICH9 Family USB Universal Host Controller - 2936. Device is working properly.

Intel(R) ICH9 Family USB Universal Host Controller - 2937. Device is working properly.

Intel(R) ICH9 Family USB Universal Host Controller - 2938. Device is working properly.

Intel(R) ICH9 Family USB Universal Host Controller - 2939. Device is working properly.

Intel(R) ICH9 Family USB2 Enhanced Host Controller - 293A. Device is working properly.

Intel(R) ICH9 Family USB2 Enhanced Host Controller - 293C. Device is working properly.

FireWire (IEEE 1394) Host Controllers:

Ricoh 1394 OHCI Compliant Host Controller. Device is working properly.

Most Recent Devices Not Currently Connected:

iPhone 3GS running firmware version 5.0.1

Serial Number: 84138JGPEDG

**** Device Sync Tests ****

No iPod, iPhone or iPad found.

At the time my iPhone was connected to the laptop and charging happily.

I have uninstalled/re-installed iTunes so many times that I seriously wonder how it was ever let out, it sometimes works, sometimes not mostly not. If it does work ejecting the iPhone, shutting down iTunes and rebotting the laptop causes it to cease detecting the iPhone.

Is there any cure for this???????????????????????????????

The phone works great but it is obvious that iTunes from v7 to v10 has serious problems with Windows 7 that should have been sorted by now. Even more annoying is the fact that it is impossible to do anything like backup without iTunes, so if anyone knows a better software package that CAN see an iPhone, please let us know.

This certainly does not give Apple my vote of confidence and I'm sure that of numerous others. Come on Apple, Windows 7 has been out for over a year so you have had more than enough time to sort out why Windows sees an iPhone as a camera (format incompatability, images can be seen if the iPhone is seen as a camera so must assume that these use FAT?)!