any workaround to cameras without drive letters

On 08/12/2015 02:51 PM, Wolf K wrote:
On 2015-08-12 14:39, Paul wrote:
T wrote:

poured over her manual, but found no such animal. The camera
is a Canon PowerShot A3500 IS.

It constantly turns itself off when plugged into the USB port.

It shouldn't do that.

I have her plugging her mobile USB devices into a powered
front panel USB 3 hub. I told her these where her abuse
it ports.

http://www.photographyblog.com/revie...pecifications/



INTERFACE

Computer Hi-Speed USB (MTP, PTP)
dedicated connector (Mini-B compatible)

This means that your customer can connect the camera directly to the
computer, copy the pictures from there to a suitably named folder, then
use her application to work with the images.

Other A/V output, dedicated connector (PAL/NTSC)

This is a mini-HDMI port. Connect to a TV to watch movies directly from
the camera.

Computer/Other Wi-Fi (IEEE802.11 b/g/n), (2.4 GHz only)

So connect the camera to the computer via wi-fi. That's what it's there
for. Hell, your customer can even print directly to a compatible wi-fi
printer.

So it doesn't have USB mass storage. But like my camera,
when you cable up the camera and switch the camera on,
you should see a camera icon in File Explorer, navigate
inside the icon to get your files.

Paul

BTW, that's not a "cheap camera". It's a very capable machine. Your
customer will probably never exploit all its capabilities and features.

Have a good day,




Hi Wolf,

All I am after is a workaround to the missing camera drive
letter.

-T

On 08/12/2015 11:58 AM, VanguardLH wrote:
T wrote:

On 08/12/2015 10:31 AM, VanguardLH wrote:
T wrote:

Came across a program where it required that digital cameras mounted
as a drive letter. Of course, the camera did not do "Mass Storage
Device" so no drive letter.

There is no DSC (Digital Still Camera) mode the user can select? Just
because there is no mode specifically named "Mass Storage Device" does
not mean the camera does not support that mode. Maybe the customer has
the camera's USB communications set to PC-Cam (PC-Camera, used for video
conferencing between Internet-connected PCs or to record video). DSC
mode is the standard protocol for downloading image files. PC-CAM mode
is the USB protocol when using the camera as a web cam (and may require
software specific to brand and model). DSC mode is the "Mass Storage
Device" mode. PC-CAM is the web cam mode (and may require specific
software to function in videoconferencing mode with the camera).

So you expect detailed responses that focus on how to get the camera to
connect in DSC mode without any details about brand and model of camera.
Uh huh.

Brand?
Model?
What USB modes are available?

Did the customer (this isn't a personal inquiry for yourself) turn off
power, connect the USB cable between camera and computer, and then turn
on the camera?

Are there batteries in the camera? Many do not use the 5VDC available
with the USB connection and instead rely on the batteries in the camera
to power the interface logic.

Instead of using us to make you look good to your customers, have your
customers come here to ask for themselves. Oops, that means they will
know that you don't know.

A card reader was the only work around. Problem: the customer tends
to crack these cards ejecting and inserting them.

Then that user is likely to also damage the USB ports when roughly
inserting the plug into the socket. If they damage card slots, they'll
damage USB ports. Install a USB daughtercard and have them use that
since it can be easily replaced. Replacing the case-mounted USB ports
could mean having to replace the case or salvaging from other cases.

Is there any workaround that will give you a drive letter?

Check what USB connection mode is selected in the camera.


I poured over her manual, but found no such animal. The camera
is a Canon PowerShot A3500 IS.

http://pdisp01.c-wss.com/gdl/WWUFORe...=ABR &lang=EN

Under chapter 7, Setting Menu, I did not find a USB mode select. Maybe
it selects the USB mode (DSC or PC-CAM) based on which input mode (pic
or movie) the camera is currrently configured. Else, could be the user
is stuck using the software that comes with the camera.

If she is stuck having to use the included software, use that to
download the pics from the camera and then import into her preferred
viewer app (Picasa). Having to use the camera's software does not
obviate the user can still choose which image viewer app to use. The
direct access method may not be possible with this camera.

