Canon SD630 Driver Woes - Solve My Problem

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around troubleshooting issues with downloading pictures from a Canon SD630 camera after a reinstall of Windows XP. Participants explore various methods for transferring images, potential software conflicts, and driver-related concerns.

Discussion Character

  • Technical explanation
  • Debate/contested
  • Exploratory

Main Points Raised

  • One participant reports that after reinstalling XP, their camera no longer downloads pictures automatically and receives an error message indicating the camera is in use by another program.
  • Another suggests trying Picasa for importing pictures, though expresses uncertainty about its effectiveness.
  • Some participants argue that if the camera appears as a drive, the issue is likely software-related rather than a driver issue, as Windows XP does not require separate drivers for USB storage devices.
  • There is mention of a potential application that may have been set for plug-and-play autostart that could be damaged or deleted.
  • One participant notes that using a card reader might expedite the transfer process, while another raises concerns about the reliability of the SD card itself.
  • Discussion includes the observation that a dialogue sometimes appears asking which application to use for the action, but the list of applications is empty.
  • Participants express frustration over the lack of a driver found online and the assumption that the installation CD would contain necessary software.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants do not reach a consensus on the root cause of the issue, with multiple competing views on whether the problem lies with software, drivers, or the camera itself. The discussion remains unresolved.

Contextual Notes

Participants note limitations in their troubleshooting, including the possibility of damaged SD cards, the need for specific USB drivers from the computer manufacturer, and the absence of a clear solution for the empty application list when connecting the camera.

DaveC426913
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I don't know where else to turn.

I've got a Canon SD630 that was working tickety-boo until my XP-reinstall. It used to downlaod my pix right to a date-named folder as soon as I turned my camera on. It was a b eautiful thing to behold.

Now, after my reinstall, I can't my pictures at all. Any 'get picture' mpthod I use tells me 'The scanner or camera is in use by another progam. Try again later.'

I've tried
- rebooting XP in safe mode to defeat any conflicting drivers (when I do this, my camera doesn't come up as a drive at all.)
- the 'transfer' button on the camera (nothing)
- looking for drivers online, starting with Canon. They don't even list an XP driver. Though they do list ME and 98 drivers (which didn't work).
- Driver Detective, which reports that my Distigal Still Camera driver is, in fact, up-to-date.
- forums to see if other people have had the same problem. So far, I've found lots of people who've had the same problem, but none whose method worked for me.

Help?
 
Last edited:
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Mmm, could try Picasa, which has an import function that MIGHT help, but I dunno.
 
How about windows explorer? I never liked extra software anyway.

However, if the camer comes up as a drive, then it isn't a driver issue, it is a software issue. It should just be a matter of reinstalling whatever software you were using to automatically retrieve the pictures.
looking for drivers online, starting with Canon. They don't even list an XP driver. Though they do list ME and 98 drivers (which didn't work).
USB storage is integrated into Win 2k and above. You don't need separate drivers for it.
 
My digital camera didn't require software, I just plugged into the USB port, it recognized my camera, and voila.

It did come with backup software incase there was a need.

Dave, did you save your installation disc?
 
i would check with the computer manufacturer for USB drivers specific to your machine, especially if it's a laptop computer. laptops are a PITA.

or switch to ubuntu and import with F-Spot
 
lol @ proton's suggestion of switching an entire OPERATING SYSTEM, to get PICTURES.
 
USB is a master slave protocol.
Cameras can either be master - to allow them to connect directly to a printer, or slave to look like a disc drive. There may be amenu option in the camera to switch it.
On XP you don't need a driver to connect to a USB disk.

Possibles are you have lost the ability to mount USB disks somehow, do you have a USB key you an test ? Or more likely, there is an aplication set as the plug and play autostart for that particular camera and the app has been deleted/damaged.

I can't remember the app to reset autoplay - might be in tweakui.
 
You will also find that putting the SD card directly in the computer will download the pictures a bit faster as well.

Alternately, I had a SD card crashed losing a bunch of nice shots. If that's the case, the computer may not recognise the camera as well.
 
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binzing said:
Mmm, could try Picasa, which has an import function that MIGHT help, but I dunno.
Yeah, I may have to try that. But I'd really like to get back whatever wizard just automagically downloaded my pix the moment I switched the camera on.

russ_watters said:
How about windows explorer? I never liked extra software anyway.

