I am so frustrated. I am a very careful person.....I'm sure I did everything just right. Yet I have run into a brick wall. I hope someone can help me over it.

I have a very-new Dell computer. Lots of memory, it is powerful enough to do far more than I will ever need.

I bought a Kodak 280. Thought it would be simple to connect the camera to the computer.......and the confusing thing is..... it WAS easy, at first.

I plugged it to the USB port. Loaded the software. Ta-da! there were the pictures.

Kodak also supplied two other software discs.......Adobe photodeluxe and activeshare. So, I installed those, too.

Now......when I try to connect the camera to the computer, it tells me I am not connected! All the troubleshooting lists suggest that things might not be configured correctly, but since it came up once, I figure that the USB must be properly configured.

Then I tried to connect via the serial port........nope, that won't connect either.

What should I do now? This is so terribly frustrating. I hope that there is someone out there who might have some suggestions, at least to give me some hope.

Thank you, Kathy

-- Kathy Fehr (Sandmarker@aol.com), April 17, 2000

Answers

Kathy,

You need to provide more in the way of specifics. Like what operating system you're using and which version of it? Windows 98? 98SE? 2000?

The one thing you have to remember concerning PCs is that things can change in a millisecond, or less, literally... Just because it was working doesn't mean it will be today. If your troubleshooting "lists?" "wizards" etc. say check the CONFIGURATION, do it!

If you print a copy of the Serial Port Troubleshooting FAQ I wrote for the Imaging Resource you can use it to get to the Device Manager and then look to see if there is a yellow exclaimation point on the Universal Serial Bus Controller for starters. If there is, try using the built-in windows troubleshooting to get things working again or delete the USB controller setting and start windows up again and see if re-installs it for you and solves the problem. Better yet, get DELL on the horn and make them talk you through solving the problem, that's the whole point of paying extra for Name Brand PCs. If not Dell, try Kodak. You might need to talk to both. Forget the serial port transfer, USB is MANY times faster than normal serial.

I wish I could be of further help, but I just haven't had to tackle a USB problem here, yet. If you have a question let me know, maybe I can help anyhow.

Good Luck.

-- Gerald M. Payne (gmp@francomm.com), April 17, 2000.

Kathy, I'm not an expert in this by any means, but I'm wondering if you first installed the camera via the device manager's "scannner and camera installation wizard" in the control pannel?

I own a new DELL also, and if you are adding anything to the system about which you are not certain, you can always call tech support and they should be able to assist.

Good luck!

-- Robert (broeux@home.com), April 17, 2000.

Thank you for the help and support. The Kodak support people were able to help solve the problem. (whew). For others who may suffer through this.......apparently the software that allows the computer to "see" the camera was jumbled up somehow when the other software was installed. By deleting the software and re-installing it......we are up and running. Thank you again to everyone!

-- Kathy (sandmarker@aol.com), April 20, 2000.