Sometimes the included software is not just a viewer app but also
includes a driver. DSC is a generic protocol to file transfer and some
digital cameras support it. I had a FinePix camera that could not be
accessed until its driver got installed via the software install. DSC
assumes generic operation but there is still a built-in mini-driver to
provide the interface between the OS and the hardware device. The OS
does not communicate directly with the hardware but instead either
through a driver or a device definition (for generic devices). The OS
needs something to interface with the hardware. In this case, a driver
may be required (which would probably add an enumeration in the registry
defining it as a USB-attached mass storage device).

http://www.usa.canon.com/cusa/consum...ersAndSoftware
and pick Windows 7. Says no driver required. So the interface between
OS and hardware is already included as an embedded generic camera driver
or device definition within the OS and that is what this camera relies
to access it. That does not preclude that this camera is unusable
without the software specifically for it.

It constantly turns itself off when plugged into the USB port.

Which means it is running on batteries (and using its power save mode
that triggers after a period of idleness) instead of using the 5VDC
available via the USB connection.

Can a USB cable be used to charge the camera`s battery?
http://preview.tinyurl.com/nlz6aw3

The Auto Power Down function is configurable. If the camera is powering
down too soon then perhaps the setting is too short. Alas, from what I
saw in the manual, there is no N minutes setting to let the user decide
how long when idle for when to power down, just Auto Power Down as On or
Off (and uses whatever algorithm that Canon decided to implement). So
she might want to consider disabling Auto Power Down.

I have her plugging her mobile USB devices into a powered
front panel USB 3 hub. I told her these where her abuse
it ports.

If she's a rough electronics user, having her use an external hub is
safer as that can easily be replaced when she breaks it.
(Didn't quite figure out your last sentence, though.)

By the way, with speakers available, powered on, and unmuted, and with
the camera powered up and then she plugs a USB cable from the camera to
the computer (so she is adding a powered and ready USB device), does she
head the bong-bing sound event when she plugs in the USB cable? The USB
device has to be recognized and ready before she can access it (directly
via generic mini-driver for DSC or via device-specific software).

http://preview.tinyurl.com/pdnsq5p shows what should happen when the USB
camera becomes visible to the OS as a new device. Win8's wizard is
different than for Win7 but something should show the camera was
discovered by the OS, like the bong-bing sound event, double-clicking
the Remove USB Safely tray icon to see the device, or using Microsoft's
USB Viewer or the one from SysInternals to see the camera is listed.

"the camera did not do "Mass Storage Device" doesn't really say if the
USB-attached camera is even visible to the OS.

It is



Hi Vanguard,

The camera works fine with the OS. The problem is in a
piece of $$$ software she has to use for her job. It
required a drive letter to see the camera. I have
asked the publisher to correct this, but there is
very little chance of that happening as it is not
open source.

And there are tons of workaround for this. They are
all over her head.

All I am after is if there is a workaround to give her
a drive letter for her camera.

-T

T writted thus:

Hi All,

Came across a program where it required that digital cameras mounted as
a drive letter. Of course, the camera did not do "Mass Storage Device"
so no drive letter.

A card reader was the only work around. Problem: the customer tends to
crack these cards ejecting and inserting them.

Is there any workaround that will give you a drive letter?

Many thanks,
-T

If she can use the WiFi connection option it will (once set)
automatically download all photo content to a folder whenever connected.

Not a solution, but a workaround using WiFi and the Windows Autoplay
options...



--
This usenet post has not been checked for viruses by Avast antivirus
because it is not an email.

tigger writted thus:

T writted thus:

Hi All,

Came across a program where it required that digital cameras mounted as
a drive letter. Of course, the camera did not do "Mass Storage Device"
so no drive letter.

A card reader was the only work around. Problem: the customer tends to
crack these cards ejecting and inserting them.

Is there any workaround that will give you a drive letter?

Many thanks,
-T

If she can use the WiFi connection option it will (once set)
automatically download all photo content to a folder whenever connected.

Not a solution, but a workaround using WiFi and the Windows Autoplay
options...

