Downloading from digital camera

[Kazal]

Please help a complete dum dum where electronics are concerned. I have an Hitachi digital camera and as yet have been unable to download any pictures ( in fact I lost about 30 and don't know why or how. Anyway I have Windows Vista Home Basic. My instruction booklet with the camera tells me that Windows 2000/ME/XP users do not need to install USB driver, but doesn't mention Vista (which always seems to be different) Do you think I need to install a USB driver. Also.do I remove the SD memory card from the camera and if not do I take it off 'lock'

[Buenchico]

Firstly, you're attempting to do things the hard way. While it's possible to download pictures directly from your camera (as you're trying to do), it's far simpler to use an SD card reader, such as this one:
http://www.ebuyer.com/product/132044
(They're widely available. Try Asda or Tesco. I've even seen them sold for �1 in a 'pound shop').

Using a card reader (which plugs into a USB port), you simply plug in the SD card and then access the files, on your PC, in exactly the same way as if they're on your hard drive. (The card reader appears as an extra drive. You simply double-click on its icon the view the contents and to copy the files to your hard drive).

However, returning to your current attempts to download images directly from your camera, you usually need to install software (which comes with the camera) to enable you to do this. It's possible that the software might not be compatible with Vista. (As you state, it's also possible that you might need a driver but, given users of earlier versions of Windows don't require a driver, that would seem to be unlikely).

When downloading directly from a camera, different manufacturers may specify slightly different instructions but you always need to have the camera switched on (with the card in place). Some cameras require that you have to select a 'download' setting, on the camera itself, in order to get things to work.

As I've stated though, using a card reader is far easier. They cost next to nothing and you can forget all about drivers and software compatibility.

Chris

[sir.knobby]

Well the simpliest way is to just connect your camera to the computer double click on my computer your camera will show on there as an external hard drive and click on it then find a photo you want to upload right click on it and save it

[ACtheTROLL]

I'm with bu - card reader ... easy peasy cheap as chips ... you'll be over the moon

[rojash]

I can't work out how the following:

Plug card reader into computer
Remove Card from Camera
Insert Card into card reader

can be simpler than:

Plug camera into computer

----------
If you have Vista, you shouldn't need to install any drivers, just plug camera into computer
Double-click my computer
treat camera as removable disk drive

[ACtheTROLL]

and if you get a card reader ... it's also just a hard drive ... no drivers required (unless win98)

the upside of a reader over plugging in camera is not all cameras emulate USB drives and so DO need drivers.
you don't have to switch the camera on ... so battery lives longer
you can use the card for storage ... you can use recovery software when the camera messes up
..... need i go on?

[rojash]

AccyBaby,

"not all cameras emulate USB drives and so DO need drivers"

That's probably true, but I got my first digital Ixus in 2000, and every digital camera I've owned or used has emulated a disk drive under XP (though not under 98), without needing to install any additional drivers.

As for your other points, they may be arguments in favour of a card reader, but the claim was that using a card reader was easier than plugging in the camera direct, and that just ain't so!

[ACtheTROLL]

roj
my fuji (602) doesn't - my wife's "fit's in her handbag" does

in terms of time wasted plugging in "to see" - it's easier (and no disappointments)

I accept that once you know ... direct is probably quicker (if you can find the cable ;0)

when i think about it - I have 2 phones, my portable telly, two different brands of external HDD, two cameras.....
which accept 4 different formats of cards

I have a PC with a built in card reader .... and a nas drive that stores all the pikkies, mp3s and other cr@p they carry
.... It's horses for courses

[Kazal]

Thanks everyone. Oh dear. Will try all the advice once.Just hope I don't lose my piccies.

Dum Dum