Neither of my CD drives work on my computer. I want to buy a digital camera but most come with a CD for the software. Is it possible for me to somehow put the information I need onto a USB flashdrive from the CD and then use the flashdrive to install the software I need for the camera onto my computer? Do I even need the software? Or do I not even need the software for the camera if I already have HP Image. Wouldn't I just be able to use the USB with the camera to transfer pictures without the software is kinda what I'm getting at..... please help. Thanks!
2006-09-01 09:06:37 · 11 answers · asked by Some Girl 3 in Consumer Electronics ➔ Cameras
This is what u hafta do. Go to the manufacturer's website and dowload the stuff from there. For example, if you buy a canon camera, go to www.usa.canon.com and download all the things u need, like the drivers, and software, and other stuff. The drivers are the most important thing, so ur computer can recognize it. If you use HP image, or adobe, or any other photo-editing software, then u might not need their software.
2006-09-01 09:17:06 · answer #1 · answered by Murthy96 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
With WWW access (and you obviously have it since you posted your question here) you can download the camera driver(s) from the camera manufacturer's WWW site onto a USB flashdrive, or your computer hard drive (better).
A better solution would be to get the CD drives replaced on your computer. If you don't need to "burn" CDs, two read-only CD drives should cost you about $100, maybe less .
The best solution IMHO would be to get a "memory card reader" that connects to the USB port. The card readers need no special software, and look just like a flashdrive to the computer. There's several kind of memory cards used in digital cameras, so the kind of reader you'll need to get depends on the camera you have. SanDisk, Kodak, and others offer card readers, and are readily avaialable through Wal-Mart and typically run under $35. You can pull the memory out of the camera after turning it off, insert the memory into the reader, plug it into your UB port, and the pictures are instantly available for transfer, editing with HP Image, etc...
I have to disagree with with other posters who claim that the XP operating system will recognize cameras without driver software. I have seen very few cameras that are automatically recognized by XP. In your position, I'd advize you to get the card reader to avoid the problems with software and/or the hassle and cost of replacing your CD drives. If you REALLY want the software installed on your computer, download it from the manufacturer's WWW site, but you'll need broadband to do so since the software is many Megabytes.
2006-09-01 12:16:47 · answer #2 · answered by techyphilosopher2 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes, you can install software from a flash drive. Windows does not care which type of drive you install from; software just comes on CD's because they are inexpensive and durable.
Just copy the software from the CD to flash on another computer. Then bring it over to your computer and open the software's "Setup" file on the on the flash drive. (It will not automatically startup like a CD file usually does.)
If the photo editing software you already have is satisfactory, you don't even need the software from the new camera. All they do is automate the downloading to computer and give you some basic editing. You don't need either.
Yes, you can just use the USB interface to connect your new camera. (This assumes that you have WinXP or Win2000. They have universal USB drivers included that will work for digicams. If you have something else, like Win98, you will need to download the camera's USB driver from the manufacturer.)
Good Luck
2006-09-01 09:39:04 · answer #3 · answered by fredshelp 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Most of those programs are unnecessary. A lot of the cameras can send their own pictures through a USB cable without added software. A lot of users already have image processing software. Try it - you should be OK.
By the way I was just pricing CD drives at Staples. You can get an OK one for $39.95. At that price you might want to get one anyway (you could always just play CD music on it while you are using your computer).
2006-09-01 10:29:42 · answer #4 · answered by Rich Z 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
First off have you tried a cleaning disc to fix the problem with your drives? Next I don't see why you couldn't copy the software you need from the cd to a flashdrive using a friend's computer. As to using your existing hp image software with your camera I don't have an ans.
2006-09-01 09:16:06 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Get a card reader and don't even use the camera to get your images into the computer. I've owned several cameras now without installing their software.
My standard answer:
If you get a card reader, no additional software is necessary. This is not only faster, but it saves your camera batteries.
First of all, be sure there are some pictures on the card. Plug the card reader into an open USB port. Plug the card into the appropriate slot on your card reader. I use Photoshop Elements and as soon as I plug my card into the reader, it starts its own card reader and displays a thumbnail of every picture on the card.
If this does not happen automatically, open your photo editting software. Do whatever you usually do to open a file, but click on the selector where you can change drives. Your card reader will be assigned a new drive name that will be one letter higher than you ever saw before, such as "Drive G:" or such. Then, just double click on the name of the file you want to open and it will appear in your photo editor.
2006-09-01 12:14:33 · answer #6 · answered by Picture Taker 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If all you want to do is retrieve the photos from your camera, you won't even need the software. XP will recognise the camera and it as a new drive :)
2006-09-01 09:10:52 · answer #7 · answered by the_big_v 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Another possibility is to just replace your disk drives. You can buy them on eBay fairly cheap, depending on what you want. Or just go to a nearby Bestbuy/Circuit City or some electronic store and they should be able to help you. Most of the Drives will come with detailed instructions on how to install them.
2006-09-01 09:17:35 · answer #8 · answered by underpaid 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The software is usually just for storing, sorting and editing photos, so you don't really need it. If you want it, you could probably do the flash drive thing. I'd at least try it and see if it works.
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