Introduction
The most common issue with HP Photosmart digital cameras is connection with the computer. This document is designed to provide potential solutions; ranging from easier, less technical ones (Sections 1 through 5), to more complex, technical ones (Sections 6 through 10). Follow the sections in order. If one section does not solve the problem, then go to the next section.
"Camera not responding" errors
Below are the two most common errors seen with the HP Photosmart C20, C30, C200, C500, and 210 series digital cameras. If one of these errors appears, proceed to Section 1:
A HP Photosmart warning appears: "Unable to connect with the camera. Please reconnect the camera and try again. Click Help for more information."
The Status
tab shows a red X between the computer and the camera and the following error message appears: "Error connecting with the camera. Some properties will be disabled."
In the HP Photosmart 210 digital camera, PhotoImpression 2000 opens the Connection Set dialog box.
Figure 1: Communication Set
Select Auto Detect
, and then click Retry
.
If the software still cannot locate the camera, a "Camera communication failed" message appears.
Figure 2: “Camera communication” error message
Click OK
. A “Please reconnect the camera and try again” message appears.
Figure 3: “Please reconnect the camera….” error message
Click OK
to clear this message from the screen, and then proceed to Section 1.
Section 1: Checking the camera and cable
Verify that the camera is turned on.
Turn the camera on.
| NOTE: | On some models, sliding the lens cover to the open position turns on the camera. |
The battery indicator should show full, or, the alternating-current (AC) adapter should be plugged securely into the camera and directly into a functioning wall power outlet.
Verify that the cable is in good condition and has no kinks, and that the connectors contain no bent pins.
Section 2: Checking the port connection
Plug the small end of the cable into the camera. Verify that the cable is properly connected to the camera’s communications port, and that the camera is in communication mode (the letters "PC" appear in the top display). Also, make sure that the cable is not upside down. Check the camera user guide for details.
Plug the large end of the connection cable into the computer serial port.
Verify that a serial port is available on the computer. Make sure that it has a 9-pin male connector and that it is definitely a serial port. (To verify that it is a serial port, check the label on the port, or see the computer user guide.)
| NOTE: | The camera cable must connect to a 9-pin serial port. If the computer does not have a 9-pin serial port, but does have a 25-pin serial port available, a 9-pin male connection to a 25-pin female straight-through adapter (not included with the camera) is recommended. Make sure that the adapter is not a null modem adapter. (The adapter package should state whether the adapter is for use with a null modem.) These 9-pin to 25-pin adapters are available at most computer supply stores. If you encounter problems locating this type of adapter, see the computer user guide, or contact the computer manufacturer. |
Verify that the camera is connected directly to the serial port. It cannot work correctly if it is connected to a serial port data switch or sharing device, such as an external disk drive.
Section 3: Software is keeping the serial port open
The camera may not be able to work if programs that use the serial port are running. These programs keep the port open (even when nothing is physically connected to it) and prevent the camera from using the port.
If an uninterruptible power supply (UPS) is connected to the serial port, disconnect the UPS from the serial port. If a Palm Pilot (HotSync software) or an HP Scanjet 4S series scanner (Visioneer PaperPort(TM) software) is installed, please disconnect the hardware and ensure that the software is closed.
When downloading images from the camera, make sure that no programs except Windows Explorer and Systray are open. To close any other open programs, do the following:
On the computer keyboard, press Ctrl + Alt + Delete simultaneously. This should open the Close Program dialog box showing all the programs that are currently running. (Do not press Ctrl + Alt + Delete again while the Close Program dialog box is open. This shuts down computer.)
Select a program to close.
Click End Task
. The selected program closes, and the Close Program dialog box disappears. Another dialog box may appear. If one does appear so, click EndTask
again.
Press Ctrl + Alt + Delete again. This reopens the Close Program dialog box.
Repeat Steps 2 through 4 until all programs except Windows Explorer and Systray are closed.
| NOTE: | If a program you tried to close appears again in the Close Program dialog box, try closing the program several more times. |
Section 4: Alternate solutions for computers that do not have an available serial port
If the computer does not have an available serial port, it is possible to download photos to the computer using a compact flash-card reader. The HP Photosmart C20, C30, C200, 500, and 210 digital camera series use the industry standard CompactFlash Memory Cards.
Using a compact flash-card reader gives several advantages:
The camera downloads images to the computer more quickly.
The user can save photos to the hard drive for later use, then re-use the card quickly.
The camera can store more photos.
No serial port is required.
