Camera to PC connection problems

[pikey]

Mods : I'm aware this question could fit in the computers or photography forums, but please leave it here as I'm more likely to get an answer! Thanks

I have a new PC laptop with Vista on it, which is my first experience with Vista. Apart from being resource hungry everything works and all is good... generally.

However sometimes when I plug my camera in (USB lead from the camera straight into the port on the PC), the PC beeps (as if to acknowledge something's happened) and then nothing. If I reboot it and do the same, it'll work and I get the popup & options to access the camera. Until next time, when it does nothing again.

When it's not working I get the same when testing with different cameras (makes) and different leads, but it will always work with (say) plugging an iPod / mouse / printer into the same port.

Have never experienced anything like this before with my XP machines. Any ideas? I haven't found much when googling.

Thanks

[x5x3]

I have had similar issue on XP - easiest solution is to buy a cheap card reader and use that, mine was about £9 and works on every PC I have tried it on.

Mind you this assumes your camera uses a CF/SD/etc card?

[pikey]

thanks, but would rather find the problem. Carrying around another piece of kit is something I've not had to do before and don't really want to start now

[VxDuncan]

There's a known bug in XP (and possibly Vista) where storage devices (USB sticks, camera memory cards etc) aren't recognised, as they are assigned the same drive letter as another drive. This usually occurs when the machine has several drives however. It can be sorted by control panel-> admin tools ->Computer management -> Storage -> Disk management, then selecting the CORRECT device (not your C: drive!), and assigning it an unassigned drive letter.

Have to do this all the time with USB sticks at work, though the good thing is the OS remembers for next time you use the device.

Obviously own risk, don't do if you don't know what you're doing etc. etc.

[Scho]

get a mac?

Edited by Scho on Friday 30th May 10:07

[pikey]

VxDuncan said:

There's a known bug in XP (and possibly Vista) where storage devices (USB sticks, camera memory cards etc) aren't recognised, as they are assigned the same drive letter as another drive.

Thanks - that was the answer

[VxDuncan]

So they still haven't fixed it in Vista then? Quality!

Glad you got it sorted.