F707 Incompatible with Windows Millenium?

Connie75722 · Dec 30, 2001

I'm running Windows Millenium as my operating system (an upgrade from Windows 98) - has anyone else experienced incompatibility issues with this platform and the F707? My Device Manager loads the USB driver and USB's are showing they are working (nothing but camera attached) but still when I go to My Computer I don't get a "removable drive". I called Sony and they offered no answers about any incompatibility problems with this platform, they suggested to either return to 98 or upgrade to XP, still waiting for a response from an email I sent them. I tried the camera on a family member's PC running 98 with out a problem. I've been getting some "Stimon" error message too for the last couple of weeks so perhaps that is my problem otherwise. This followed after I downloaded a Patch to my Millenium from the Microsoft website. I went back to Best Buy and the salesperson said he has heard of some problems with the F707 and ME. As well, the Today Show addressed this same issue earlier this week. I can't believe Sony would put out a new camera that wasn't compatibile with one of the newest operating systems out there. Love the camera, just really want to use it on MY computer instead of running to family member's house to burn pictures onto a CD. Any advice on how to troubleshoot this problem. It could also be some software I have loaded that is in conflict with Camera too -- has anyone heard about any software incompatibilities? (i.e. ATI All-in-Wonder Video Cards?) I have not tweaked my operating system and am a typical consumer PC users with typical software games, desktop publishing and office software. (& yes, I have more than enough gigabytes, ram etc. so that isn't an issue) Any possibly suggestions or solutions is very welcome.

--
Connie

Steven · Dec 30, 2001

You for sure have a windows problem. I am running windows me with no problems at all. I go the my computer and its there. You may have another Sony INF file somewhere on your computer conflicting your 707. Does your cameras LCD show that its is connected with a blue screen saying USB? Also go to camera setup on the command dial and make sure that is is set to usb normal.--Steven

Connie75722 · Dec 30, 2001

I have a "sonypvu2" and "STI" and "StillCAm" INF files, but only ONE with "sony" name. Yes the LCD shows the blue screen and USB mode and I already checked all the troubleshooting suggestions in the user manual, including making sure usb is on normal. Any other thoughts? What do you know about this "stimon" error message? Have you downloaded patches to your ME?
Connie

Randy D · Dec 30, 2001

Connie,

The 707 manual states that USB operation is not assured if your Operating System is an upgraded version vs a stand-alone or factory installed version. Also, the USB driver MUST be installed completely before connecting the camera to the computer via USB cable, otherwise the USB driver will not install properly. If the USB cable was connected prior to installing the USB driver, there are corrective measures found on page 42 of the manual to remedy the situation.

As Sony stated, you may have to revert back to Windows 98, upgrade to XP (full version...not upgrade) or full version of ME.

Good luck

Randy D

Steve Giannoni23962 · Dec 30, 2001

I strongly suspect that the only way to avoid problems with ME is to fresh install rather than an upgrade.

Connie75722 · Dec 30, 2001

Thanks...I was thinking along those lines but hate all the backup and time involved with that so was hoping there might be another way....doubt it.
Connie

DPMeltz · Dec 30, 2001

I've got no problems using the f707 on my upgrade version of ME... however, when I first started to use it my computer did start to lock up more often, and I couldn't use my USB scanner at all... I connected this with the camera, although it turned out that it was the ME upgrade and some out of date drivers. my suggestion would be to check any other periphs you've got connected to the computer, they may be in conflict with the camera...make sure you installed the proper drivers for the camera itself... it's probably something silly like that...if not, maybe you've got a technical mistake in the camera, or your usb or something.
-dan

-- When in doubt, turn yourself about.... if you've done the hokey pokey, well then thats what it's all about!

Connie75722 · Dec 30, 2001

Randy,

Thanks. I installed USB driver correctly without connecting camera first and also went through page 42 several times and even uninstalled and reinstalled the driver by myself and with Sony Tech -- they said that's not the issue because USB shows up in Device Manger as functioning correctly. I hate the backup time and effort involved with restoring system to 98...or updating to XP, either way it spells "time"....not what I want to hear. I think I'm hoping for miracle quick fix and its not here.
Connie

Mike G.75791 · Dec 30, 2001

Connie75722 · Dec 30, 2001

Dan,

Thanks. Its "promising" to hear that I might be able to keep my Millenium platform. I unconnected all my devices (although I didn't uninstall the software). My scanner is on a SCSI drive. It may be my USB's not working even though they say they are. My daughter got a 1.3 digital cam for xmas and it too is not working -- it was installed correctly but it doesn't show through the USB its connected to the camera when it is which leads me to think it the USB's. My "technical" support friend suggested putting in another harddrive (30G) and installing XP on that and then adding all the devices slowly to the new drive off my (20G) to see where the conflict is. I don't think the camera has a malfunction because I was able to do as the manual says on a family member's computer to get at the pictures on memory stick. There's gotta be a conflict somewhere and I just haven't found it yet.
Connie

Ogre · Dec 30, 2001

Another possibility is to buy a Memory stick reader and add that to your system. I know it costs money but takes little time. If you can't get the memory reader to work I would suspect your USB. I actually use a digital wallet on WinME and it works great. I wondered what that CD that came with the camera was for. Maybe I will have to open it and see whats on it.

