Dig cam Question

[VeryBadGirl]

I'm a VeryLuckyGirl - Long story short, I won $500 cash in a shoe store raffle. I swear to God - I can't believe it. So I wanted to buy something that I really want, but don't need.

So I got this dig cam, and so far I love it, and it's working great...

Until I try to upload the pix. If my PC is freshly booted, it works fine. If I disconnect the USB, take a couple more pix, then reconnect, I get errors like "can't initialize camera." Sometimes it won't upload all the pix. If I restart the PC, it works. (I AM turning the camera off before I connect/disconnect the USB or replace the memory)

I've tried all sorts of things (I'm pretty good with pcs), and I just wonder if anybody else has had this happen, and what did you do?

If anybody can help, I'll send you a pic of my boobs!

Thanks,
VBG

 

[Starblayde]

Ummm, it may seem a little obvious, but just don't unplug the USB cable while your PC is switched on.

They tend not to like that... 'plug and play' my ass, more like 'plug and pray'

 

[Zamdrist]

There are a couple of things to check.

1. Make sure you have the latest software that you are using to draw the pix in.

2. Is their an updated driver for the USB on your computer? Maybe.

These probably don't qualify me a 'boob picture' but I thought I'd give it a try!

 

[riff]

Be sure you install the USB driver before plugging in the camera.

Try uninstalling the driver. Shut down, restart. Install the driver, then plug the camera in. Plug and Pray should find it and you will be good to go.

I fought the same thing with a scanner once.

 

[VeryBadGirl]

Ummm, it may seem a little obvious, but just don't unplug the USB cable while your PC is switched on.

They tend not to like that... 'plug and play' my ass, more like 'plug and pray'

hmmm. I'm one of those "leave the PC on 24/7" people. (remind me why is that bad?) Your answer IS obvious, but do I really have to turn my machine off every time I plug/unplug the USB? Sheesh!

I was also shocked that batteries run out so fast.

Is it like this for all dig cams? Mine is not an expensive one - 3.1 mega pixel, 2X dig zoom, no opt. zoom, 2048x1536 max res.

Thanks,
VBG

 

[Starblayde]

hmmm. I'm one of those "leave the PC on 24/7" people. (remind me why is that bad?)

It isnt bad if you have an OS that is designed to handle being switched on 24/7... like Win XP

Otherwise everything just gets clogged up and stops working

 

[Shy Tall Guy]

Is it like this for all dig cams?

No - I can plug my cam (Canon) in any time. Any USB device should be plug and play, just make sure the cam is on when you try to connect to it with the software.

I do have a problem with my scanner that is similar; it has to be on when the computer is booted or it won't be recognized, but it is a SCSI device not USB. The only similarity between the camera and scanner is that they are both TWAIN devices - is your cam a TWAIN device? Do you have it running through a TWAIN driver? If it is TWAIN (look it up in the specs of the camera), but you aren't running it that way, you might try that.

 

[RhumbRunner13]

hmmm. I'm one of those "leave the PC on 24/7" people. (remind me why is that bad?) Your answer IS obvious, but do I really have to turn my machine off every time I plug/unplug the USB? Sheesh!

I was also shocked that batteries run out so fast.

Is it like this for all dig cams? Mine is not an expensive one - 3.1 mega pixel, 2X dig zoom, no opt. zoom, 2048x1536 max res.

Thanks,
VBG

I'm not sure what OS you are running but you should be able to turn off the "USB connection" before disconnecting the camera. I've had better luck connecting the camera while it's off. When it is turned on after connection the OS recognizes it as another hard drive and should start your download program as well.

Yes, digicams eat batteries for breakfast!!! GGet thyself to Radio Shack or Wally World and buy two sets of NiMH (nickle-metal hydroxide) batteries and a charger. They will last 5 - 10 times longer than Alkaline batteries and solve most of your problems.

Remember if you have the capability to shoot in a lower format, say 800X600 or 1600X1200, you are not decreasing the quality of the picture, only the printable size. I shoot mostly 800X600 on my 2.1 MgP camera and can therefore put over 500 pictures on my 128 Mb card!

If you want any help, PM me and ask. I'll help if I can!

Rhumb

 

[rick_j21]

I have a Canon Powershot and the batteries do not last long at all. So for $25 I bought a battery recharge pack. I dunno if I would have come out cheaper just buying batteries but I doubt it. The compact flash card I have is 30mb and I can get about 38 pictures on it on a high quality picture.

