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05/16/2006 12:39:25 PM · #1 |
I bought my Panasonic Lumix camera about a month and a half ago now. It has not worked properly since I bought it. When I first got it I noticed it wouldn't upload photos to my computer even when I followed all of the troubleshooting advice in the manual. I called Panasonic and was told that the CD that was included must not be compatible with my computer (Windows XP, Compaq computer) so they would send me another CD (after a few hours on the phone between supervisors they finally agreed to send me the CD at no charge). Three weeks later I received the other CD, but it was the same as the one I had!
I called them back and by this time we had tried using the camera on my roommate's computer - and it does work there. They told me it must be something wrong with my computer and to call Compaq. After spending two hours on the phone with Compaq checking every nook on my computer we found nothing wrong. The USB ports work fine (I knew they did - they work with my printer and external sound card with no problems) and everything else is in order according to Compaq.
I called Panasonic again and was told that they would have a tech support person contact me. Four days later (today) tech support finally returned my call. The woman told me the problem is not with the camera since it works on my roommates computer and they couldn't do anything for me. She said "We don't troubleshoot computers" and then hung up on me. I'm not asking for them to troubleshoot my computer - my computer works just fine, but it does not work with their camera. The camera says it is supposed to work with Windows XP and XP is the system I use.
I am a college student. I had been saving up for this camera for 3 months before I could afford to buy it and now it doesn't work. I can't keep using my roommate's computer. When we graduate in a year and I can't use her computer anymore the camera will be useless without anyway to upload photos. I can't take it back either because Circuit City has a two week return policy. I spent over 2 weeks waiting for the new CD that Panasonic said would for sure fix the problem. I'm at a lost as to what to do now. If anyone has any suggestions on how to get it to upload photos or any ideas of what I should do, I would greatly appreciate it. |
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05/16/2006 12:42:42 PM · #2 |
| Get a card reader, that's how most people get their photos onto the computer. |
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05/16/2006 12:43:24 PM · #3 |
| Yeah, card reader would be the best option even if connecting the camera directly did work. They aren't very expensive and you can get them at any computer or office store. |
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05/16/2006 01:00:42 PM · #4 |
Ditto on the card reader...
Your computer probably has some software running that is interfering with the panasonic software, which would explain why it works on another computer and not yours. You could try uninstalling any unnecessary software from your system to see if the problem goes away. After you uninstall some things, uninstall the panasonic software also. Reboot the system and then reinstall the camera CD and see if the problem goes away.
If you are connecting your camera to a USB hub instead of directly to a USB port on the computer, you may want to try going directly to the computer as well. I have had various problems connecting certain USB devices to a hub.
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05/16/2006 01:02:26 PM · #5 |
Another thing to try is to go to the Panasonic website and get the most recent driver for the camera. It could just be that the driver on the CD/computer is old.
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05/16/2006 03:26:49 PM · #6 |
| Thank you for the suggestions. Compaq also mentioned to go to Panasonic's website and get an updated driver. I would like to try this before I spend money. When I went to their website I was unable to find anything like that. Am I stupid or is it just not there? :) Again, thanks for your help. |
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05/16/2006 03:58:19 PM · #7 |
Well, the Panasonic site is of no help. You'd think they'd list drivers under downloads by product or something. I even tried searching on Lumix.
Here's a link I found while googling. Hope you find something useful.
//www.best4sites.net/telephony/1/panasonic/panasonicdriver/Panasonic-Driver.html |
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05/16/2006 04:14:31 PM · #8 |
I'd sure agree with Panasonic that the camera is not the problem.
Making sure you've got the latest driver is the prudent thing to do. That said, I've got little faith that a driver update will fix the problem. As John posted, it could well have to do with other software or the configuration of your particular computer. A computer guru might well be able to sort it out; if you know one, perhaps it's worth a go.
The card reader recommendation is really the cleanest solution, and you'd be amazed at how much faster your transfers would be. A USB 2.0 reader is not too expensive, should be around $20. Although it is cash out of your pocket, it would be money well spent.
