Solved Canon Digital Cameras - USB Drivers Do Not Work Through Reboots

[WindowsStar]

Hey everyone it has been quite a while since I have had to post a question for help but I have run across and issue we cannot seem to solve. Please read carefully as I will try to provide as much detail as possible.

All systems are Dell or HP many different models and footprints spanning over 5 years; so we do not believe it is a hardware issue.

All systems are running:

Windows 7 Enterprise 64bit
4GB to 32GB Ram
USB 2.0 and USB 3.0 ports or only USB 2.0 ports
Almost all have no floppy drive
Almost all have DVD R/W drives but some have none
Many Keyboard and Mouse configurations
Some PS/2 type
Some USB Hardwire
Some USB Wireless
Some USB Bluetooth
Most do not have USB or parallel directly attached printers. All do have Network Printing from a common Windows Server 2008 R2 Print Server(s)

Over the years we standardized on Canon digital cameras (still pictures). We have purchased cameras for 8 years and have many different Canon models. We also have a few Sony digital and Nikon digital cameras.

Here is the problem:

All cameras no matter the make or brand worked perfectly in Windows XP Corporate. In fact many of the machines were running Windows XP Corporate were converted to Windows 7 because they are new machines completely capable of running Windows 7 and do have the stickers on them indicating such. Since we have converted a large amount of systems (approximately 2000) to Windows 7 Enterprise all the Canon digital cameras do not work. Nikon or Sony’s have no problems. Selecting one computer that is using a Canon digital (not working) and swapping it with a Nikon or Sony everything works correctly, in many ways eliminating the computer hardware as a problem.

Canon’s not working details:

By not working we mean you have no access to the pictures on the camera through the USB port. Why? Because the driver has the yellow exclamation point in the device drivers list.


The fix (that does not work):

How to fix the yellow exclamation point in device drivers:

Log on as Local Administrator or Domain Administrator, and remove the driver, reboot, log on as Local Administrator or Domain Administrator and let the system re-discover the camera and install the driver. The camera will now work perfectly. You log off as Administrator and let the user (standard user with restrictions and domain polices) and the camera works perfectly.

The catch:

Once you reboot the computer the camera no longer works. Even if you log on as Local Administrator or Domain Administrator the camera does not work. For some reason Windows 7 changes the driver to the yellow exclamation point indicating the device is not working. They only way to get it to work is to log on as Local Administrator or Domain Administrator uninstall the driver and reboot, log on as Local Administrator or Domain Administrator and letting it re-install the driver. The computer and the camera will work perfectly as long as the computer is not rebooted.

Note: All other digital cameras work correctly so far.

Anyone have ideas on how to fix this so the driver stays active through reboots?

Thanks -WS

 

[sygnus21]

Nikon or Sony’s have no problems. Selecting one computer that is using a Canon digital (not working) and swapping it with a Nikon or Sony everything works correctly, in many ways eliminating the computer hardware as a problem.

Canon’s not working details:

By not working we mean you have no access to the pictures on the camera through the USB port. Why? Because the driver has the yellow exclamation point in the device drivers list.

Hi WindowStar,

Reading this, and seeing that the Sonys and Nikons are working, and the fact that the Canon drivers go haywire upon reboot seriously sounds like a driver issue. The other being camera compatibility.

With that, a few questions...

1 - Have you looked to Canon to see if there are any new(er) drivers out?

2 - Are these various Canon models, or just particular model? I know you say you have different models, but...

3 - Are you using any kind of Nikon or Canon software to transfer the files? Example, I have a Nikon DSLR and I use Nikon's View NX2 with no issues.

4 - How old are these cameras? It could be a compatibility issue, especially since you say these cameras were being used under XP. Just a thought though.

The biggest thing is the check Canon's site for the latest drivers for the camera(s).

 

[WindowsStar]

Nikon or Sony’s have no problems. Selecting one computer that is using a Canon digital (not working) and swapping it with a Nikon or Sony everything works correctly, in many ways eliminating the computer hardware as a problem.

Canon’s not working details:

By not working we mean you have no access to the pictures on the camera through the USB port. Why? Because the driver has the yellow exclamation point in the device drivers list.

Hi WindowStar,

Reading this, and seeing that the Sonys and Nikons are working, and the fact that the Canon drivers go haywire upon reboot seriously sounds like a driver issue. The other being camera compatibility.

With that, a few questions...

1 - Have you looked to Canon to see if there are any new(er) drivers out?

2 - Are these various Canon models, or just particular model? I know you say you have different models, but...

3 - Are you using any kind of Nikon or Canon software to transfer the files? Example, I have a Nikon DSLR and I use Nikon's View NX2 with no issues.

4 - How old are these cameras? It could be a compatibility issue, especially since you say these cameras were being used under XP. Just a thought though.

The biggest thing is the check Canon's site for the latest drivers for the camera(s).

Thanks for the help.

