my iphone isn't syncing with my itunes

my itunes works and is up to date, my phone is also updated. I am using a USB cable to plug into my windows laptop but iTunes does not recognise that I have a phone plugged it in. when I plug my phone in, the laptop recognises it but iTunes does not therefore I cannot sync any music to my phone, and will not let me import photos. I have tried all the methods that the internet and apple have given me but it is still not working??