Samsung Galaxy S3 - Error "HARDWARE ID MISSING" when plugging phone into computer.
Simple Fix for Windows 7, 64-bit OS:
1. Use Control Panel to Uninstall all previous Samsung USB Drivers.
2. Download Samsung USB Driver v1.4.6.0. from
http://downloadcenter.samsung.com/c...nt_L710_GSIII_Samsung_USB_Driver_v1_4_6_0.exe
3. Reboot computer.
4. Disconnect computer from the Internet. *This is very important!*
5. With the phone disconnected, install Samsung USB Driver v1.4.6.0.
6. Connect the phone to the computer and let Windows install the drivers.
7. Reestablish the Internet connection.
This worked flawlessly for me on the first try.
***The KEY here is to disconnect from the Internet where indicated, thus forcing Windows to install the older, Samsung USB Driver v1.4.6.0.
***Following EVERY Kies update, DISCONNECT the computer from the Internet before plugging in the phone for the first time, or you will have to repeat these steps!
ADDITIONAL STEPS
Edit: Rewriting! Frustrating. Thanks Samsung. :'( I've re-written the whole thing because when following my own instructions with a Galaxy S2 on a different computer, it still took another hour to iron out connection problems. Ridiculous. The procedure below is good and battle-tested, tedious, somewhat meticulous, and enduring. Others may call it painful. It's not complicated though, so just have LOTS of patience. Sorry, there's no other way, Google isn't going to save you this time. I looked. And spent another hour writing this post so I'd remember what the heck to do in a month when Jellybean is ready for the S2. You're welcome, future me.
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
It is
exceptionally critical that you have your computer's internet connection disabled to properly install the drivers. I'm using v1.5.14.0 (current, not downloadable yet, is v1.5.16.0), available from Samsung's site (google will get you there).
A. 1. Keep your phone unplugged from USB
A. 2. Download Kies (regardless if you have it already)
A. 3. Download the available Samsung phone drivers, regardless if they are the newest.
B. 1. Disable your computer network connection. IMPORTANT you're disconnected until further notice.
B. 2. Android: Settings > Security > Device Administrators. Uncheck and Deactivate "Samsung Kies" to delete the device admin
B. 3. Android: Settings > Developer options > ENABLE USB Debugging
C. 1. Uninstall Samsung phone drivers (windows control panel > programs)
C. 2. Uninstall Kies
C. 3. Reboot
D. 1. Reinstall Kies
D. 2. Uninstall the Samsung phone drivers again.
D. 3. Reboot if required. Install Samsung drivers you downloaded that will likely be an earlier version.
E. 1. Connect your phone.
E. 2. Verify that windows has detected your device without problems. If you are still having problems, twiddling and massaging the process will be required. Go back 2 spaces. Start again at step C.1.
E. 3. Run Kies. You should not close Kies for the remainder of this procedure, unless you need Kies to re-initialize its detection process. Twiddling.
E. 4. Go back to device administrators and if you see Samsung Kies, touch it again and note if the button says Activate or Deactivate. If Activate, touch to activate.
F. 1. Your phone device should be seen in the top left status pane. Generally, if Kies hasn't shown you your device contents/stats and update info in 5-10 seconds, something failed. Twiddling.
F. 2. Unplug your phone again if not successful and do E.1. again.
F. 3. Delete the device admin again and do F.1. again. Step backwards through this procedure if the process isn't working. Massage.
G. 1. NOW enable your network connection.
G. 2. Exit Kies (re-initialize). Run Kies. Do F.2. again if necessary.
G. 3. Do NOT update Kies. Skip it. Cancel. The whole process breaks and you will have to start over from scratch.
G. 4. Let stars align, and behold:
Your phone will be discovered properly by Windows. Kies will detect your phone properly. It will begin downloading Android updates properly. Everything will install properly.
For future updates, I expect to have to restart all steps. This is a mainstream device, how can any regular user function like this?
Samsung - SHAME ON YOU. This was 5 hours of my day yesterday, on top of the many many hours spent over past months and giving up. No end user should be subjected to this kind of abuse. Kies = Shameware. Let me let you in on a hint. My Asus Transformer Infinity tablet does not need additional software to update itself. I go to About Device > Software Update, and guess what? Firmware AND Android updates are available. This is a proper update. Truthfully, that Software Update should be a top-level menu item, not buried in About Device. Google, vendors, are you listening to any of this? AndroidCentral users, and window shoppers, tweet and communicate this post. The Overlords should be made aware.
Thanks to dsvendse for the original guidance as quoted above. Android 4.1.1 is super-slick on my Galaxy S3 (ATT). Even faster with TV commercial quality speed and response. A handful at least of tier-1 new features, and plenty of secondary. I'm happy to say it was in fact worth the effort to accomplish the upgrade.