Forgot a link:

https://canoncanada.custhelp.com/app.../a_id/41176/~/
connecting-with-wi-fi-%28manual-setup%29-%28powershot-elph-130-is-%2F-
ixus-140%29


--
This usenet post has not been checked for viruses by Avast antivirus
because it is not an email.

T wrote:

The problem is in a piece of $$$ software she has to use for her job.
It required a drive letter to see the camera. I have asked the
publisher to correct this, but there is very little chance of that
happening as it is not open source.

And there are tons of workaround for this. They are all over her
head.

All I am after is if there is a workaround to give her a drive letter
for her camera.

Map a UNC path to a folder (on the hard drive) by creating a symbolic
link. Use 'mklink' command.

mklink /?

There are 3rd party junction tools (the symlink) you can use but mklink
is already available in the OS. You could write a .bat file that tests
if the symlink exists and, if so, unlinks but if the symlink does not
exist then create it (instead of using two .bat files, one to create the
symlink and another to delete it).

While most use of mklink is to create a virtual path (drive & folder) to
a target (real) folder on a drive, I've read where users claim mklink
can map to a UNC path, as in:

mklink /D photos \\drwho\photos

which creates a symlink (under the current folder but you can specify an
absolute path, too) that points to the photos path on the host drwho. I
have not used UNC paths a lot but recall that if you are referring to a
UNC path on your own host that you simply omit the hostname in the UNC
path spec (you end up with 3 contiguous slashes); however, you could use
the current host's name as hostname in the UNC path spec, too.

Don't use the /H hard link option unless you specifically want to delete
files in the virtual path (symlink aka junction) and also have those
files deleted in the target (real) path.

You can fake out most programs by using symlinks. For example, a
program might be hardcoded to store data at D:\game\datafolder but you
could create a symlink at D:\game\datafolder that points to E:\gamesaves
so files the program tried to create or update at D:\game\datafolder
were actually created or modified in the E:\gamesaves folder. Not all
programs can be faked this way. They may check if the destination is a
symlink and, if so, refuse to save there or puke up an error.

Being over her head doesn't preclude you from writing up a batch files
she uses before and after use of her camera to transfer photos from it.

T wrote:

On 08/12/2015 11:39 AM, Paul wrote:
T wrote:
On 08/12/2015 10:31 AM, VanguardLH wrote:
T wrote:

Came across a program where it required that digital cameras mounted
as a drive letter. Of course, the camera did not do "Mass Storage
Device" so no drive letter.

There is no DSC (Digital Still Camera) mode the user can select? Just
because there is no mode specifically named "Mass Storage Device" does
not mean the camera does not support that mode. Maybe the customer has
the camera's USB communications set to PC-Cam (PC-Camera, used for video
conferencing between Internet-connected PCs or to record video). DSC
mode is the standard protocol for downloading image files. PC-CAM mode
is the USB protocol when using the camera as a web cam (and may require
software specific to brand and model). DSC mode is the "Mass Storage
Device" mode. PC-CAM is the web cam mode (and may require specific
software to function in videoconferencing mode with the camera).

So you expect detailed responses that focus on how to get the camera to
connect in DSC mode without any details about brand and model of camera.
Uh huh.

Brand?
Model?
What USB modes are available?

Did the customer (this isn't a personal inquiry for yourself) turn off
power, connect the USB cable between camera and computer, and then turn
on the camera?

Are there batteries in the camera? Many do not use the 5VDC available
with the USB connection and instead rely on the batteries in the camera
to power the interface logic.

Instead of using us to make you look good to your customers, have your
customers come here to ask for themselves. Oops, that means they will
know that you don't know.

A card reader was the only work around. Problem: the customer tends
to crack these cards ejecting and inserting them.

Then that user is likely to also damage the USB ports when roughly
inserting the plug into the socket. If they damage card slots, they'll
damage USB ports. Install a USB daughtercard and have them use that
since it can be easily replaced. Replacing the case-mounted USB ports
could mean having to replace the case or salvaging from other cases.

Is there any workaround that will give you a drive letter?

Check what USB connection mode is selected in the camera.


I poured over her manual, but found no such animal. The camera
is a Canon PowerShot A3500 IS.

