Why can't I open pictures DIRECTLY for a camera?

dsperber said:

You only get that "safely remove hardware" icon for devices that connect in MSC mode and which get Windows drive letters assigned.

Since your camera appears to only support MTP/PTP mode, there are no Windows drive letters involved and there is no "safely remove hardware" icon associated with the USB connection or removal of that device.

I was meaning when I use a USB memory stick.

hucker said:

GRRRRR, mine does not appear to have this option.

Then remove the flash card and insert it into a cheap external USB card reader, such as this one from IOGear. I have one myself.

Then you'll be able to access the picture folders on your camera as an external MSC removable drive... just by taking the flash card out of the camera and reading it by itself in a card reader.

hucker said:

I was meaning when I use a USB memory stick.

I see. Well yes, if you've suppressed all notification from that icon then you won't ever see it... even if Windows would have wanted to present it, as it does for MSC removable devices that get drive letters.

dsperber said:

Then remove the flash card and insert it into a cheap external USB card reader, such as this one from IOGear. I have one myself.

Then you'll be able to access the picture folders on your camera as an external MSC removable drive... just by taking the flash card out of the camera and reading it by itself in a card reader.

That kinda removes the advantage I was trying to get of saving a step when opening photos.

hucker said:

That kinda removes the advantage I was trying to get of saving a step when opening photos.

Well, your camera doesn't support MSC mode. So that means you're going to have to compromise somewhere.

If you want to be able to use all of your Windows and 3rd-party image software programs to access the picture folders on the card, then it's going to have to be removed from the MTP-only camera and placed into an MSC card reader.

Otherwise, you're just going to have to limit yourself to Windows Explorer as your only access to that card while inserted in the camera.

Your decision.

Copying the picture to the hard disk first is no big deal, in fact a smaller deal than removing the memory card and risking wearing out the camera socket.

hucker said:

Copying the picture to the hard disk first is no big deal, in fact a smaller deal than removing the memory card and risking wearing out the camera socket.

I agree entirely.

Last year my Canon camera's CF card socket developed a fault and it was going to cost a lot of money to get it repaired until I discovered the camera was still under warranty - just!

Since then, I haven't removed the memory card and always connect the camera to a USB port and move the pictures to my backup drive.

seavixen32 said:

I agree entirely.

Last year my Canon camera's CF card socket developed a fault and it was going to cost a lot of money to get it repaired until I discovered the camera was still under warranty - just!

Since then, I haven't removed the memory card and always connect the camera to a USB port and move the pictures to my backup drive.

Of course the USB socket can also wear out....

Quite so, but a USB socket is more robust than a digital camera's memory card socket. :)

Also, a new USB card is a lot cheaper than camera repairs.

seavixen32 said:

Quite so, but a USB socket is more robust than a digital camera's memory card socket. :)

Are you sure? The ones in cameras are very small, especially the ones with built in video.

seavixen32 said:

Also, a new USB card is a lot cheaper than camera repairs.

But it's not the card that breaks.