Powershot A 640 problem. HELP !

[zoogyltd]

For the life of me, I cannot get my pictures taken uploaded onto my computer and it is driving me nuts. I've only had the camerea for a week. It seems a beauty but... . I've downloaded the disc that comes with it and it is on my computer. My problem is that the Camera Guide book says that when you connect your interface cable to the camera from your computer that automatically, your computer screen opens to the Canon program and your pictures are then in a position to be acssesed. This does not happen. When I connect the camera to the computer, nothing appears on either my camera's l.e.d. screen or my moniter screen. I've read the manuell over and over again and can't get it. It says on page 29 of the "basic camera user guide" states that " A window allowing you to set the preferences will appear when a connection is established between the camera and computer is made. I get nothing on either my camera or the moniter screen. Please, please can someone guide me thru this seemingly simple process. I just don't get it. HELP

[Jon]

What kind of computer do you have?

[77bradley]

When you connect your camera cable to the computer and turn on the camera you must slide the mode selector on the back of the camera to the left side for playback. If you have it slid to the right shooting position nothing will happen. You may be well aware of this but I thought I'd post anyway just in case this simple reason is the problem.

[Alex_H]

I had this same problem happen to my a640 when I got it two weeks ago. I have Windows XP. What I had to do was turn on the Canon Camera Access Library service, SSDP discovery service, and the Windows Image Aquisition service.

If you go to Start, Run, and type in services.msc, you can find the list of all the services that are available on your machine. Right click on the services you want to turn on, go to properties, change the startup type to Automatic and start the service with the button. I restarted my computer just to make sure they started automatically. Connect your camera again and it ought to work.

[zoogyltd]

I have a Dell system with 37.2 GB's running Windows XP. The odd thing is that it worked fine the first time we hooked it up and I was able to do everything. But a few days later when I went to do the same procedure for the 2nd time, nothing happened. I'll go to "programs" on my computer and all the files for the Canon system are there. I can bring up Canon Photo Record file, but for some reason I can't accsess the new pictures on my camera. And yes, I do slide the mode selector to the left. Alex_H, I'll try your suggestion. I just got in from a Fathers Day double-header for my sons baseball team. Happy Fathers Day To All !

:lol:

[Peter Ho]

Normally, what I do is not to hook up my camera to the computer direct. I use a Card Reader. So If you can buy a card reader that your camera uses, all you need to do is to set up you card reader by plugging it into the usb port. Then switch off your camera and remove the card. Then slide in the card into the Card Reader. It should auto detect and then you can use your XP media player to view it. And then use the Explorer to save your pics into a folder in your computer.
And if you have already loaded into your computer, then go to the folder and double click on the pics and it should automatically load the XP viewer.

Happy Father's Day

[zoogyltd]

This is for Alex_H . Your my man ! I followed your instructions and I had it all back again. Thank you , Alex. You took away any anxiety that I'd stored up.

:lol:

[zoogyltd]

Actually, thank you all for your advice. I know where I'm going if I ever have problems again.

:lol:

[cspratt]

I have 4 Canon cameras (10D, 30D, S2 and S3) and I don't know what the latest programs/updates should be on my computer especially as I had to rebuild my old computer (I kept the case).

I had this same problem happen to my a640 when I got it two weeks ago. I have Windows XP. What I had to do was turn on the Canon Camera Access Library service, SSDP discovery service, and the Windows Image Aquisition service.

If you go to Start, Run, and type in services.msc, you can find the list of all the services that are available on your machine. Right click on the services you want to turn on, go to properties, change the startup type to Automatic and start the service with the button. I restarted my computer just to make sure they started automatically. Connect your camera again and it ought to work.

[Jon]

I have 4 Canon cameras (10D, 30D, S2 and S3) and I don't know what the latest programs/updates should be on my computer especially as I had to rebuild my old computer (I kept the case).
Go to Canon's websites for the 30D and S3 and get the latest software updates; you'll be good for all of them.