My camera won't transfer pics to my computer,any help appreciated!

[ossaguy]

I have a Canon Powershot SX120s,and a Dell laptop that now does not transfer pics from the camera to the computer.

It's been working ok for a couple years,then last night it stopped.I hook the cable in the USB port,turn it on,and nothing happens on the screen like it used to.

I took the camera and cable to the photo shop where I bought it,and they
plugged it into their computer and no problems found.

I've tried the other USB ports on it,no difference.

I've read the owners manual front to back.I've read the software instructions too,no luck.A lot of the tech-lingo goes over my head,though.....

So I did some internet searches,and one Q & A site said to look in the control panel for devices,and in 1 place it shows no camera,but I forgot where but in another it shows it.

If I click on the software for it on the desktop page,the software comes up ok.

I have lost the setup disc for it.My question is I read somewhere to uninstall,then install the disc ( if I had it ) but would I lose all my past pictures doing that.

I don't want to lose any of our vacation pics,they are all I have.

Thanks in advance for any tips/advice. I know there are a lot of computer saavy folks here,so I thought I'd try here.

Thanks,
Steve

 

[NewLondon88]

First question that comes to mind ...
when you brought the camera back, did they use YOUR cable
to test it? If you're sure that they did, then chances are it isn't
the cable that's bad, but it could be your USB port. Something
may have changed the settings (was anything else installed?)

As for your pics, if they're on the computer, they can be located
and saved. I'd never trust just one storage location. Grab yourself
a USB thumb drive. I think you can get 8GB for under $10 at Staples.
That should store more photos than you can take in years. (unless
you store huge files for printing)
So .. back up your photos. Just in case.

If you need to get the photos off of your camera, take it AND your
USB thumb drive to another computer and save them. Just in case.

THEN you can try re-installing the software if needed. The mfg's
website should have links to download the software. But chances
are that it's something in your USB control. Could be a bad card,
could be a changed setting. If you're not POSITIVE that they used
your cable at the store, try another USB cable. They do go bad..

 

[ctubbs]

Drivers & software

Check here for your drivers & software for your camera;
Canon U.S.A. : Support & Drivers : PowerShot SX120 IS

It sounds as though you may have installed something that turned off the driver for your camera. You could use the 'restore' function to go back to before you did the install and see if that fixes the problem. Cannon usually offers excellent support via email of phone. Best of luck.

Oh, by the way, make a backup of all your photos before doing anything about the camera. Use CD's of DVD's and make copies of all your photos even if everything is going well. You never know when your hard drive will crash and then you loose everything you had stored there. I use an external HD for one backup and then also on disk.

Hope this helps.

Charles

 

[ossaguy]

I brought in my cable for it,as I sure was hoping that was it.It all worked on their computer ok,the 3-choice box popped up on their screen ok.

Last night,I got a message on the camera saying,"commiunication error",meaning I had too mayny pics on the memory card.So I removed about 100 pics,and it no longer says that message,but now that I think of it it stopped working after doing that.

Lately it's been pretty slow in coming up,with about a 3 minute or so wait,but it always would come up if I unplugged the cable,the plugged it back in after a few seconds.

I will go to staples and pick up a thumb drive.I hope it comes with instructions....

I tried going onto Canon.com,but couldn't see where to download the software.Would I need to remove the software from my laptop before downloading it?

Thanks,
Steve

 

[Kretzky]

Instead of transferring direct form the camera to computer, if your computer has a card reader you could you remove the memory card from the camera & do it that way. That's what I do. Alternative is to purchase a card reader that will plug into your computer, they're not that expensive.

 

[Mr Vic]

Go buy a new SD card and take a couple pics with it. Use it instead of the card you have a lot of pics on for troubleshooting.. I also think that Wal-Mart or Walgreens can transfer from the SD card to disc.

 

[PR_Princess]

Steve, while you are at staples look for a USB SD card reader. (It should be just a few bucks.)

Try taking your SD card out of your camera and inserting it directly it into the reader. This is usually a much faster way to download into your computer, and it will bypass any cabling problems.

I had a similar USB cabling issue with my Canon (all be it a different model) and the reader method works great for me.

 

[ossaguy]

I wanted to say "Thanks!" to everyone for the help.

With getting the new Sd card,and the thumb drive,it worked like a champ!

I like how is really fast now to do,and that it didn't mess up the software.

I'm still not sure why it happened..but I'm happy that it's fixed.

You all are great folks!



Steve