It constantly turns itself off when plugged into the USB port.

I have her plugging her mobile USB devices into a powered
front panel USB 3 hub. I told her these where her abuse
it ports.

http://www.photographyblog.com/revie...pecifications/


INTERFACE

Computer Hi-Speed USB (MTP, PTP)
dedicated connector (Mini-B compatible)
Other A/V output, dedicated connector (PAL/NTSC)
Computer/Other Wi-Fi (IEEE802.11 b/g/n), (2.4 GHz only)

So it doesn't have USB mass storage. But like my camera,
when you cable up the camera and switch the camera on,
you should see a camera icon in File Explorer, navigate
inside the icon to get your files.

Paul

Hi Paul,

Yes, what you say is correct. The problem is that one
critical program wants to read her camera directly
as a drive letter and can not see the "camera" icon.

It is an oversight in the program. I have asked the
publishers to fix it. The likelihood of them doing so
is very little -- it is not open source.

Copying the data from her camera (icon) to a folder
on her hard drive is also an option. This is something
you or I would not think twice about, but it is
technically over her head.

So she uses pops out her memory card and uses an
external card reader. She has cracked these cards
in handling before (was a disaster for her).

In the mean time, do you know of a workaround that
will give her a drive letter for her camera?

Many thanks,
-T

If this user cannot figure out how to use Canon's program to download
photos from the camera and then use Windows Explorer to move the files
where wanted (if the download program doesn't already let the user
choose a destination) then she really should not be using computers.
You sure you aren't making her dumber than she really is. More likely
she's a lazy user that refuses to use workarounds when she doesn't get
her way.

T wrote:
On 08/12/2015 11:39 AM, Paul wrote:
T wrote:
On 08/12/2015 10:31 AM, VanguardLH wrote:
T wrote:

Came across a program where it required that digital cameras mounted
as a drive letter. Of course, the camera did not do "Mass Storage
Device" so no drive letter.

There is no DSC (Digital Still Camera) mode the user can select? Just
because there is no mode specifically named "Mass Storage Device" does
not mean the camera does not support that mode. Maybe the customer has
the camera's USB communications set to PC-Cam (PC-Camera, used for
video
conferencing between Internet-connected PCs or to record video). DSC
mode is the standard protocol for downloading image files. PC-CAM mode
is the USB protocol when using the camera as a web cam (and may require
software specific to brand and model). DSC mode is the "Mass Storage
Device" mode. PC-CAM is the web cam mode (and may require specific
software to function in videoconferencing mode with the camera).

So you expect detailed responses that focus on how to get the camera to
connect in DSC mode without any details about brand and model of
camera.
Uh huh.

Brand?
Model?
What USB modes are available?

Did the customer (this isn't a personal inquiry for yourself) turn off
power, connect the USB cable between camera and computer, and then turn
on the camera?

Are there batteries in the camera? Many do not use the 5VDC available
with the USB connection and instead rely on the batteries in the camera
to power the interface logic.

Instead of using us to make you look good to your customers, have your
customers come here to ask for themselves. Oops, that means they will
know that you don't know.

A card reader was the only work around. Problem: the customer tends
to crack these cards ejecting and inserting them.

Then that user is likely to also damage the USB ports when roughly
inserting the plug into the socket. If they damage card slots, they'll
damage USB ports. Install a USB daughtercard and have them use that
since it can be easily replaced. Replacing the case-mounted USB ports
could mean having to replace the case or salvaging from other cases.

Is there any workaround that will give you a drive letter?

Check what USB connection mode is selected in the camera.


I poured over her manual, but found no such animal. The camera
is a Canon PowerShot A3500 IS.

It constantly turns itself off when plugged into the USB port.

I have her plugging her mobile USB devices into a powered
front panel USB 3 hub. I told her these where her abuse
it ports.

http://www.photographyblog.com/revie...pecifications/



INTERFACE

Computer Hi-Speed USB (MTP, PTP)
dedicated connector (Mini-B compatible)
Other A/V output, dedicated connector (PAL/NTSC)
Computer/Other Wi-Fi (IEEE802.11 b/g/n), (2.4 GHz only)

So it doesn't have USB mass storage. But like my camera,
when you cable up the camera and switch the camera on,
you should see a camera icon in File Explorer, navigate
inside the icon to get your files.

