Topic: USB Device not recognised

[Pwilsonscott]

Hello.
My computer will not recognise my digital camera.
I have a Nikon digital camera and am running windows XP home. I have installed the supplied software  - Drivers for the camera and viewing software.
When i connect the camera to any of my 4 USB ports, i get a message saying new hardware found, followed by a message in a caption box from the task bar which says "USB device not recognised - One of the USB devices attached to this computer has malfunctioned, and Windows does not recognise it.
Can you suggest anything ?
I took the camera to another computer, and with the same connecting lead, the computer could read the images without even installing any of the supplied software. My printer and Jostick work in my USB ports fine.
Many thanks

[Rodders]

It's a peculiar one that, PWS.  I must confess to having 2 USB cameras - an Olympus plus a crappy Serif thing - but I don't have much idea what might be causing your problem.

If we both wish very hard, a nice grown-up will come along with a sensible answer.  

[Dogsbody]

Just a thought have you tried the Add Hardware Wizard go to Start>Control Panel>Add Hardware with your camera connected and turnedon it may find it that way

DB

[Pwilsonscott]

Thankyou. The add hardware wizard lists an unknown device. The troubleshoot option says it is working.

[Pwilsonscott]

Another strange thing, after disconnecting the camera, nothing on the camera works. I have to take the batteries out to turn it off !

[Rodders]

It's starting to sound a bit like the camera's knackered, innit!  

[Pwilsonscott]

Could well be, but it works fine on another computer.

[Dogsbody]

Have a look on Nikon's web site they might have updated drivers for the camera if so install (after AV scan) but get rid of the older drivers first, if not I'm afraid you'll have to wait for a spert to log on

DB

PS They might have firmware update for the camera as well

[Pwilsonscott]

With the other computer i tried, i didn't even load the software that came with the camera and the computer recognised it. The owner of the computer had not installed any either. I wonder if XP has its own driers installed already ?
I could try replacing the camera, but i really feel it is an interface problem with the computer.
After re-setting the camera by replacing the batteries, it works fine until re-connected to the computer.

[Simon]

I have a Kodak digital camera, and Windows recognises it without any additional software, so I can't see why it doesn't recognise a Nikon.

Can I suggest you uninstall any additional software you have installed for the camera, and see if Windows will recognise it without?  Also, make sure the camera is powered on when you plug it into the USB port.

Just one other thing, are you using the USB ports built into your motherboard, or is it a hub of some sort?

[Pwilsonscott]

I have un-installed the supplied software and the same thing occurs. The manual says DO NOT USE a USB HUB. I have tried the USB ports at the back of the computer, even the one my printer is connected to, and the 2 USB ports at the front which i am not sure are connected directly to the mother board. I will try having the camera switched on when connecting, but the manual says turning the camera on should be the last step after connecting.

[Simon]

I always have my camera powered on before connecting to the USB.  Hopefully that might be your answer, PWS.

[Dack]

This might be of use - I had a similar problem with a Scanner not being detected. Sounds like a USB configuration issue.

From http://www.windowsxpuser.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=18692

This was posted in response to someone who had the exact same problem only with a digital camera....does this apply to me?

Thank you for your reply. According to the information, I
recommend you follow these steps to resolve this issue:

Step 1: Remove Hidden Devices

1. Click Start. Click Run. Type cmd and press OK.
2. Type "set DEVMGR_SHOW_DETAILS=1" (without quotation
marks) and press Enter.
3. Type "set DEVMGR_SHOW_NONPRESENT_DEVICES=1" (without
quotation marks) and Press Enter.
4. Type "start devmgmt.msc" (without quotation marks) and
click press Enter.
5. Click View. Click Show hidden devices.
6. Click "+" to expand Imaging devices, Unknown devices and
USB devices.
7. Are there any digital camera devices and unknown devices
(including grayed out devices)? If so, please right click
it and click Uninstall.

Step 2: Remove all oem*.inf files

=========================

1. Click start and click run then under the run line type
in the command "cmd" (without the quotation marks)

2. In the command line, type in the following (without the
quotes) and press enter after each command:

"cd \windows\inf"
"ren infcache.1 *.old"
"ren oem*.inf *.old"
"del C:\windows\setupapi.log"
"exit"

Step 3: Removing all entries under
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE/Enum/USB that start with VID

==================================================================

Removing the VID entries from the registry will cause them
to be redetected at restart.

CAUTION: If you have a USB keyboard or mouse, do not remove
the VID entry for these devices, otherwise, Windows may not
restart correctly.

1. Click Start and click Run. Type regedit and click OK.
The Registry Editor window will open.

2. Go to
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CurrentControlSet\Enum\USB.

3. Highlight and delete all the VID_.... entries.

Permissions may be set allowing the deletion of the VID_
entries by following the steps below:

a) Right-click the key to be deleted, and then click
Permissions. The VID_... Permissions window will open.
b) With Everyone highlighted in the Group or User name
section, select Full Control in the Permissions section.
c) Click Apply, and then click OK.

4. Turn off the computer.

Step 4: Reconnect the digital camera to the computer
system:

=============================

1. With the computer system turned off, reconnect the
Sony DSC-P50 camera to the USB port.
2. Restart the computer.
3. After the Windows operating system has finished
restarting, plug the digital camera into the electrical
outlet.
4. A New Hardware Detected window should open and
reload the drivers.

If the camera still cannot work, I recommend you plug the
camera to another Windows XP computer (Desktop) to test
whether this camera works. I suspect it is an
incompatibility issue.

Thank you for your time. I look forward to your reply.

Best Regards,

Microsoft Windows Support Professional

[WeaveP]

(From PWS)
Thanks, i will try that. My camera has 2 USB settings, one called PTP and one called MASS STORAGE DEVICE. MASS STORAGE DEVICE is the default setting, which was on when i first connected the camera, but i think the correct setsetting for Windows XP is PTP. I am not sure whether this has created a problem.

[WeaveP]

(From PWS)
I have tried allthat and still get unkinown USB device message.
I have spoken to Nikon, they say there is a problem with Via Rev 5 USB which i have listed under device manager, serial bus controller.
They recommended downloading a USB filter patch and hyperion USB drivers which i have done and i think i have installed correctly, but still the same problem.
I wonder if a bought a card reader and attached that to a USB port rather than the camera it might solve the problem.
The card readers i have seen are quite cheap.