PC not 'seeing' digital camera when connected.

Question

hi,  This is my first message , in need of some help. Here's the problem.   I have a Dimension 4700 with windows XP service pack 2. (3 months old). Bought a panasonic DMC-LC80 digital camera few days ago. Took the photos, when connecting up with PC , did not recognize it. Camera is on, playback mode on, LCD changes to Mass storage display. It's in a USB port that works. PC doesn't see it.  Took camera and lead to neighbours house, not Dell but windows XP, camera worked there, could see mass storage displayed. I tried removing all software for webcam and installed Digital camera only , but no difference. I don't have a USB mouse connected. I only have modem in a USB port . Borrowed a card reader today,  plugged it in tonight and it worked, could tranfer the photos from SD memory card to panasonic software on PC. Looks like that's my option thus far, to buy a card reader, unless anyone has any suggestions for this puzzling problem. I've spoken to panasonic techician by phone who is baffled also. Dell tried all they could also, last resort was to do the operating system again, but no guarantees it would solve it. I have McAfee security suite if that makes a difference. I was going to contact them to ask. thanks , look  forward to any replies.

ashleysmom · Answer

This may sound a little too simple, but could it be that you haven't installed the driver for the camera?  The driver is on the CD that your camera came with.  This is a very necessary step for your computer to recognize the device when it's hooked up.  It may have worked when you used the card reader because you already had the driver on your computer for the reader.  I would suggest removing all of the software from your computer that came with the camera, and re-installing making sure you complete the entire process step by step to the end.  The drivers usually install last.  Good luck!

nhel · Answer

i would go what ashleysmom had said. for you to be sure, plug the USB camera to your computer, basically your PC should be on. check device manager if there is an unknown device detected, it usually has a yellow question mark. if it has, install the USB camera driver.

firstchud · Answer

hi, thanks for the advice but can't see how that should work. As I mentioned I took it to neighbours house with no software included and I could see it on that PC. As XP doesn't need a driver , it tells me from software when I try and you can't download it anyway.

Took this camera to my friends on friday, he has dell and XP. Same thing happened, didn't work. Whereas my neighbour has XP but with Hewlett packard. Must be a DELL issue then.

davejohn · Answer

I have a Dim 4550 running Win XP SP2 and I had the same problem with my Kodak DX-6490 camera. XP would not see the camera no matter if I plugged it into a front or rear port. After Googling around I found a message in a newsgroup suggesting that older USB devices can cause conflict problems with digital cameras. There was no explanation why, but if I unplug my old USB scanner the computer sees the camera just fine. I can transfer pics using Windows Explorer, Windows Camera Wizard, or Photoshop Elements. Maybe a Twain conflict?

I don't know if this is a Dell issue or what, but now I just cut the power to my scanner before transferring photos. You might try disconnecting your modem or other USB devices and see if that has any effect.

Dave

firstchud · Answer

thanks Dave,

I think I'll just put it down to 'unsolved'. I tried with only the modem connected and it still didn't like it. I don't really want to keep disconnecting and reconnecting the modem each time , if indeed that works. All the USB devices are new , computer 3 months old and new camera and latest modem broadband. I think I could spend much time , looking on internet and asking various forums and possibly get nowhere. (or possibly could ) !!

So, I just bought card reader as a way to get around the problem. Panasonic or Dell technicians couldn't see an answer either.

thanks.

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PC not 'seeing' digital camera when connected.

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