Paul

Hi Paul,

Yes, what you say is correct. The problem is that one
critical program wants to read her camera directly
as a drive letter and can not see the "camera" icon.

It is an oversight in the program. I have asked the
publishers to fix it. The likelihood of them doing so
is very little -- it is not open source.

Copying the data from her camera (icon) to a folder
on her hard drive is also an option. This is something
you or I would not think twice about, but it is
technically over her head.

So she uses pops out her memory card and uses an
external card reader. She has cracked these cards
in handling before (was a disaster for her).

In the mean time, do you know of a workaround that
will give her a drive letter for her camera?

Many thanks,
-T

Start looking for a third party solution. Here,
an MTP device is "converted" to a drive letter.
(No, I don't use this, and haven't tested it.)

http://www.mtpdrive.com/

Search terms used to fint thatL

"mounting a ptp as a drive letter"

HTH,
Paul

On 08/12/2015 03:25 AM, Uwe Sieber wrote:
T wrote:
Hi All,

Came across a program where it required that digital
cameras mounted as a drive letter. Of course, the
camera did not do "Mass Storage Device" so no
drive letter.

A card reader was the only work around. Problem: the
customer tends to crack these cards ejecting and inserting
them.

Is there any workaround that will give you a drive letter?

PTPdrive can create a drive letter and translate accesses
to the PTP protocol:
http://www.ptpdrive.com


Uwe



Hi Uwe,

PERFECT! Exactly what I am after. You are the Man!

-T

On 08/12/2015 03:25 AM, Uwe Sieber wrote:
T wrote:
Hi All,

Came across a program where it required that digital
cameras mounted as a drive letter. Of course, the
camera did not do "Mass Storage Device" so no
drive letter.

A card reader was the only work around. Problem: the
customer tends to crack these cards ejecting and inserting
them.

Is there any workaround that will give you a drive letter?

PTPdrive can create a drive letter and translate accesses
to the PTP protocol:
http://www.ptpdrive.com


Uwe



Uh Oh!
https://www.virustotal.com/en/file/0...is/1439590163/

They look like false positives, but ...

On 08/13/2015 09:55 AM, Stormin' Norman wrote:
On Thu, 13 Aug 2015 09:12:36 -0700, T wrote:

On 08/12/2015 11:39 AM, Paul wrote:
T wrote:
On 08/12/2015 10:31 AM, VanguardLH wrote:
T wrote:

Came across a program where it required that digital cameras mounted
as a drive letter. Of course, the camera did not do "Mass Storage
Device" so no drive letter.

There is no DSC (Digital Still Camera) mode the user can select? Just
because there is no mode specifically named "Mass Storage Device" does
not mean the camera does not support that mode. Maybe the customer has
the camera's USB communications set to PC-Cam (PC-Camera, used for video
conferencing between Internet-connected PCs or to record video). DSC
mode is the standard protocol for downloading image files. PC-CAM mode
is the USB protocol when using the camera as a web cam (and may require
software specific to brand and model). DSC mode is the "Mass Storage
Device" mode. PC-CAM is the web cam mode (and may require specific
software to function in videoconferencing mode with the camera).

So you expect detailed responses that focus on how to get the camera to
connect in DSC mode without any details about brand and model of camera.
Uh huh.

Brand?
Model?
What USB modes are available?

Did the customer (this isn't a personal inquiry for yourself) turn off
power, connect the USB cable between camera and computer, and then turn
on the camera?

Are there batteries in the camera? Many do not use the 5VDC available
with the USB connection and instead rely on the batteries in the camera
to power the interface logic.

Instead of using us to make you look good to your customers, have your
customers come here to ask for themselves. Oops, that means they will
know that you don't know.

A card reader was the only work around. Problem: the customer tends
to crack these cards ejecting and inserting them.

