I have a dell laptop with vista installed on it which is always giving me problems.....anyway my DH has just given me his lumix TZ3 which used to work fine with our old PC with windows XP. I just can't get it to recognise the photos on the camera. I've downloaded the patch from arc software to upgrade for vista but still nothing....I'm so frustrated! I've spent hours getting nowhere! I'm not very computer literate but can manage the basics. Can anyone give me any advice before i have to cough up £45 an hour for someone to look at it :(
Not sure if this will help (do nto really know vista) (I am on XP so not 100% sure if the options are the same)
Plug Camera into the PC and turn Camera on, then going to the Start button and then Control Panel and then select Printers and other hardware, then scanners and Cameras, then select Add an imaging device. This should make the computer search for it.
It might not see it as a "Plug and Play Device" which might be why it does not come up automatically.
Jenny
What Jenny said!
The other alternative might be to get an SD card reader, one that plugs straight into your USB. I'm on windows 7 and have been on XP too, and I have exactly the same camera ;) I usd my card reader all the time.
Hope you get it working soon!
Yes that is a very good option, I must admit I always use a card reader and never plug the camera into the PC.
Jenny
my new computer has a built in card reader - check the front of the tower or side of the laptop
SD card reader ??? sorry to seem dumb but what - how - where????? No idea what it is or how it works....I'm a point and press kind of girl! Will try to find out more on google :)
My Dell is about 2 and a half years old and has a card slot - mine is on the right hand side of the key board on the side bit underneath earphone and microphone jack sockets and next to the USB slots.
But it could be on the back on the left side too! PRobably will have one somewhere though... you just take your card out your camera and pop it straight into the slot and it should start up the picture and fax wizard for you.
A visit to Jessops may be in order, they stock card readers if your laptop doesn't have its own. They just plugs into one of the usb ports.
Ah now i see, i've looked and my laptop doesn't have a slot so i will need a reader. There's an offer on Amazon that has a multi card reader a card and a single slot reader, any idea why i would need both?
EASYi USB SD Card Reader for SD/SDHC Cards (Supports Windows Vista, ME, 2000 & XP
do you think this will be compatible with a lumix TZ3 ?
memory card readers don't have issues with compatibility with cameras, they don't usually care what the camera is (unless the camera saves the files in a really weird format that the computer itself cannot read, but from what everybody is saying about Lumix cameras, that's certainly not an issue).
Not sure what sort of card the Panasonic's take, but you just need your card reader to read the same type - but I suspect the Lumix takes SDs anyway (SD and SDHC are the same physical size, HC just means high capacity)
off to order it then! Thank goodness for this forum, it makes life so much simpler to have all you technology wizards out there many thanks! :)
Hiya
Sorry, just read this. I too have a lumix DMC-TZ3 and the accursed vista.
When I got the camera I did have a different PC and this lovely little program where you plugged in the camera and switched it on and then there was a lovely magic button that whisked all the photos of and filed them nicely on the PC. And then I discovered that I had a photoshop type program that was even better. Stupid vista doesn't recognise it >:( ( x 'Very') So now I have to do it all manually. So this is what I do
1. Remove card from camera.
2. Pop in the hole in the computer, your new card reader will have four holes in I think and just pop it in the one that it fits snugly in.
3. One of two things will happen here. Either the PC will automatically open a window linked to the card or it won't
3a. If it does open automatically go to the next step. If not then go to Start, Computer, and it should show up in the devices with removable storage. Mine says it's a kingston. (If you are not sure take out the card and pop it back in again and it should appear) Select
3b. You are now faced with a window that has two folders DCIM and MISC. Click DCIM
4. Here you may have a few folders called something like 100_PANA. Your most recent pictures should be in the one with the highest number. Don't be surprise if there are older pictures in some of the older folders.
5. Then click and drag them to where you want them
I hope that helps and isn't patronisingly basic.
I love my little Lumix
Thankyou so much Krysia,' patronisingly basic' is exactly what i need ;D ;D I'm Waiting for the card reader to arrive, i'll let you know how i get on, thankyou again! lisa :)
On of my friends picked me up a card reader from Pound land a while back. I have just tried having a look, but their website is annoyingly unhelpful and doesn't seem to have an obvious search facility. It did break after a few weeks, but that would be enough to tide you over til the one from Amazon arrives.
IT WORKED ;D ;D ;D Thankyou so much for the advice, the easy reader arrived, i plugged the card in , popped it into the laptop and at last i could see the pictures..... It must be that **** vista causing the problems again! I don't know how i would manage without you lot out there! Thankyou, thankyou again (can you tell i'm pleased and happy) :)
;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D
So pleased it worked, now lets see those pictures ;D
Not this lot it was 1025!!!!! of my husbands holiday pics etc ;D But i am at last getting myself back into gear after the last year of moves, weddings etc. so watch this space......
will do!