#1 Answer: Yes we did, there are no drivers and Canon USA states there are none needed, the OS takes care of everything, we have called them several times.
#2 Answer: The Canon's are every model within the last 8 years, some only 6 months old.
#3 Answer: No software at all, that is the beauty of the Canons no software was ever needed. No software used for the Nikon's or the Sony's as well just plug-n-play .
#4 Answer: All the cameras are from 6 months to 8 years old. Does not matter if it is old or new they all act the same.

If you have any other ideas please feel free to post, even if you don't think it is important it may lead to the solution. Again Thank you. -WS

 

[sygnus21]

Well, I don't have anything right now. It definitely sounds like a driver issue. And it's strange it's only happening with the Canon camera's only; again, definitely sounds like a driver.

Anyway I'm sure Canon has a free program similar to Nikon's ViewNX2, which comes packaged with every Nikon Digital camera. Have you looked to see if Canon has something similiar, and given it a try on at least one PC? This way you could see if that works. And since it should include a driver, it should tell you if it's definitely a driver issue.

Again, just a thought.

 

[josearedux]

You ask for any idea ... LOL When I used to setup computers for a local utility we set up all users as local admin and gave full rights to all files and folders on the drive where windows was installed. I can not remember running into any issues like this but we had our share of viruses and people saving user data in weird locations. I know that you can not & should not do this now, but my point is it may be some permission issue.

 

[mitchell65]

WindowsStar
I read this thread and a bell rang. Searched through my notes and found this "You have to change the communication parameter from "PC" to "print/PTP".
Can't remeber how to do it but it must have worked otherwise I wouldn't have kept the note!
EDIT:
Have now found this "change the setting in menu > the last icon > communication > change from PC to print/ptp"
The menu referred to is the menu on the actual camera!
I've got a feeling this could be the answer - fingers crossed!

 

[aem]

Surely it's the the incompatible driver that the pc current have in Cache. I know you said you do not use any software (Utility) but it may prove to be the missing link.

When you allow Windows to search and install drivers it's usually from Cache.

I'd say install the Canon Utility and see what happens.

 

[Lady Fitzgerald]

Since I never cared for Canon's camera software (to put it mildly), I've always just pulled the SD card from camera and plugged it into a reader (either internal or external, depending on the computer I had at the time) and copied the photos to a folder on the computer. Once I was confident I had the photos securely on my computer and backed up, I would put the card back into to the camera to erase the photos. Besides not needing Canon's software to download my pictures, I didn't need to horse around with a USB cable and I didn't run down my camera's batteries any since the camera stayed off while the card was removed. The transfer was also faster that way.

 

[mitchell65]

Surely it's the the incompatible driver that the pc current have in Cache. I know you said you do not use any software (Utility) but it may prove to be the missing link.

When you allow Windows to search and install drivers it's usually from Cache.

I'd say install the Canon Utility and see what happens.

I don't think it is a non compatible driver as Sony and Nikon work OK so why would MS install a non campatible driver for Canon? Canon have confirmed that they have not neede to produce a new driver for Windows 7!

 

[mitchell65]

Since I never cared for Canon's camera software (to put it mildly), I've always just pulled the SD card from camera and plugged it into a reader (either internal or external, depending on the computer I had at the time) and copied the photos to a folder on the computer. Once I was confident I had the photos securely on my computer and backed up, I would put the card back into to the camera to erase the photos. Besides not needing Canon's software to download my pictures, I didn't need to horse around with a USB cable and I didn't run down my camera's batteries any since the camera stayed off while the card was removed. The transfer was also faster that way.

Canon's software for downloading from a webcam is very good but as you say it is easier to remove the card on a DLSR camera but bear in mind this is a largish company here with what sounds like dozens of Canon Cameras. It would mean having a card reader on every PC and it may well be that general users cannot load data from a CD or card. Many networks are set up to discourage users from loading up their own data and images, especially images if you get my drift

 

[WindowsStar]

You ask for any idea ... LOL When I used to setup computers for a local utility we set up all users as local admin and gave full rights to all files and folders on the drive where windows was installed. I can not remember running into any issues like this but we had our share of viruses and people saving user data in weird locations. I know that you can not & should not do this now, but my point is it may be some permission issue.

Thanks for the "any ideas" but that would never pass a security audit, and I am sure management doesn't want to change 30 or 40 SOPs. But you nailed it the users are restricted and non-admins to avoid viruses and damage to the computers or losing their data. -WS

 

[sygnus21]

Going back to my last post I would try the software just to see if the issue is still happens. Plus the software may very well install an updated driver.

I don't think it is a non compatible driver as Sony and Nikon work OK so why would MS install a non campatible driver for Canon? Canon have confirmed that they have not neede to produce a new driver for Windows 7!

I agree. However seeing that the Sonys and Nikons work via USB, but not the Canon's definitely speaks of some sort of driver issue. As the OP pointed out, there are no issues with the Nikons.

This is why I say give the software a try, especially if it installs a driver. If it works, decide on what you want to do from there. If it doesn't, what's lost?

As for pulling the card from the camera and just using a card reader, I just pull the info directly from the camera. Once the files are pulled, disconnect the camera.