Then that user is likely to also damage the USB ports when roughly
inserting the plug into the socket. If they damage card slots, they'll
damage USB ports. Install a USB daughtercard and have them use that
since it can be easily replaced. Replacing the case-mounted USB ports
could mean having to replace the case or salvaging from other cases.

Is there any workaround that will give you a drive letter?

Check what USB connection mode is selected in the camera.


I poured over her manual, but found no such animal. The camera
is a Canon PowerShot A3500 IS.

It constantly turns itself off when plugged into the USB port.

I have her plugging her mobile USB devices into a powered
front panel USB 3 hub. I told her these where her abuse
it ports.

http://www.photographyblog.com/revie...pecifications/


INTERFACE

Computer Hi-Speed USB (MTP, PTP)
dedicated connector (Mini-B compatible)
Other A/V output, dedicated connector (PAL/NTSC)
Computer/Other Wi-Fi (IEEE802.11 b/g/n), (2.4 GHz only)

So it doesn't have USB mass storage. But like my camera,
when you cable up the camera and switch the camera on,
you should see a camera icon in File Explorer, navigate
inside the icon to get your files.

Paul

Hi Paul,

Yes, what you say is correct. The problem is that one
critical program wants to read her camera directly
as a drive letter and can not see the "camera" icon.

It is an oversight in the program. I have asked the
publishers to fix it. The likelihood of them doing so
is very little -- it is not open source.

Copying the data from her camera (icon) to a folder
on her hard drive is also an option. This is something
you or I would not think twice about, but it is
technically over her head.

So she uses pops out her memory card and uses an
external card reader. She has cracked these cards
in handling before (was a disaster for her).

In the mean time, do you know of a workaround that
will give her a drive letter for her camera?

Many thanks,
-T

My understanding of the problem so far is:

1. Camera = Canon PowerShot A3500 IS (very nice, wifi capable camera)

2. Picasa is the image management software being used.

Only for her personal pictures


3. Your customer is a large silverback gorilla that is incapable of treating things with a moderate level of
care.

Older fingers


My questions a

1. Are you saying there is another piece of software which only reads images from a drive letter? If so, what
is that software?

Aurora Win Total


2. Does the gorilla have trouble removing and inserting the card from the camera? From the computer? Both?


Older fingers. She is pretty delicate with things. I think
the main issue it that she pops it in and out several times a day

On 08/13/2015 11:21 AM, VanguardLH wrote:
T wrote:

On 08/12/2015 11:39 AM, Paul wrote:
T wrote:
On 08/12/2015 10:31 AM, VanguardLH wrote:
T wrote:

Came across a program where it required that digital cameras mounted
as a drive letter. Of course, the camera did not do "Mass Storage
Device" so no drive letter.

There is no DSC (Digital Still Camera) mode the user can select? Just
because there is no mode specifically named "Mass Storage Device" does
not mean the camera does not support that mode. Maybe the customer has
the camera's USB communications set to PC-Cam (PC-Camera, used for video
conferencing between Internet-connected PCs or to record video). DSC
mode is the standard protocol for downloading image files. PC-CAM mode
is the USB protocol when using the camera as a web cam (and may require
software specific to brand and model). DSC mode is the "Mass Storage
Device" mode. PC-CAM is the web cam mode (and may require specific
software to function in videoconferencing mode with the camera).

So you expect detailed responses that focus on how to get the camera to
connect in DSC mode without any details about brand and model of camera.
Uh huh.

Brand?
Model?
What USB modes are available?

Did the customer (this isn't a personal inquiry for yourself) turn off
power, connect the USB cable between camera and computer, and then turn
on the camera?

Are there batteries in the camera? Many do not use the 5VDC available
with the USB connection and instead rely on the batteries in the camera
to power the interface logic.

Instead of using us to make you look good to your customers, have your
customers come here to ask for themselves. Oops, that means they will
know that you don't know.

A card reader was the only work around. Problem: the customer tends
to crack these cards ejecting and inserting them.

Then that user is likely to also damage the USB ports when roughly
inserting the plug into the socket. If they damage card slots, they'll
damage USB ports. Install a USB daughtercard and have them use that
since it can be easily replaced. Replacing the case-mounted USB ports
could mean having to replace the case or salvaging from other cases.

