Windows won't recognise digital camera

Jonny · 16 Apr 2007 at 08:42

Morning all,

First off I wasn't sure whether to put this in here or the photography forum so Dons feel free to move at your leisure. Although I think this is a windows issue, when I try and connect my Mums HP Photosmart E427 via the usb cable the camera simply says establishing connection and then after thinkikng about it for a while it gives up and shows 'Device not responding'.
I'm guessing this is a windows problem because the camera doesn't display in my computer nor does the laptop make the typical noise for when USB items are plugged/unplugged.
It's worked before so it seems strange that it's suddenly packed up - any help much appreciated - I've tried searching the net to no avail so far.

Cheers

MarcLister · 16 Apr 2007 at 08:45

Don't you, for some cameras, have to install the software/drivers BEFORE you plug the camera in? Have you done this? Are there any CDs that came with the camera?

Jonny · 16 Apr 2007 at 08:55

I've used it before without the drivers, XP simply displayed it in My Computer and as far as I can think of - nothing has been changed on my PC. I've tried downloading the 'Photosmart' software from HP however thats not made any difference either. It's weird because the camera knows its connected to the laptop but my computer doesn't seem to recognise that anything at all is plugged in.

Jonny · 16 Apr 2007 at 09:07

Just a further bit of info for anyone who might be able to help - I've also tried uninstalling all my USB drivers from device manager and then scanning for hardware changes but unfortunately that has not worked either.

MarcLister · 16 Apr 2007 at 09:19

Jonny said:
I've used it before without the drivers, XP simply displayed it in My Computer and as far as I can think of - nothing has been changed on my PC. I've tried downloading the 'Photosmart' software from HP however thats not made any difference either. It's weird because the camera knows its connected to the laptop but my computer doesn't seem to recognise that anything at all is plugged in.

Good thinking. Would have suggested that next, plugging it into another computer. So that implies that the camera and USB cable are OK. Its your computer.

How about plugging the camera into the laptop again, then going to the Device Manager (Control Panel>System>Hardware>Device Manager) and right-clicking on the camera entry, click on Properties. Then click on Driver tab and then the Driver Details button. This should then list all the drivers your camera is using. Search your original computer and see if it has these drivers. If not copy them all or whichever ones you need over from your laptop and try the camera on your computer again.

If this doesn't work then the only solution I can think of is a reinstall of Windows.