There was a discussion over at DP Reviews on this very question and it was basically split, with one camp saying removing and installing the card constantly left the potential for bending/damaging the pins.

Meh. Though I have a card reader, I find it just as easy to pull the files from the camera. Plus my camera is USB 3.0, where my reader is 2.0.

That said, the OP may want to give a card reader a try, just to see if the Canon files are recognized and can be pulled from a card reader.

Another possibility could be firmware; but being that the OP says various models, it's unlikely, but...

 

[Lady Fitzgerald]

...There was a discussion over at DP Reviews on this very question and it was basically split, with one camp saying removing and installing the card constantly left the potential for bending/damaging the pins...

I've been removing and reinstalling camera cards for years and never damaged a pin.

...Meh. Though I have a card reader, I find it just as easy to pull the files from the camera. Plus my camera is USB 3.0, where my reader is 2.0...

I'm the opposite; I find it easier to pull the card out and plug it into the internal reader than to horse with a USB cable. Even when using an external reader, it was less hassle. Each to their own.

Both of my Canons are too old to be USB 3.0 (I'm not saying yours aren't USB 3.0). Download speeds also depend on the class of the cards. My old Class 4 cards weren't any faster on my PCI-e x1 based card reader than they were on any of my internal card readers in my portable computers or the USB 2.0 external reader I used to use. When I upgraded to Class 10 cards, I saw very little speed increase with the older readers but a dramatic increase with the new internal reader.

 

[mitchell65]

WindowsStar
Have you tried the "chnge the communication parameter from "PC" to "print/PTP" idea?

 

[sygnus21]

...There was a discussion over at DP Reviews on this very question and it was basically split, with one camp saying removing and installing the card constantly left the potential for bending/damaging the pins...

I've been removing and reinstalling camera cards for years and never damaged a pin.

...Meh. Though I have a card reader, I find it just as easy to pull the files from the camera. Plus my camera is USB 3.0, where my reader is 2.0...

I'm the opposite; I find it easier to pull the card out and plug it into the internal reader than to horse with a USB cable. Even when using an external reader, it was less hassle. Each to their own.

Both of my Canons are too old to be USB 3.0 (I'm not saying yours aren't). Download speeds also depend on the class of the cards. My old Class 4 cards weren't any faster on my PCI-e x1 based card reader than they were on any of my internal card readers in my portable computers or the USB 2.0 external reader I used to use. When I upgraded to Class 10 cards, I saw very little speed increase with the older readers but a dramatic increase with the new internal reader.

Well we all have our rathers, but this thread is about finding a solution for the OP's issue, not a debate on which is the better transferring methods.

BTW my Nikon is a D800E, which is also USB 3.0.

Anyway back on point.

Thanks.

 

[Lady Fitzgerald]

...There was a discussion over at DP Reviews on this very question and it was basically split, with one camp saying removing and installing the card constantly left the potential for bending/damaging the pins...

I've been removing and reinstalling camera cards for years and never damaged a pin.

...Meh. Though I have a card reader, I find it just as easy to pull the files from the camera. Plus my camera is USB 3.0, where my reader is 2.0...

I'm the opposite; I find it easier to pull the card out and plug it into the internal reader than to horse with a USB cable. Even when using an external reader, it was less hassle. Each to their own.

Both of my Canons are too old to be USB 3.0 (I'm not saying yours aren't). Download speeds also depend on the class of the cards. My old Class 4 cards weren't any faster on my PCI-e x1 based card reader than they were on any of my internal card readers in my portable computers or the USB 2.0 external reader I used to use. When I upgraded to Class 10 cards, I saw very little speed increase with the older readers but a dramatic increase with the new internal reader.

Well we all have our rathers, but this thread is about finding a solution for the OP's issue, not a debate on which is the better transferring methods.

BTW my Nikon is a D800E, which is also USB 3.0.

Anyway back on point.

Thanks.

The OP's issue is not being able to transfer via USB from Canon cameras. While not a total solution, pulling the card is a solution that's better than nothing or can serve until a proper solution is found. A more extreme alternative solution would be to use Wi-Fi enabled camera cards. Those allow downloading images from the camera without a cable via Wi-Fi. Sadly, they are expensive (which is why I hesitated to mention them).

 

[sygnus21]

And that was suggested; however, the debate about which method is better is not applicable here.

Also, even if the card reader worked it still doesn't address the main issue... why the Canon cameras are having issues with USB, while the others are not.

 

[mitchell65]

And that was suggested; however, the debate about which method is better is not applicable here.

Also, even if the card reader worked it still doesn't address the main issue... why the Canon cameras are having issues with USB, while the others are not.

The answer is in the Menu of the individual cameras, I'm sure!

 

[sygnus21]

Care to elaborate since you're so sure?

I don't have my camera in front of me at the moment but I don't remember any USB settings in any of the menus. Not even my Coolpix has it. Just plug and go.

 

[mitchell65]

Care to elaborate since you're so sure?

See my post #6!
Oh dear - I do hope it works - I feel I have burnt my boats here - can't wait for the OP to try the idea!