Is there any workaround that will give you a drive letter?

Check what USB connection mode is selected in the camera.


I poured over her manual, but found no such animal. The camera
is a Canon PowerShot A3500 IS.

It constantly turns itself off when plugged into the USB port.

I have her plugging her mobile USB devices into a powered
front panel USB 3 hub. I told her these where her abuse
it ports.

http://www.photographyblog.com/revie...pecifications/


INTERFACE

Computer Hi-Speed USB (MTP, PTP)
dedicated connector (Mini-B compatible)
Other A/V output, dedicated connector (PAL/NTSC)
Computer/Other Wi-Fi (IEEE802.11 b/g/n), (2.4 GHz only)

So it doesn't have USB mass storage. But like my camera,
when you cable up the camera and switch the camera on,
you should see a camera icon in File Explorer, navigate
inside the icon to get your files.

Paul

Hi Paul,

Yes, what you say is correct. The problem is that one
critical program wants to read her camera directly
as a drive letter and can not see the "camera" icon.

It is an oversight in the program. I have asked the
publishers to fix it. The likelihood of them doing so
is very little -- it is not open source.

Copying the data from her camera (icon) to a folder
on her hard drive is also an option. This is something
you or I would not think twice about, but it is
technically over her head.

So she uses pops out her memory card and uses an
external card reader. She has cracked these cards
in handling before (was a disaster for her).

In the mean time, do you know of a workaround that
will give her a drive letter for her camera?

Many thanks,
-T

If this user cannot figure out how to use Canon's program to download
photos from the camera and then use Windows Explorer to move the files
where wanted (if the download program doesn't already let the user
choose a destination) then she really should not be using computers.
You sure you aren't making her dumber than she really is. More likely
she's a lazy user that refuses to use workarounds when she doesn't get
her way.


Hi Vanguard,

Part of being a consultant to small business is that
you have to deal with all types. Some are computer savvy
and others are not. I find very few are actually able
to comprehend the file system. This, I presume, is why
Apple leaves off a file manager on their iPad (you can
install one, if you want).

And if my customers knew everything about computers,
then they wouldn't need me. The trick is to get inside
each individuals heads and tailor what you do to their
individual needs.

-T

On 08/13/2015 12:33 PM, Paul wrote:
T wrote:
On 08/12/2015 11:39 AM, Paul wrote:
T wrote:
On 08/12/2015 10:31 AM, VanguardLH wrote:
T wrote:

Came across a program where it required that digital cameras mounted
as a drive letter. Of course, the camera did not do "Mass Storage
Device" so no drive letter.

There is no DSC (Digital Still Camera) mode the user can select? Just
because there is no mode specifically named "Mass Storage Device" does
not mean the camera does not support that mode. Maybe the customer
has
the camera's USB communications set to PC-Cam (PC-Camera, used for
video
conferencing between Internet-connected PCs or to record video). DSC
mode is the standard protocol for downloading image files. PC-CAM
mode
is the USB protocol when using the camera as a web cam (and may
require
software specific to brand and model). DSC mode is the "Mass Storage
Device" mode. PC-CAM is the web cam mode (and may require specific
software to function in videoconferencing mode with the camera).

So you expect detailed responses that focus on how to get the
camera to
connect in DSC mode without any details about brand and model of
camera.
Uh huh.

Brand?
Model?
What USB modes are available?

Did the customer (this isn't a personal inquiry for yourself) turn off
power, connect the USB cable between camera and computer, and then
turn
on the camera?

Are there batteries in the camera? Many do not use the 5VDC available
with the USB connection and instead rely on the batteries in the
camera
to power the interface logic.

Instead of using us to make you look good to your customers, have your
customers come here to ask for themselves. Oops, that means they will
know that you don't know.

A card reader was the only work around. Problem: the customer tends
to crack these cards ejecting and inserting them.

Then that user is likely to also damage the USB ports when roughly
inserting the plug into the socket. If they damage card slots,
they'll
damage USB ports. Install a USB daughtercard and have them use that
since it can be easily replaced. Replacing the case-mounted USB ports
could mean having to replace the case or salvaging from other cases.

