digital camera connection problem

Question

Hi everyone. I recently bought an expensive digital camera, a Pentax Optio S55. It connects via a USB port. After installing the software, plugging it in and switching it on Windows XP failed to recognise it and in Device Manager showed it as unknown USB device with a yellow exclamation mark. That error says no drivers installed. Pentax support say it does not need drivers and is fully supported in Windows XP Home edition. I have plugged the same camera into a friend's computer running WIndows XP and without first installing the CD software the camera was immediately recognised and installed. Pentax say there is nothing wrong with my camera and that my computer is faulty. I have tried plugging it into other USB ports that I know work but I get the same response. Dell support have rung me after I posted an e-mail. They say my hardware is functioning correctly and can't help me. I checked the hardware using the diagnostics uitility disc and it passed all tests. My system is fully updated. My old camera a Fugi which did have drivers worked OK. Device manager does not show any problems with any devices. I am now getting very annoyed as the camera does work so I can't return it and I am even thinking of replacing this computer which is only 18 months old. I tried posting the problem to a number of forums but have only had a poor reponse.Please help someone.

MRF4700 · Answer

Ray Noble Does the camera software list in the Add/Remove Programs window? If it does, uninstall it and restart your computer > connect camera > see if a Hardware wizard starts? If it does not show in the Add/Remove Programs window, then go to the Other USB devices(yellow ?) listing in Device Manager and right click it, select uninstall > restart computer >connect camera > see if a Hardware wizard starts?

Ray Noble · Answer

Many thanks for the help. I uninstalled the software in control panel. I also checked in device manager, but the camera only shows there when it is plugged into a USB port and turned on. I restarted the computer, then plugged the camera in and switched it on. Add Hardware device wizard started. I bypassed the request to search on the internet( I have used it before but it doesn't help) and opted to let windows search for the device itself. It does this and says it cannot be installed as the wizard cannot find the necessary software. If I then finish the wizard I get the error message that new hardware has been found but the device may not work properly. If I then look in device manager it is shown under other devices as USB device with a problem( the drivers for this device are not installed code 28). I can while the camera is swtiched on uninstall it from device manager and go through the same process again by switching it on and get the same errors.

Ray Noble · Answer

I have been checking other computer help sites and thinking a lot about this problem which is still not resolved. I am wondering whether I am missing some 'mass storage device' drivers. I have searched for drivers but can't find any particularly for my camera.

MRF4700 · Answer

Ray Noble In the time that you've had your computer, have you installed many USB peripheral devices? Do you have any other USB devices currently attached to your computer? Are they functioning normally?

Ray Noble · Answer

I have had a previous digital camera a Fugi which was attached by USB cable and that functioned OK, but came with drivers. I have since unistalled that. I do have other hardware attached by USB connections:  inteli- mouse, printer and web-cam, all of which are functioning OK, and all have drivers installed.

Ray Noble · Answer

I have just tested the USB connection I was plugging the camera in to by uninstalling the web cam and reinstalling it, having unplugged it and replugging it into the USB port I was plugging the camera into. It installed with the drivers perfectly and is now shown in my computer as 'scanners and cameras'.

MRF4700 · Answer

Ray Noble Not all USB devices are supported by the Windows XP operating system... Have you tried installing the drivers for your camera manually from the CD? Are you sure the camera's firmware is configured for PC connection?     Message Edited by MRF4700 on 12-01-2005 05:19 PM

Ray Noble · Answer

As I have said before there are no drivers for the camera which I have confirmed from the software CD and Pentax have confirmed. It should be recognised by my computer as a removeable storage device as it did when I plugged it into my friend's computer and it was recognised without installing anything else. Yes I have confirmed it is configured to work with my computer. I have gone into the camera set up menu and ensured that connection to PC is showing. Thanks

MRF4700 · Answer

Ray Noble Am I correct?You've already tried letting the Hardware wizard search the Internet for drivers to your Pentax camera?

Ray Noble · Answer

Yes, that's correct. I ask the hardware wizard to search for the software and it replies that it is unable to find any. When I did that on my friend's computer it searched and found the camera. I presume it recognised the camera as a plug and play device, which is what my computer is failing to do. I am actually going to buy an sd card reader and just use the sd card from the camera and see if that works. Thanks for the help.

Ray Noble · Answer

Sorry, I should make it clear that I have used all options for the wizard to search my computer for software, the software CD that came with it which only contains ACDSEE  and also the internet. It doesn't find anything anywhere.

Ray Noble · Answer

I have finally got this problem solved!. After searching on another computer problem forum I found the answer. When I plug the camera in to the USB port I forced the hardware installation wizard to search for drivers in C:/windows/system32 folder. It then finds the file USBSTOR.SYS which is the driver required for mass storage devices or removeable media. The camera then installed and is recognised as a removeable disc and is given the next available letter. For some reason my computer is not automatically finding the masss storage device driver by itself. Now after removeing it using the safely remove hardware programme on the task bar and plugging it back in, the hardware installation wizard tries to reinstall it- but I cancel the wizard and the camera is again shown as a removeable disc. Who knows. But thank the lord I've solved it and can go back to my real hobby and play my guitar. Thanks for your help.......Ray

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digital camera connection problem

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