Help! Brand new digital SLR full of lovely photos but can't properly install the software to trasfer images to PC.

[artichokes]

It was my 30th this weekend and DH bought me a digital SLR and took us for a gorgeous weekend away. I took LOARDS of photos.

Now we are back and I followed the instructions to download the software that will allow me to transfer the photos to my PC. The download said it was successful and two new software icons appeared on my desktop. However when I plug the camera in it is meant to activate one of the software packages and it does not. The instructions say that if this happens you should just double click on the software icon - which I did but nothing happened.

I tried re-installing but it just says the software is already installed.

Help! I want to see my lovely photos and play with my new toy .

Happy birthday.

What sort of system, windows or Mac? Have you connected the USB drive with the memory card in (or the camera direct) to the USB slot?

If so, go to explorer (if windows) or Mac HD icon if on mac and look for the drive, then just manually pull them onto your desktop.

Thanks for the quick reply. I am using Windows and connected the camera directly to the computer using a USB cable that came with the camera.

I am embarrassed to amdit that I don't get your last sentance (am computer idiot!). What do I need to pull onto the desktop? The desktop already contains the icons to the software but when I click on them nothing happens (grrr).

Try again. Plug up the camera and then turn it on (the camera that is.)

And report straight back...

Are all your photos on a memory card?

Buy yourself a memory card reader... a little gadget that plugs into the usb port on the pc and it will do exactly what it says... and no software needed. You can then save your photos anywhere you want.

The camera is a Canon EOS 400D.

Okay. Turn the computer off. Turn it back on with the USB device plugged in. Windows will detect it and look for the software. If it gives you a list pick the one you installed.

have you turned the camera on when connected?

Are you turning the camera on when you plug it into the computer?

Come onnnn - or are you busy looking at your pics?

Windows detects the camera and says "camera connected". Then it asks which program I want to use and lists 5 possibities. One is Canon EOS Utility which is what the instructions say to use. But when I select that choice and press OK nothing happens. The computer's "thinking light" blinks for about 3 seconds and then stops and nothing happens.

I have the 400d. I plug the camera in and switch it on. The card light on the back of the camera flashes for a while and then the software opens up on the screen.

Did you take RAW pics or jpegs? (Or both?)

You need the Canon utility to see raw files, or something similar. Jpegs can just be dragged onto the computer. We can tell you how.

Yes, it could be you need to be patient.

Ohhh, ohhh, ohhh - just tried Psychobablle suggestions of going to my computer and clicking on the camera in listed devices. It worked! It is showing my lots of little thumbnails of my images.

Am so excited! Thank you all soooo much.

(However, I have a lingering suspision that getting to the photos like this, rather than through Canon software, means I won't be able to edit them and do fancy stuff. But for tonight that matters not ).

Also, DON'T plug or unplug or depower while the card access light is flashing.

clearly my excitment has affected my ability to spell and write coherently.

Ahhhh, my photos are LOVELY. I love my DH for my great new camera and I love mumsnet for helping me use it .

Let's see some then...