I've searched google/xda and no one seems to address this very clearly.
I was having problems connecting my SGSIII via USB to my computer(s). Yes, I was using the cable that came with the phone. When trying to simply transfer files via USB (MTP or PTP) windows would not recognize the phone and a message saying "usb device has malfunctioned" popped up from the notification area of the taskbar. I had all of the drivers installed. I tried connecting the phone to my laptop (thinkpad) and desktop (homebuilt) computers, which were both win7 64bit. I tried every single USB port of each computer. Sometimes the device would show up in my computer, but I couldn't access any of the files. I was able to get odin to recognize my phone, however, and (foolishly) tried to flash a rom to my phone. Odin would fail every time at a different point in the process. I was stuck with a phone that would not bootup.
Then, I tried a computer (old dell, win XP) at work. I tried to flash the rom with Odin again. On the third attempt it worked! (after changing to a back (instead of the front) USB port) It was a big relief that I didn't brick my phone. Also, with this computer I could connect to my phone via MTP or PTP. I thought, therefore, that the problem was win7. So, I went back, installed win XP on my computer at home. This computer would still not play nice with the phone. (USB device malfunctioned error appeared again.) So, if you're having problems try a different computer. I had to try 3 before I found one that worked.
TL;DR: Try a different computer and different USB ports on that computer before you give up on connecting your phone to a computer via USB.
Finally, I NEVER had these problems with my HTC Hero, or HTC Evo. The phone would connect to ANY computer or ANY USB port. This was true for transferring files and for ADB also. With my S3 I'm transferring files by removing the SD card and connecting that to my computer. Kind of a pain in the ass. Thanks samsung.
I was having problems connecting my SGSIII via USB to my computer(s). Yes, I was using the cable that came with the phone. When trying to simply transfer files via USB (MTP or PTP) windows would not recognize the phone and a message saying "usb device has malfunctioned" popped up from the notification area of the taskbar. I had all of the drivers installed. I tried connecting the phone to my laptop (thinkpad) and desktop (homebuilt) computers, which were both win7 64bit. I tried every single USB port of each computer. Sometimes the device would show up in my computer, but I couldn't access any of the files. I was able to get odin to recognize my phone, however, and (foolishly) tried to flash a rom to my phone. Odin would fail every time at a different point in the process. I was stuck with a phone that would not bootup.
Then, I tried a computer (old dell, win XP) at work. I tried to flash the rom with Odin again. On the third attempt it worked! (after changing to a back (instead of the front) USB port) It was a big relief that I didn't brick my phone. Also, with this computer I could connect to my phone via MTP or PTP. I thought, therefore, that the problem was win7. So, I went back, installed win XP on my computer at home. This computer would still not play nice with the phone. (USB device malfunctioned error appeared again.) So, if you're having problems try a different computer. I had to try 3 before I found one that worked.
TL;DR: Try a different computer and different USB ports on that computer before you give up on connecting your phone to a computer via USB.
Finally, I NEVER had these problems with my HTC Hero, or HTC Evo. The phone would connect to ANY computer or ANY USB port. This was true for transferring files and for ADB also. With my S3 I'm transferring files by removing the SD card and connecting that to my computer. Kind of a pain in the ass. Thanks samsung.
