What device is this?
Usually this only happens to older USB devices where you need to install the software first and then connect the device to make it work. Some printers for example require you to install the software for the printer first and during this process they state do not connect the printer to USB connection until told to do so by the installation software. Older Digital Camera's also face this issue.
If its a Smart Phone that your trying to gain access to it through a PC, you would need software that supports the handshake between PC and Smart Phone for that specific model. I ran into this message when trying to get my laptop tether connected via USB to my LG Smart phone to get internet through 3G Internet connection but gave up on this when it was a never ending headache and very limited documentation out there for my smart phone. Basically its a Tracfone smart phone that the phone was manufactured to only ever be a smart phone with Tracfone service but not offer a shared internet connection with 3G network.
