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8 Replies Last post: Oct 1, 2008 10:34 PM by v2d11

virgomama07

5 posts since
Jun 12, 2008

Jun 12, 2008 5:56 PM

PC no longer recognizing digital camera

Hi there, I need some help. I have a Canon Powershot A95 and up until today I have been able to transfer my photos via USB to the PC. I've had this camera the whole time I've had this PC (HP laptop with Vista, owned for 1 yr) and never had problems doing this before. Now when I plug in the USB and turn on the camera I hear the noise that indicates the computer recognizes the camera, but nothing shows up on the taskbar, nothing shows up in My Computer, I can't figure out how to access the drive. Why would the drive not appear in My Computer? Is there any other way to access the drive?

Thanks for any help!

smax013

6,494 posts since
Jan 28, 2007

1. Jun 12, 2008 9:23 PM

in response to: virgomama07

Re: PC no longer recognizing digital camera

virgomama07 wrote:
Hi there, I need some help. I have a Canon Powershot A95 and up until today I have been able to transfer my photos via USB to the PC. I've had this camera the whole time I've had this PC (HP laptop with Vista, owned for 1 yr) and never had problems doing this before. Now when I plug in the USB and turn on the camera I hear the noise that indicates the computer recognizes the camera, but nothing shows up on the taskbar, nothing shows up in My Computer, I can't figure out how to access the drive. Why would the drive not appear in My Computer? Is there any other way to access the drive?

Thanks for any help!

You can always get a card reader and not use the camera directly at all. I actually prefer this method.

[soapbox] Backup = good...No backup = bad!! [/soap box]

virgomama07

5 posts since
Jun 12, 2008

2. Jun 13, 2008 7:50 AM

in response to: smax013

Re: PC no longer recognizing digital camera

Although that wasn't exactly the anwer I was looking for. I see your point, I had to use my HP all-in-one printer to transfer the photos. It's kind of a pain, so I was hoping to find a fix for the problem. I have another digital camera installed on my PC and I was thinking that may have something to do with it, but I don't know why.

Thanks for the suggestion.

smax013

6,494 posts since
Jan 28, 2007

3. Jun 13, 2008 1:59 PM

in response to: virgomama07

Re: PC no longer recognizing digital camera

virgomama07 wrote:
Although that wasn't exactly the anwer I was looking for. I see your point, I had to use my HP all-in-one printer to transfer the photos. It's kind of a pain, so I was hoping to find a fix for the problem. I have another digital camera installed on my PC and I was thinking that may have something to do with it, but I don't know why.

Thanks for the suggestion.

It could be that the before unmentioned additional camera could be the issue. Is it a Canon as well?

The other possibility could be how you removed the camera from the system when you were done. Generally, if you just yank out cameras or flash drives or hard drives without properly unmounting them, you can "screw" them up. Usually, the worst that happens is that you lose some data if there was an active transfer occuring. But, that can also kind of "zap" the connection.

You might see if the camera shows up in the Device Manager when you plug it in. If so, then try removing (uninstalling) it in the Device Manager and then rebooting. And then try it again.

[soapbox] Backup = good...No backup = bad!! [/soap box]

virgomama07

5 posts since
Jun 12, 2008

4. Jun 14, 2008 9:54 AM

in response to: smax013

Re: PC no longer recognizing digital camera

The other camera is a Samsung. I never uninstalled my Canon because I figured if I ever had to use it again the driver would still be on the computer. Occassionally when I plug in the Canon the Autoplay window pops up, but it doesn't give me any options, it only offers the box that you check to say "do this every time" (or something similiar).

I also make sure to stop the drive before I pull the plug out, I know that it's bad to just yank the cord out. I'd be pretty ticked if I messed up my stuff because I was being lazy you know!

It's alright, thanks for the help, I will just have to use my printer to transfer the photos, or replace my charger cord for my Samsung.

smax013

6,494 posts since
Jan 28, 2007

5. Jun 14, 2008 10:15 AM

in response to: virgomama07

Re: PC no longer recognizing digital camera

virgomama07 wrote:
The other camera is a Samsung. I never uninstalled my Canon because I figured if I ever had to use it again the driver would still be on the computer. Occassionally when I plug in the Canon the Autoplay window pops up, but it doesn't give me any options, it only offers the box that you check to say "do this every time" (or something similiar).

I also make sure to stop the drive before I pull the plug out, I know that it's bad to just yank the cord out. I'd be pretty ticked if I messed up my stuff because I was being lazy you know!

It's alright, thanks for the help, I will just have to use my printer to transfer the photos, or replace my charger cord for my Samsung.

I would still suggest trying the bit with the Device Manager that I mentioned before. The driver is there most likely but not always active until you plug in the camera. If you plug in the camera and go see if the driver is there (if it is NOT there, then that might explain it) and if so, completely remove it and then reinstall it. It might be that the driver just go "screwed up" and completely removing it and reinstalling it might fix things.

[soapbox] Backup = good...No backup = bad!! [/soap box]