computer not recognizing device

I have a Toshiba Satellite laptop with Windows XP. I also have a JVC digital recorder that can take snapshots. I can take rudimentary photos with the recorder. When I tried to hook up the recorder with the USB, it wasn't recognized by my computer. Has anyone had any experience with this? I wonder if there is anyway to hook up the two or maybe they are incompatible? Short of just buying a regular digital camera to post club condition pics for trading etc., anyone have any tips to use what I have?

Most modern equipment with a USB cable should be recognized -- if only as a storage device ( photos are files in a storage device ).

Just to be sure, you are using the provided cable.

The camera is turned on. Required for most devices. Only flash storage does not need (or have) power.

The USB outlet is powered. Some devices need to be attached a powered USB outlet. They are ones in the computer itself or ones that have a separate AC cord and generally a led indicating the power is on.

Finally, there may be software need/provided with the camera. Generally this is need for editing images -- but not for collecting the files off the device.

Thanks for the reply. I tried it again with the power turned on, but nothing. I was able to connect an ipod before, but, I seem to remember that not all the ports worked. I tried to enter the control panel to enable all the ports and they were already enabled. From what you say, the device should activate a icon on the desktop when I plug it in. Any more suggestions? Thanks for your help.

Have you installed camera drivers on the laptop?
How are you checking for recognition? Are you expecting a drive to appear in "my computer" or are you loading your editing software and its not showing there? have you looked in the windows XP camera and scanner wizard to see if it shows in there?

My work laptop is a Toshiba Tecra and have occasionally run into this. One thing you can try is to look in the Device Manager when connected to see if the camera is already recognized (but, of course, doesn't show up anywhere else). It may mean that it has some old or incorrect drivers. If so, try uninstalling the drivers, then reinstall new ones that come with your camera. Make sure you follow the driver installation instructions; the mfg may want you to install the drivers before you connect the camera, sometimes after.

just get a card reader, $10-$15.

I have a Toshiba Satellite, too. Are you sure it doesn't have a card reader on the front of it? Mine has one just in front of the left click button.

Good Luck.

It depends on what camera you have, does the snapshots go on a SD card? My canon HV30 is HDV and works using HD tape so not all cameras have the SD card facility.

Did you try any of the suggestions in this thread?

Thought I'd mention this - its also possible that you need to enable a disk mode or usb mode (or something of the like) on the camera before hooking it up to your computer.

Your first problem is, its a toshiba. Just kidding, but seriously.

Update you mother board/USB drivers. Un-install any drivers/software that your PC may have installed. to do this right click My Computer, properties, hardware, device manager plug in your camera and look at which Driver it trys to instal, uninstall that driver.

Reinstall software for camera, plug in camera. Should work, or buy a card reader.

Its also possible that your cable is bad, I had a old olympus, on of the connections had crapped out and I couldnt get anything off the computer.

Try this: Plug the device in, then restart your computer.

I appreciate all the suggestions. I am going to try all that I can. I originally plugged it in thinking that it would show up on the desktop somehow. It could be a major point that the device is actually not a camera, but, a digital video camera with a snapshot feature. The problem may be that these things are not compatible. Thanks for helping me get to the bottom of this. I am not even sure if the picture quality will be good if I get it set up, but that is the goal. I will try to plug it in, then restart for starters. I also went to the camera wizard section with it plugged in and my initial investigation was fruitless. I got to some information about Win. XP readable equipment that was good to buy and mine wasn't on the short list. I don't have any thing that might help this cause except the actual camera, the usb, a case and a recharge cord. I will try some of the suggestions, then give an update.

I had the device plugged in. When I was looking to see if it had a card or just the tape, I ejected the tape, a message popped up from the USB port saying that it didn't recognize the device or that it malfunctioned. We are making progress at least. I don't have any software for the video camera and I am thinking this is the final anser. Restarting it was a no-go. Trying this before I bought an actual camera was my goal and I thank everyone for all the help. I am assuming that if I buy a new camera it will have software and drivers to install so that it can be recognized by my computer. With my older model computer is there hope with getting a camera that with drivers/software will be recognize, it has Win. XP so not too old.

Upon real close inspection I found a hidden feature that blended into the molding. It was a card slot on the video camera. There was no card in there so I think that if I get a card I will be able to see if the quality of the snapshots my video camera takes is any good. I will do this by placing the card in my computer.

Having a memory card to store the images is a good starting point.

Some of the video camera have very nice lenses on them and have a reasonable pixcel area -->> NTSC has lot of pixcels. I forget the number. HDTV is 2x (at least ) bigger. The video receiver has to have that many pixcels.

I was surprised at my Sony. Granted, there are a lot of SLR features missing -- but not a bad image.

Thats good news. What I am dealing with now, is the card with images on it not being read by my computer. It has a SD card reader. That is the kind of card I got. The only message I got from the computer when I inserted it was that it wasn't on the approved Win Xp list. After that, when the card was in, on the screen in my computer it said insert now. I would love to get this to work, but, I my have to actually call my computer guy. Maybe there is some software that I need.

Here is some information from another site. A later reply said this worked.


Google around with the information on the card itself. The brand, card name and size and with and without windows. I know the SD cards are evolving -- I have one from a camera that my card reader hub will not accept.

Quote:
Originally Posted by Don Landis
Is there a problem with windows XP seeing a 4 Gb SD card in the SD card slot with an adapter? I can insert the micro SD card in my XV6800 and then tether the phone via USB cable to access the card with active sync, but I'd like to see the 4Gb card direct in the laptop.

It sounds like you may need newer drivers for the adapter... See this other link: Becuase it's MicroSDHC - CNET Windows XP Forums

There's also a hotfix available from MS on this -

Hotfix for Windows XP that adds support for SDHC cards that have a capacity of more than 4 GB

Here's some more info: DigitMemo.com » Adding SDHC support for Windows — with your old SD card reader
Last edited by jetsetter; 04-06-2008 at 11:19 AM. Reason: Added additional information