Digital camera - doh!

[debster]

We've bought ourselves a digital camera for Xmas but unfortunately as our ancient computer does not have a special USB port we have to buy a floppy disk adaptor. We are stuffed as we can't download the images without one. Has anyone had to buy one and if so can they recommend a supplier? Love the camera though - especially the ability to erase duff pictures of which I produce many!

Sorry, can't help butI understand your frustration. We have a PC complete with USB ports and I still can't download the images. Our PC just freezes when trying to detect the "new hardware" It's really really annoying me!

debster will ask dh about this when he gets back home as this is the sort of thing he does for a living. I'm a total computer dunce.

SoupDragon - hubby suggests running Windows Update first to check that everything is uptodate and fixed. Then installing the drivers for the camera (should be a CD with the camera with them all on?) before you let it detect the hardware.

Might also be worth checking the camera manufacturer's website to see if there are more uptodate drivers and/or a FAQ of known issues and how to fix them.

Good luck!

Thanks GeorginaA. I think my PC checks for updates by itself regularly as it sometimes tells me I've got something new to install! If I can find Windows Update I'll run it anyway though. I think I'll also uninstall the software and start again.

It really bugs me when these things don't work - rather unusually, I'd followed the instructions rather than working it out for myself

LOL - I hate that when you've actually been good and read the instructions for once!

Windows Update should be the top thing on your Start Menu (at least it is on my set up of Win XP and my laptop which is running Win 98). Check the recommended list as they don't check automatically - only the critical security ones. One word of advice though - ignore any drivers it suggests you have - I did that once and it completely buggered up the computer! I always get drivers direct from the manufacturer's websites now.

Sounds to me there's a conflict somewhere - worth checking the camera maker's FAQ if you can find it.

Ended up going to PC World. Had to pay about £40 for the adaptor. Managed to download images on to the computer only for the software that came with the camera to keep crashing our pc. Will now have to take it back to shop to find out what the problem is. Why does this always happen

GGGGRRRRRRRRRRR Debster- all my sympathy. It's so gutting when exciting things that you've looked forward to getting for ages bugger everything up, isn't it? Do hope all will be well in time!

Debster - We went to PCworld and got a card for the PC with additional USBports, just open the back and slot it in (well almost that easy). Then we got a USB flash card reader where you just slot in your digital camera flash card. It acts as a separate drive so you can look at and copy the photos just like any other file without needing any special package e.g. using 'windows explorer' or 'my computer'. The make of the USB thingy is BELKIN (CF/CF2).
We use ULEAD Photo impact for editing the photos. Very easy to use. Oh and just a tip, save your photos as .JPEG and not .BMP files, as it takes up FAR less space without changing the photo.
Good luck, hope I have been of some help.

No luck updating Windows or from the Canon website. Off to a computer fair tomorrow to try and get a cheap Windows XP disk. Generaly consensus is that WinME is pants Also going to get a card reader and lots of photo paper!

Sorry to hear your still having problems with the camera SoupDragon. Yes WinXP is much nicer than WinME! I can also thoroughly recommend the card readers - bought ours a little while ago and makes life so much simpler.