# Camera question

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/camera-question/343777>\
**Category:** In My Humble Opinion\
**Created:** [February 10, 2006, 12:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/camera-question/343777 "2006-02-10T00:34:26Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Stuffy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f17d59/32.png) [@Stuffy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stuffy)\
**Post date:** [February 10, 2006, 12:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/camera-question/343777/1 "2006-02-10T00:34:26Z")

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I own a Kodak digital camera. The last time I tried to download my pics, nothing happened. For some reason my computer doesn’t “see” the camera anymore. This includes looking for it with the camera wizard and Kodaks on software. I tired using different USB ports, that didn’t work either. So I’m stuck. I figure it’s a) the USB cable or b) the camera.

So do I try buying a new USB cable, and how do I figure which one? Or should I just go get a new camera? Thougts?

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**Author:** ![jakeline](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/a8b319/32.png) [@jakeline](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jakeline)\
**Post date:** [February 10, 2006, 2:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/camera-question/343777/2 "2006-02-10T02:43:27Z")

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I’ve had two different Kodak cameras, and with both Windows XP and Windows 2000, they also show up as a drive. Can you see it that way? Also, is the light on the back of the camera flashing? For the two cameras I’ve had, the light will flash to show that it’s connected.

Failing that, I would probably uninstall and re-install the software before I spent my money on a cable that may or may not help.

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**Author:** ![scr4](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/59ef9b/32.png) [@scr4](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scr4)\
**Post date:** [February 10, 2006, 3:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/camera-question/343777/3 "2006-02-10T03:43:23Z")

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I doubt it’s the cable. Probably a software issue, as **jakeline** said. What I’d do is connect the camera, go to Control Panel -\> System -\> Hardware -\> Device Manager, find the camera and delete it (select it and hit \<delete\>). Then reboot the system and let Windows auto-detect the camera.

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**Author:** ![Philster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/13edae/32.png) [@Philster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Philster)\
**Post date:** [February 10, 2006, 3:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/camera-question/343777/4 "2006-02-10T03:58:22Z")

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I had this problem w/ my office computer I installed Google Picasa, and that did the trick.

Picasa always sees the camera, and uploads the pics, etc.

Worth a shot.

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**Author:** ![Stuffy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f17d59/32.png) [@Stuffy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stuffy)\
**Post date:** [February 10, 2006, 5:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/camera-question/343777/5 "2006-02-10T05:04:06Z")

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I knew I should have waited. I went out and purchased a USB cable, and it didn’t work. **jakeline** yep there is a green light flashing. I’m going to try your ideas out in the morning. Thanks.