However, if the camer comes up as a drive, then it isn't a driver issue, it is a software issue.
Yeah, Explorer shows (and even identifies) the camera, but it's empty - no data available.

russ_watters said:
You don't need separate drivers for it.
Yeah, this has always bugged me. My system at work has always been unable to read my camera at all. The downside to integrating a function so you don't have to install anything else to get it to work - is that it means when it doesn't work, you can't install anything to get it to work.

Evo said:
My digital camera didn't require software, I just plugged into the USB port, it recognized my camera, and voila.
Yes, it di for me on my original system (before XP reinstall) too.

Evo said:
Dave, did you save your installation disc?
I'll look around, but frankly, it seems to me that if there were driver to get it to work, I'd have found it online somewhere.

mgb_phys said:
USB is a master slave protocol.
Cameras can either be master - to allow them to connect directly to a printer, or slave to look like a disc drive. There may be amenu option in the camera to switch it.
On XP you don't need a driver to connect to a USB disk.
Yes, it connects, but comes up empty.
(I can still see the pix on my camera, so: no, the camera isn't merely empty)

mgb_phys said:
Possibles are you have lost the ability to mount USB disks somehow, do you have a USB key you an test ?
No, USB is fine.

mgb_phys said:
Or more likely, there is an aplication set as the plug and play autostart for that particular camera and the app has been deleted/damaged.
Yup.

mgb_phys said:
I can't remember the app to reset autoplay - might be in tweakui.
I've been reading about this. I downloaded Autoplay Fixer from Microsoft. To operate, it needs to be pointed at a drive. My camera will not come up as a drive in Autoplay Fixer's window, even though it is listed as a drive in Explorer.


Andre said:
You will also find that putting the SD card directly in the computer will download the pictures a bit faster as well.
I'd need to buy a card reader. Great, one more gadget that I need to collect around me when I'm trying to use my laptop. :cry:

Alternately, I had a SD card crashed losing a bunch of nice shots. If that's the case, the computer may not recognise the camera as well.[/QUOTE]Didn't happen.


One thing that's strange is that, sometimes when I turn the camera on (I'm not sure what decides when) a dialogue pops asking what application I'd like to run to perform this action (which would be perfect) except the list of applications is empty.
 
  • #10
DaveC426913 said:
One thing that's strange is that, sometimes when I turn the camera on (I'm not sure what decides when) a dialogue pops asking what application I'd like to run to perform this action (which would be perfect) except the list of applications is empty.

i don't find that strange at all, seems the norm. i assume it allows you to browse directories and select the executable for your software.

the other thing, have you tried starting your camera software before connecting the camera?
 
  • #11
DaveC426913 said:
Yeah, this has always bugged me. My system at work has always been unable to read my camera at all. The downside to integrating a function so you don't have to install anything else to get it to work - is that it means when it doesn't work, you can't install anything to get it to work.
What OS does that computer run? If you are having problems on more than one computer, that points to a camera or disk problem, not a computer software problem. If I'm understanding you correctly, you are seeing a drive letter in windows explorer, but when you click on it, there is nothing on the disk. Do you get a message asking if you want to format it? That's a potential indicator of a problem with the flash disk.
I'd need to buy a card reader. Great, one more gadget that I need to collect around me when I'm trying to use my laptop. :cry:
Try the card on someone else's card reader first. It may be that you've damaged the card and just need to replace it.
 
  • #12
Proton Soup said:
i don't find that strange at all, seems the norm. i assume it allows you to browse directories and select the executable for your software.
What's strange is that the list is empty.


Proton Soup said:
the other thing, have you tried starting your camera software before connecting the camera?
There is no camera software. I can't find a driver for it - at least, not online.

Maybe my assumption is wrong: that any CD that came with the camera would merely provide a driver (in addition to a bunch of other extraneous stuff, but the driver being the critical piece.) Thus, downloaded driver trumps driver from CD.

I'll hunt down the CD.
 
  • #13
Well, after a few days of back & forth with Canon Tech Support, they suggested I call them. After the usual checks, he immediately targeted my Printer Driver. As soon as I turned it off, my camera worked fine.

I guess my printer drivers from the CD are a little out of date.
 

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