Is there any workaround that will give you a drive letter?

Check what USB connection mode is selected in the camera.


I poured over her manual, but found no such animal. The camera
is a Canon PowerShot A3500 IS.

It constantly turns itself off when plugged into the USB port.

I have her plugging her mobile USB devices into a powered
front panel USB 3 hub. I told her these where her abuse
it ports.

http://www.photographyblog.com/revie...pecifications/



INTERFACE

Computer Hi-Speed USB (MTP, PTP)
dedicated connector (Mini-B compatible)
Other A/V output, dedicated connector (PAL/NTSC)
Computer/Other Wi-Fi (IEEE802.11 b/g/n), (2.4 GHz only)

So it doesn't have USB mass storage. But like my camera,
when you cable up the camera and switch the camera on,
you should see a camera icon in File Explorer, navigate
inside the icon to get your files.

Paul

Hi Paul,

Yes, what you say is correct. The problem is that one
critical program wants to read her camera directly
as a drive letter and can not see the "camera" icon.

It is an oversight in the program. I have asked the
publishers to fix it. The likelihood of them doing so
is very little -- it is not open source.

Copying the data from her camera (icon) to a folder
on her hard drive is also an option. This is something
you or I would not think twice about, but it is
technically over her head.

So she uses pops out her memory card and uses an
external card reader. She has cracked these cards
in handling before (was a disaster for her).

In the mean time, do you know of a workaround that
will give her a drive letter for her camera?

Many thanks,
-T

Start looking for a third party solution. Here,
an MTP device is "converted" to a drive letter.
(No, I don't use this, and haven't tested it.)

http://www.mtpdrive.com/

Search terms used to fint thatL

"mounting a ptp as a drive letter"

HTH,
Paul

HI Paul,

That is exactly what I was looking for. Thank you!

Problem: they get tagged by virus total.

https://www.virustotal.com/en/file/0...is/1439590163/

I have a posting in on it to Bleeping Computers and have
written their tech support.

-T

On 08/13/2015 10:04 AM, tigger wrote:
T writted thus:

Hi All,

Came across a program where it required that digital cameras mounted as
a drive letter. Of course, the camera did not do "Mass Storage Device"
so no drive letter.

A card reader was the only work around. Problem: the customer tends to
crack these cards ejecting and inserting them.

Is there any workaround that will give you a drive letter?

Many thanks,
-T

If she can use the WiFi connection option it will (once set)
automatically download all photo content to a folder whenever connected.

Not a solution, but a workaround using WiFi and the Windows Autoplay
options...




That could work!

On 08/13/2015 10:04 AM, tigger wrote:
T writted thus:

Hi All,

Came across a program where it required that digital cameras mounted as
a drive letter. Of course, the camera did not do "Mass Storage Device"
so no drive letter.

A card reader was the only work around. Problem: the customer tends to
crack these cards ejecting and inserting them.

Is there any workaround that will give you a drive letter?

Many thanks,
-T

If she can use the WiFi connection option it will (once set)
automatically download all photo content to a folder whenever connected.

Not a solution, but a workaround using WiFi and the Windows Autoplay
options...




But no wifi. rats

On 2015-08-12 06:25, Uwe Sieber wrote:

T wrote:
Hi All,

Came across a program where it required that digital
cameras mounted as a drive letter. Of course, the
camera did not do "Mass Storage Device" so no
drive letter.

A card reader was the only work around. Problem: the
customer tends to crack these cards ejecting and inserting
them.

Is there any workaround that will give you a drive letter?

PTPdrive can create a drive letter and translate accesses
to the PTP protocol:
http://www.ptpdrive.com


Uwe

Wow, Uwe Sieber, of the famous UMBPCI (which I never got working on my
Dell Precision 530 workstation). Nice to see you here.

Best Regards,

--
! _\|/_ Sylvain /
! (o o) Member-+-David-Suzuki-Fdn/EFF/Red+Cross/Planetary-Society-+-
oO-( )-Oo And all the Borg Left was this Macintosh.