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05/16/2006 04:18:21 PM · #9 |
I've found, with USB, that if one device driver is not up to date, all the USB devices act flakey. I've gone through this with my new computer. The built-in card reader was acting flaky. Updating all the drivers for all USB devices (except the scanner - UMAX wants money for the update) and now everything seems to be fine.
That being said, you may have to update the drivers for all the USB devices. |
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05/16/2006 05:24:43 PM · #10 |
Looks like there's a driver listed at the bottom of this page: //www.panasonic.com.au/products/details.cfm?objectID=2653 No idea how up to date it is, though.
If you do end up working this out and you intend to submit to challenges here, make sure that downloading via the camera isn't altering your originals in any way. That has a tendency to happen and you'll be disqualified if you can't provide an unstamped original.
Message edited by author 2006-05-16 21:27:44. |
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05/31/2006 09:13:35 AM · #11 |
| Well, frustratingly, I have downloaded new drivers. I bought a card reader and even the card reader gives me error messages. I don't know what's different with my computer that it wont upload photos, but neither of the companies is willing to help me to get their product to work. I guess I will be going to the library on campus to get my photos, even though this will be inconvenient. When I graduate the camera that I spent months saving for will be useless. =( I understand it is not the camera that is defective but I still feel that since the camera wont load pictures as it is advertised to do, then Panasonic should assist me in finding the problem. |
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05/31/2006 09:19:48 AM · #12 |
try unplugging other usb devices. i have an older computer, it claims to be USB 2.0 but only my cardreader works at that speed, my usb external harddrive gives me issues all the time.
the issue i had is when my cardreader is plugged in my scanner gives me scrambled images - no errors, but no images. unplugging the card reader fixes it - some kind of conflict i suppose.
so try unplugging all your usb deviced and even try different usb ports.
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05/31/2006 08:15:04 PM · #13 |
| Yes I have tried that. *Sigh* Thank you for the advice though. It's not THAT old of a computer either - a 2002. |
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05/31/2006 08:26:44 PM · #14 |
you can usually find a multi-card reader cost less than $10,
or if you only need an SDcard reader, it's even cheaper.
These are better than connecting the camera direct to the computer, IMHO.
Like John said, it's probably a problem with your software/OS. |
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05/31/2006 08:27:22 PM · #15 |
Believe it or not a 2002 computer is old! Well not that old but it surely may not have the driver you need. While I'm not an expert, I know that if I were with you and you had an internet connection (to download drivers) I could get it to work. Maybe someone there could help you.
Also...the camera you are using is a very good camera. I had one before I got my D70 and I really liked it. Don't blame the camera! You made a good choice in equipment. Keep trying to get it to work.
As the other's said, try your best to get a card reader even if you have to save a buck or two a week! It is worth it!
Kenny
EDIT: I checked your portfolio...how did you upload those shots to this Website?
Originally posted by emberstl:
Yes I have tried that. *Sigh* Thank you for the advice though. It's not THAT old of a computer either - a 2002. |
Message edited by author 2006-06-01 00:29:05. |
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05/31/2006 09:59:15 PM · #16 |
What's the model of your compaq, and I'll check to see what I can find.
Also are you updated to Service Pack 2 for Windows XP? SP2 fixed USB problems... and added USB1.1 and 2.0 support.
As I was SP1 added the support SP2 fixed the issues.
Start > right click My Computer > choose properties
Service Pack will be just below the version #.
Andy
Message edited by author 2006-06-01 02:03:47. |
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05/31/2006 10:14:52 PM · #17 |
| I never use the provided image transferring software that comes with any camera that I buy. Have you tried plugging your camera lead+Camera into the USB socket, go into windows explorer, and see if the computer is picking up on the removable drive (Your Camera)? It should be listed next to your C: and CD drives and such. If you can see the removable drive, just access your images that way and copy them over to a folder on your computer, rather than relying on the software cd to do it for you. |
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