 

[Shy Tall Guy]

Yes, digicams eat batteries for breakfast!!! GGet thyself to Radio Shack or Wally World and buy two sets of NiMH (nickle-metal hydroxide) batteries and a charger. They will last 5 - 10 times longer than Alkaline batteries and solve most of your problems.

Not all cams can take store bought batteries - many require a proprietary battery pack. My Canon G2 actually does fairly well - I took pics all day long at VMD on one charge, filling up 96 MB with stills and movie clips. I used the LCD viewer most of the time too. The flash takes most of the juice.

 

[VeryBadGirl]

Yes, digicams eat batteries for breakfast!!! GGet thyself to Radio Shack or Wally World and buy two sets of NiMH (nickle-metal hydroxide) batteries and a charger. They will last 5 - 10 times longer than Alkaline batteries and solve most of your problems.

Wow - we went to Kmart last night and got exactly that! 2 sets of NiMHs and a charger! I wanted a 1-hour charger, but the hub was there to stifle my spending, as usual, so we got a "regular" one.

I'm running Win98. The PC I'm using is a Pent 200 (I know it's a dino but I'm used to it), but the kids have a 350 that I might commandeer.

Thanks for your help. I am definitely going to check in that "turn off the USB connection" before unplugging. I called techsupport today, but they weren't much help. It will please me very much to fix this myself and tell my husband that I was assisted by the gurus at Lit.

VBG

 

[RhumbRunner13]

VBG......

.......here is something to try. I'm not a "''puter wiz" by any means, and I'm sure those here who know more can expand or correct my thoughts. Once you are done with your download, try a "ctl+alt+del" to bring up the windows task manager and see if you can shut down your camera there. Just a thought.

Do any of you guys think that might work?

Rhumb

 

[Carl East]

If anybody can help, I'll send you a pic of my boobs!

Thanks,
VBG

If your camera came with some software, check for updates from their own site. It might be that your operating system (depending on what you have) needs that update.

If I'm right of course I'll be checking the mail. lol

Carl

 

[Weird Harold]

I'm running Win98. The PC I'm using is a Pent 200 (I know it's a dino but I'm used to it), but the kids have a 350 that I might commandeer.

A problem I've encounterd before is "helpful" installtion programs that "install" USB support whether it's already there or not. The problem is, that these "helpful" programs install Win 95 drivers on Win 98 and Win ME (or later) systems and screw up the USB suupport completely. The symptoms of such outdated drivers are verysimilar to the problems you're having with your new camera, although they often include unexplained system freezes too.

Go to your control panel -> System -> Device Manager.

Click on Universal Serial Buss Controlers and select each entry under that heading to check Properties -> Driver Details.

The drivers for Windows 98 SE are dated 4-23-1999 If yours are dated earlier than that, you've got the wrong USB drivers installed.

 

[VeryBadGirl]

The symptoms of such outdated drivers are verysimilar to the problems you're having with your new camera, although they often include unexplained system freezes too.

The drivers for Windows 98 SE are dated 4-23-1999 If yours are dated earlier than that, you've got the wrong USB drivers installed.

I have the system freezes too! They are unexplained and erratically difficult to recreate, so I didn't describe them. There is talk of "stimon" causing trouble - I run norton continuously, but I wondered if that was a virus. ?

BUT, my drivers ARE dated 5/98!!! So I need to reinstall my "bus controllers"?

You guys are ALL so helpful and nice - I'll definitely let you know how it goes and if this works out, well, you know ... (why isn't there a boob smilie?)

VBG

 

[Weird Harold]

BUT, my drivers ARE dated 5/98!!! So I need to reinstall my "bus controllers"?

5/98 might be the original Win 98 drivers -- the date I gave is for Win 98 SE (Second Edition). You can reset to the original drivers for your version throught the add/remove programs -> add remove windows components if you have a Windows CD-Rom. The problem is more difficult to solve if your computer has a "Restore" disk instead of a "Windows" disk.

The Windows Update site might help with the newest USB drivers for your system.

 

[VeryBadGirl]

Yes, 5/98 is the latest on the original CD, and windowsupdate has nothing newer.

I'm going to try it on another computer that has a newer bios. In the meantime, it's not like it doesn't work, so...

Thanks!
VBG

 

[Draco]

It isnt bad if you have an OS that is designed to handle being switched on 24/7... like Win XP

Obvious you havent tried Windows 2000 then, it beats Win XP for stabilty and speed by a long shot.

Try getting newer CAMERA Drivers, not OS system drivers. Dont rely on the CD for your drivers, go to the Camera manufacturuers website, Windows update is about as much use as a fish on a bicycle.