Viewing G12 RAW in XP OS and on LR ingestion Q's

I recently put LR (3.3)on an old T60 running Win XP (SP3 Build 2600) to learn the program and have encountered something that has me puzzled. When I hook up my G12 via USB cable LR says no preview available on the G12 raw files when I start the importation process. Once the raw files are imported into LR, I can see the raw previews and work with the files with no issue. Does LR use the OS for previewing a card connected via camera cable to the computer? And them switch to the ACR engine once the file is loaded? I'm just not sure why LR can't preview the raw files on the card, but can preview them once it imports them.

Once the files are downloaded, in the Windows explorer filmstrip view I can see the small embedded jpgs within the raw files w/o a problem, but all attempts to view the raw files by dbl clicking them result in "no preview available" (Win P&F viewer) or "Preview failed to load" (MS Raw Image and thumbnailer viewer). I have installed the latest raw codec from the Canon G12 support site and even the FastPictureViewer (FPV) codec, and I still can not preview the G12 raw files in Win XP. So what else am I forgetting to do to make the Win XP OS be able to view my Canon G12 raw files?

Just as an aside, I have LR3 on a decent HP desktop running Win 7 and installing the FPV codec eliminated this issue on that PC. I'm just trying to use the T60 to learn LR, and play with up a backup copy of a few of my images. I looked at previous threads on this, and they all said variants of, get the latest codec (check), get the latest ACR (check), or use 3rd party FPV (check). Thanks for any thoughts or assistance.

I'd say the problem is not with LR but with your system not set up to communicate with your camera. Try installing the Canon software for your camera or, use a card reader -- plug it in and then hit the Lightroom Import button and see if the files show up with thumbnails.

Faststone image viewer will work. This will take over from windows picture/fax viewer and will display the raw files by just double clicking on them.

Regarding the first part of your question; before importation LR has to display the embedded jpgs and it seems that XP is not capable of reading them through the usb connection (a long standing bug in XP) Once you have imported the files LR creates its own previews based on its defaults or an applied import preset.

tonylong wrote in post #12043059
I'd say the problem is not with LR but with your system not set up to communicate with your camera. Try installing the Canon software for your camera or, use a card reader -- plug it in and then hit the Lightroom Import button and see if the files show up with thumbnails.

Yeah I installed the Canon CD, and updated to the latest codec from the Canon website. The OS correctly ID's that I have a G12 plugged in when I hook up the camera to the cable and plug it in.
Funny enough the USB card reader I have is old and only has a slot for a CF card, got it when I bought my 40D. My primary desktop has a built in multi-card reader so I haven't bothered to buy another USB card reader.

This is not a big deal, since I can see the previews with LR or DPP once they're download/ingested. Just annoying that I can't figure it out. Thank you for the suggestions!

So, use the built-in card reader and then do a Lightroom Import. Lightroom won't necessarily directly connect to your camera unless all the "bits" are working between your camera and the computer.

dave_bass5 wrote in post #12043080
Faststone image viewer will work. This will take over from windows picture/fax viewer and will display the raw files by just double clicking on them.

I've used Faststone as a browser before and liked it. In this case I'm going to continue using LR once the files are downloaded, since I'm just trying to learn the program. DPP works as a browser too, altho a bit clunky in that role IMO. I'm just assuming the fact that the Win OS Explorer/Viewer can't see the G12 raws is the reason LR can't see them until it ingests/imports them. Thanks Dave!

tzalman wrote in post #12043089
Regarding the first part of your question; before importation LR has to display the embedded jpgs and it seems that XP is not capable of reading them through the usb connection (a long standing bug in XP) Once you have imported the files LR creates its own previews based on its defaults or an applied import preset.

That's what I was thinking, but hadn't encountered in the past with my 40D, only recently with the G12. I could swear I've seen other folks get around this with the codec update, or ACR, or FPV. Ah well, like I said, a curiosity really, not a problem. Since I can see previews OK in LR or DPP once ingested. Thanks!