Connecting cell phone to my pc

can't seem to get the software i have to recognize my phone? just want to get pictures off my phone onto my computer. the motorola mobile phone tools program i installed and updated keeps saying my phone isn't being detected?
at least not the specific type. i think may be it's my dell laptop latitude c600...it has only one usb connection port and i'm thinking it's not a high-power port? my carrier is MetroPCS and i don't have internet access on my current plan. but would like to know how i can get the pictures on my phone...on to my computer...my pc doesn't seem to have bluetooth either. and yes i did turn the bluetooth on, on my phone. I also connected an external usb2connect card bus and tried  connecting that way...but a similar thing happened but this time the program said there was no device modem? however i can't use my wireless internet card at the same time because although there are 2 card bus slots the usb2 is too big on bottom or top because of the usb connections i guess? regardless they will not fit or work at the same time, together.
so what am i doing wrong? and how else can i attempt this?