does it matter which usb cable I use for different devices?

I've got several different devices (I.e. kodak picture viewer, palm pilot) that use what looks like the same cable. The cables fit each other. my question is that my kodak viewer works excellent with the cable that was supplied for it but my palm is not updating the info with the pc when its plugged in. I know that putting the cable for my palm in the usb would be easy to find out but there I've got a problem 1) I don't know where the cable is at 2) being handicap it isn't a very easy optionor is there something that is conflicting with my windows xp?

The cables may appear to be the same but that may not be the case. The mini USB for cameras come in multiple pin configurations. The one for the Kodak camera may be a 4 pin but the cable for the PDA might be a 6 pin. That is most likely where the problem lies.

i have had the same problems...it is a driver issue not a usb cable issue. for example i have about 10 different devices that i can hook up to the computer. i use the same usb data cord, but as soon as the computer goes into sleep or hibernate mode, it kills the connection to the device. make sure that you have the most current driver installed on your computer, and XP should auto run and automatically recongnize your device. hope this bit of info helps.