Can't sync iphone 4 to my windows laptop

Whenever I try to sync my iphone 4 to my windows laptop i receive the following message: "USB Device Not Recognized. One of the USB devices attached to this computer has malfunctioned, and Windows does not recognize it."
Same phone & same laptop for the past 11 months and this only started happening in the last 3 months! I went to apple store and it synced up to their MAC no problems? I thought it could be my cable, but whenever friends come over they regularly borrow it and have never had a problem with it! I also have been experiencing charging issues during this time too which I think could be related? My iPhone currently only charges once the battery is fully dead and the phone is off… If anyone can help it'd be amazing!

Ok do other USB connected things show up on your laptop and just not your iPhone. I believe your USB port is broken/ semi malfunctioning. This happens alot with laptops. Your iPhones charge port can be partyly broken and only be able to sync with a Mac. Have you tried syncing your phone to other computers? The thing I suggest is to test out your iPhone on another windows computer and Mac. I it only works on the Mac I believe your charge port is broken. It can cost from 30-45$ to repair. Hopefully it's still under warranty and the water indication sticker is not activated inside the charge port. Make sure no red sign is in the charge port. If it is its water damaged.