[tomnrahrah]

When I plug my new vivicam into my computer ( running xp home sp2 ) it finds new hardware but can't install it. It doesn't appear in my computer but does appear in device manager although it's accompanied by a big yellow ? and !. I have an older fuji finepix which works just fine. Neither the add new hardware or scanner and camera wizard work to solve the problem. can anyone here help please ?

[kiwiguy]

Sounds odd.

It should show up as a "removeable drive" under Windows Explorer

Can you try it with another XP computer? No software needs to be installed, and if it fails on another then you would have to suspect the camera interface itself.

As the camera uses a standard memory card, I would be tempted to use a Card Reader, they are cheap and effective. I have several digital cameras here, and never connect any to the PC, using the card reader instead.

[tomnrahrah]

You are correct kiwiguy it should show as a removable drive but it doesn't. It's not the camera because it works perfectly on the xp computer at my workplace. I am contemplating buying a card reader but that doesn't solve the problem I apparantly have with my computer. I might move this thread to the xp forum unless anybody else can help me. Thanks for looking.

[kiwiguy]

The only other suggestion would be to reload the motherboard chipset drivers.

Unless the motherboard makers specific drivers have been loaded, the default Windows drivers may not give optimum functionality for all types of USB devices.

That could account for the variance. It costs nothing to download and install.

Please note I am NOT referring to the BIOS here, stay away from updating that.

It's just a pity you didn't mention some details on computer make and model as we could have pointed you to the file, if the drivers have not deliberately been reinstalled since XP has been last loaded.

[tomnrahrah]

Kiwiguy,
I wish I knew what you were talking about but as it says in my profile I'm just a beginner.
As for the make and model of my pc, It's a home build acquired from ebay.

[kiwiguy]

If its a home build, and it either had XP preloaded or you loaded it yourself, then it's highly probable that the software "drivers" that ensure the correct operation of the functions such as USB, audio etc have not been loaded.

Windows will "do its best" with stock drivers but they may be lacking the exact needs of the chipsets that control such things as USB, meaning some things work and some do not.

Question 1:
Do you have a list of what you bought, as its quite likely the seller may have listed the make and model of motherboard. Just like a car seller would probably mention the model of a car that was being sold, it would have a significant effect on the value.

Question 2:
Did the PC come with any CDs, and if so is one called "mainboard utilities" or something similar? If so it will have the driver program you need.

If not you will need to download and install a program that should identify the make and model of the motheboard. Then by visiting the makers website the correct driver program can be downloaded and "run" once to install the drivers.

A suitable program is here (Everest):
http://www.majorgeeks.com/download4181.html

Select one of the download locations in the middle of the screen and the download should start. Save it to your desktop, then run it and note down the make and model of the motherboard, post back.

[tomnrahrah]

Thanks kiwiguy,

Xp was preloaded and I have no disc with utilities on. Everest tells me the motherboard is a Gigabyte GA-8ST8009(-L) probably about 2-3 years old.

[tomnrahrah]

I've downloaded the chipset driver version 1.17e but haven't run it yet.
Any advice?

[kiwiguy]

Advice?

There is no such motherboard as you describe, in my view of the Gigabyte site.
"Gigabyte GA-8ST8009(-L)"

Perhaps the "9" should not be there?

If that's the case it looks correct, so run the program?

As usual you will have backed up all imprtant data I assume?

[tomnrahrah]

I feel pretty stupid. The "9" should not be there as you say.

When you say "backed up all important data" what exactly do you mean. Does this include programs? What about photo's & music & video files. I've never been sure what exactly what this means or how to do this. Could my failure to do this have led to the problem I am currently faced with?

When I run this program is it foolproof or is it going to ask me to do something else that I have no idea about?

Also, bearing in mind I have no discs to restore my system, is this safe or is there a chance I could stop my computer from functioning completely? Sorry if I seem a little paranoid but as I said I'm a beginner and I wouldn't know what to do if it all goes wrong.

Thank you for taking the time to sort me out

[kiwiguy]

If you have any data (documents, photos etc) that have any importance to you, then you should always have them backed up to a CD-R or USB flash drive or external hard drive, preferably 2 separate copies.

Always assume that everything stored on the PC hard drive is temporary, as hard drive failures are unfortunately commonplace.

Its plain common sense to do so, and not an expensive ordeal. I backup to a separate hard drive daily. Backing up programs is not needed and will not usually work, as they need reinstalling with original cds or install files for them to work.

Why do you not have any system discs? Do you have a "preinstalled" copy of XP, if so it should offer some means of creating a restore disk. You cannot survive long without either it being preinstalled (in which case the files are on the hard drive) or you have a system disk.

If you have neither, its probably not a legal version of Windows, how reputable was the seller? Also its necessary from time to time to need recourse to the system disk to repair any damaged files.

Apart from that, run the driver install.

[ms.lovely]

how can i hear my videos?

[ms.lovely]

how can i hear my videos

[ms.lovely]

how can i hear my video