Ogre · Dec 30, 2001

Might want to check out this thread.

http://www.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1009&message=1898933

Bill Sumrall · Dec 30, 2001

-----------

Don't know if Stimon is your problem. I have disabled it by 'unchecking' the box in 'msconfig' and Startup Items. I understand that it is used with scanners which have scanning buttons on scanner rather than just software scanning options. I use ME but have yet to receive the memory sticks, etc., in order to use the USB function with my '95.
--Bill (FD-95)

Mike G.75791 · Dec 30, 2001

I'm running an ME upgrade from W95/98SE/ME and dual boot to W2000. I just installed the Sony USB drivers in ME after seeing your post (The Sony works fine in W2K). The driver would not install from autorun, but when I opened the CD and went to the Sony USB folder and ran setup, it started to install, but before completing the install, it asked for the ME CD for additional files. After rebooting, I plugged the 707 in and Removable disk was there. Also, when the camera is plugged in and on, in Device mgr under Universal serial bus controllers, there should be an entry Sony DSC. It will not show if the camera is unplugged or the camera power is off.

Is USB is enabled in the BIOS? Are other USB devices working properly on your system? If other devices work properly, try uninstalling the Sony DSC device from Device Mgr in Safe Mode. There may be more than one Sony entry. Right click and Remove them all, remove drivers for any other USB devices you no longer use, if any; reboot into Safe Mode and reinstall the Sony USB drivers from the CD. Have the ME CD handy in case it asks for files like it did for me. Hopefully, a complete removal and reinstall in safe mode will get it working.

One other thing you might try. Recently, before getting my Sony, I tried an Olympus 4040. Like you, I could not get removable disk to show when I plugged the camera in. The Olympus support person asked if I was plugged into a hub; and, I was using the powered hub in my monitor. He said to plug directly into the computer, which got it working. He also said to try different USB plugs in the hub and computer. He had no explanation why it should make a difference, but said they had many USB problems that had been corrected by simply plugging into a different USB plug. Give it a try before reinstalling ME.

I'm also using ATI--All in Wonder Radeon, with latest drivers. Are your drivers up to date?
Good luck and Have a Happy New Year.

Mike G

Steven · Dec 30, 2001

Connie you can reload windows me upgrade fresh load without useing windows 98. Windows upgrades are full versions just let it see your windows 98 cd.--Steven

fossil · Dec 30, 2001

hi Connie,

I have read your problems with interest, and sometimes you might need think not exactly what you want to do, but get there by another route and perhaps get a mouse type card reader so that you dont have to connect your 707 to that particular computer.....I know that costs a bit extra money, but this problem is giving you a lot of heartburn..
Regards...I have a card reader and I never hook up my 707...the reader is great!
fossil

--fossil

glen54191 · Dec 30, 2001

Connie, do you have any utilities installed such as tweakUI? If so open the utility, check the my computor tab and see if the box in front of the next drive in order on your computor is checked or not. This will probably be drive E or F depending on how many drives you have already installed before trying for the "removable drive". If it is not checked your computor will not recognize the new drive. X-teq is another utility that may be interfering with drive recognition.

Don't know if this is your problem, but it's a possibility. Good luck.

glen

Connie75722 · Dec 30, 2001

Glen,

Thanks for your reply. No, I don't have any utilities i.e. tweakUI or x-teq. The Sony Tech mentioned the tweakUI as well. Any other thoughts?
Connie

glen54191 · Dec 30, 2001

I don't have any expierence with the Millenium edition, and tweakUI was not included in previous releases ie. 95, 98 etc. Maybe you have this utility and don't realize it. Check your control panel for sure. If this is not the problem I'm afraid that my knowledgd bucket is dry.
Again, good luck.

glen

Richard71187 · Dec 30, 2001

I have Win Me with no problems, but I don't connect the 707 to the computer. See this link where I explain how I communicate between the computer and memory stick:

http://www.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1009&message=1963337

Richard Ozaroff
[email protected]

F707 Incompatible with Windows Millenium?

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