Camera wont connect to laptop. any help please?

swingaloo

Today I wanted to put a photo on a Moonpig card. As usual took the photo and connected the lead to the camera and my laptop. Camera is flashing and showing usual message 'Connecting to Computer' but nothing is happening.

Usually after a few seconds I get the message on my laptop asking 'What do you want to do with these photos' but today- nothing.

I used it 3 days ago to do the same thing and it was fine.

Not being very 'tech savvy' I wondered if I have inadvertently clicked on something which could prevent connection but cant think of anything Ive done or an changes Ive made.

Can anyone suggest anything I can try please.

My laptop is am Asus and my camera a samsung.

AndyPix

Once the camera is connected to the computer, do you see it as another "drive" if you click on "computer" or "this PC" depending on what version of windows you're using ?


If you dont - try a different USB port in the first instance and come back and let us know

Robisere

How did you connect to the laptop? If via a USB port, first try another USB port. If that works, check that the original port is working: can you connect another USB device or peripheral to it? Sometimes USB ports can become defective and stop working. Did you last connect to the same port as always?

Try to connect again. If you are using Windows 7, leave the camera connected, then go to 'Libraries' --> 'Computer' ... and look for your camera within the 'Computer' Folder. If it's there it means that the laptop is "seeing" your camera. Let us know what happens.

EDIT: Andypix beat my typing!

swingaloo

Thank you for the reply. Ive tried a different port but it made no difference.

One thing I have noticed - when I go into 'Devices' it shows the camera but has 'offline' at the side of it. May be asking a daft question but does that mean anything or is it saying that because I cant connect?

Robisere

It's not a daft question at all: asking questions is how we learn.

"Offline" in "Devices" means that the camera cannot connect, you are right. How old is the camera, and what model please? I may be able to find the manual, unless you have one. I don't mean the small 'Guide' that comes in the box, I mean a PDF download from Samsung. However, if there is any information in any Guide/manual you may have for the camera, it might have information regarding connecting to a PC. If so, take a little time to read it. If not, give me that model number and I will try to find it. Also: -

Looking in "Devices" - if it shows the camera, right click it and select "Properties" --> "Drivers". Tell me what it says. If it's greyed-out and tells nothing, you may have to uninstall and reinstall the camera drivers from the laptop. The mini CD disc which came with the camera will have those. If you don't have them, I may be able to find them from the Samsung website, but I will need the camera model number, which will be on a small plate somewhere on the camera body.

EDIT: I have to leave for a while, I will be back later.

swingaloo

Thank you, I have gone to Devices - Properties, but there is no mention of Drivers after that. I will try to find my disc and re-install.

The model is ST200F and Ive had it about 4 or 5 years.

Thank you for taking the time to reply.

Johnmcl7

An alternative option if you're stuck would be to get a cheap card reader and then remove the card, put it in that then connected it to the laptop so if there's an issue with the camera you'll be able to get your photos. According to the specs it takes a micro SD card which is a very standard format so suitable card readers are easy to find.

John

grumpycrab

Johnmcl7 wrote: »

An alternative option if you're stuck would be to get a cheap card reader and then remove the card, put it in that...

Or perhaps the laptop has a card reader?

swingaloo

Just tried putting the disc in which came with the camera and the laptop does not seem to be accepting that either. There is a faint 'whirring ' sound then nothing happens.

Laptop working normally in every other way. Very odd that its just stopped working, it was fine a couple of days ago.

googler

It sounds like Autoplay has been disabled for everything.

Open the folder for the CD, and look for something called Autorun, Autoplay, Install or similar, and open that.

agrinnall

I'd simply do as suggested by earlier posters and take the card out of the camera and put it into the card reader that your computer is pretty likely to have.