The program that you are looking for, that isn't loading is the "Camera and Scanner Wizard".  Did it ever do it on this system? or are you referring to it doing it on a different system?

I have an Olympus C3020 camera and with my new OEM Windows XP system the Camera and Scanner Wizard will not come up and I have to use the Windows Explorer to transfer files to the hard drive (I could use the Camedia program but it doesn't do anything just using the Windows Explorer doesn't do - no use having the additional program that doesn't do any more).  However, on my old PC that has a Retail Windows XP upgrade installed the Camera and Scanner Wizard does work. 

If the camera is "WIA" (Windows Image Acquisition) compliant then the Wizard should come up.  If it's not then it isn't supposed to come up.  You can check the Microsoft Windows XP site (or even the Olympus site) to see if it is compliant.  My C3030 is not WIA, even tho it's a 2002 model camera.  Using a card reader for the card instead of connecting the camera with the memory card doesn't help either - its the way the memory card is formatted that makes it WIA or non-WIA. 

But, it gets back to the original question, has it ever worked with the Wizard on this particular PC?

It used to work with my XP home addition with the same camera, the one I have now is XP Pro,  OEM version.  I had a hard drive crash, and then installed the XP Pro. I did not think there would be a difference.

You may have to add the camera using control panel, scanners and cameras, add device, which starts the camera and scanners wizard.

Help and Support states, inter alia,:

To open Scanners and Cameras, click Start, point to Settings, click Control Panel, and then double-click Scanners and Cameras.
To work directly from your camera, click advanced users only on the first page of the Scanner and Camera Wizard.
To obtain pictures, the scanner or camera must first be installed, turned on, and connected to your computer.
There is more info if you search for camera and scanner wizard

This sounds like an issue that could also happen with my camera... I have the Nikon 2500. OK... On your camera, is there a setting for the type of connection you wish to have? On my camera there is a choice of "PTP" and "Mass Storage". If you select PTP, the camera will show up on the computer as a camera. However, if you select Mass Storage, the camera will show up as a drive (check My Computer). Perhaps this is the problem you are experiencing. Hope this is helpful!!

Since this is an OEM Windows XP version (Home or Pro) it would appear you have the same problem that I do and the Camera is not WIA compliant.  I've done a lot of research on this but have never come up with what is different or missing on the OEM versions. 

Whatever it is, it won't allow the non-WIA compliant devices to use the Windows Camera and Scanner Wizard.  I've tried TweakUI and it won't help it either.  I found a registry tweak during one of my searches on Google, but it didn't help either.  The only thing the Microsoft site has is, if it's not WIA compliant "it's not supported".

The WIA compliancy is not limited to Cameras, actually any input device such as a scanner will have the same problem.  In fact, I have the same issue with a HP PSC750 all in one printer/scanner.  With Windows ME, the front panel "Scan" button worked.  With Windows XP the front panel "Scan" button is dead, the unit will still scan but I have to use the HP supplied Windows XP scanning software to do any scans.  As it turns out this unit is not WIA and the reason the front panel scan button does not work.

I do some part-time computer support and repair, and have found this exact same situation on customers PC's with Windows XP (Home or Pro).  If it has an OEM version it won't work, if it was ugraded to XP with a Retail version the Camera and Scanner Wizard will come up.

 

Thanks for the info!!  This is helpful, and like you say, it worked with my Home XP, and since I installed the new version, it does not work anymore....Everything works fine with the supplied program....so I guess that is what it will be. My camera does not have any settings...it appears as a mass storage drive. Funny thing is that I can't seem to get it insalled in the wizard either. Windows does not list the specific camera I have and when I install another close to it and try to connect, it does not reconize it. The softwre supplied with the camera does not seem to have the info that windows needs to install it.    Good day!

This article refers to Olympus cameras, although not to the specific model you mentioned in your first post; maybe it is just that the list is outdated.

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;281090