When using a CompactFlash card reader, it is not possible to adjust the following defaults on the camera:
Slide-show interval (two seconds)
Self-timer delay (ten seconds)
Auto shut-off delay (five minutes)
Audible warnings (on)
External CompactFlash Memory Card readers are currently available from the following manufacturers:
| Manufacturer | Model | Type | Interface |
|---|
| SanDisk
| ImageMate
| CF card
| Parallel
|
| Simple Technology
| PC PhotoReader
| CF Card
| Parallel
|
| Action Tec
| Camera-Connect
| CF Card
| Parallel
|
| Microtech
| CameraMate
| CF/PC Cards
| Parallel
|
| Antec
| Photochute
| CF/PC Cards
| Parallel
|
| Adtron
| SDDL - Parallel
| PC Card
| Parallel
|
| Adtron
| SDDS - SCSI
| PC Card
| SCSI
|
| Carry
| | PC Card
| Parallel
|
Use the following precautions when using an external CompactFlash card reader:
A compact flash card behaves like a removable storage drive, and photos on it are treated as files. Photos that are locked can still be deleted, so be careful not to delete wanted photos. Windows 95 reports only that the file is write-protected and warns to confirm before it deletes the file through the flash reader.
Do not save files back to the compact flash card. The camera might not recognize the files and then request that the card be formatted.
Section 5: Alternate sources of technical support
To use the HP Photosmart Digital Cameras, have a computer with an available working and compatible serial port. If the computer has serial port problems, HP Customer Care will extend as much help as reasonably possible (see sections 6-10). However, sections 6-10 are more technical, and some users might not want to perform these procedures. Also, the instructions in those sections might not resolve the problem, making assistance from the computer manufacturer necessary.
The list below represents the recommendations for the cases in which HP Customer Care cannot resolve a non-working serial port, or if users do not want to attempt the procedures in sections 6-10. Take the computer to any of the following places to have a serial port problem fixed:
| NOTE: | Most major cities or towns have one or more of the following resources available. Some may require a fee. |
An authorized computer reseller
A local university or college computer science department
A local computer-users group (look in the local Yellow Pages under computer shop)
A computer hardware consultant (look in the local Yellow Pages)
Other local computer/electronic retail outlets (look in the local Yellow Pages)
Computer-training centers (look in the local Yellow Pages)
Section 6: Windows 95 COM port and modem configuration
The camera must be able to use one of the COM ports. Check the Windows 95 configuration of COM ports and modems to determine how many ports are available, and what resources are allocated to them.
Determine how the COM ports are used, and what resources the COM ports are using.
On the Windows 95 first screen, double-click My Computer
.
The My Computer dialog box opens. Double-click the Control Panel
icon.
The Control Panel dialog box opens. Double-click the Modems
icon. If there is no modem installed on the computer, go to Step 3.
The Modems Properties dialog box opens. Write down the modem(s) information.
Record the port resources in the Modem Properties dialog box.
In the Modems Properties dialog box, click the Diagnostics
tab. Write down each COM port listed under the Port
heading and what mouse or modem is installed for each COM port in the Installed column.
If a COM port listed shows "No Modem Installed", click the COM
port and click More Info
. Write down the values for the Port
, Interrupt
, Address
, and UART
settings. If the UART
section is grayed out and no information is listed, then this port is not configured to be used with the camera. Proceed to Step c.
Repeat Step b for each additional COM port that lists "No Modem Installed".
Click Cancel
to close the Modem Properties dialog box and return to the Control Panel dialog box.
Record the port resources in the Device Manager.
In the Control Panel dialog box, double-click the System
icon.
The System Properties dialog box opens. Click the Device Manager
tab.
Double-click Ports
(COM and LPT). (You may have to scroll down in the window first to see it.)
Click the first item that says Communication Port(COM#)
(the # represents the number of the port), and click Properties
.
The Communications Port (COM#) Properties dialog box opens. Click the Resources
tab.
Write down the settings listed under Resource Settings. These are the resources for the selected COM port.
Click Cancel
to close the Communications Port (COM#) Properties dialog box for the selected COM port.
Repeat Steps d through g for the remaining communications port (COM#) items.
Section 7: Checking how many ports are installed in the computer
Verify that the hardware has the standard number of ports using the DOS mode command.
Click Start
, select Programs
, and then select MS-DOS(R) Prompt
.
At the C:\WINDOWS
prompt, type "mode COM", then press Enter. The prompt message may look similar to the following: "Status for device COM1 Retry = None"
Next, type "Mode COM2", and then press Enter. The prompt message should be the same if the second port is enabled. If it is not, a message like this appears: "Illegal device name COM2"
Repeat the Mode command (Step 3) for COM ports 3 and 4, replacing "COM2" with the correct COM port number. Note which message is received for each port.
Type "(EXIT)" to return to Windows.
| NOTE: | The DOS mode command may not report the same numbers for the COM ports that Windows does. (Example: The DOS mode command reports COM1 and COM2, but Windows reports COM1 and COM4.) |
Section 8: Reconfiguring invalid COM ports in Windows 95
For any COM port that returned an "Illegal device name" message in the previous section, reconfigure the port using the following procedure:
In the System Properties window, click the communications port (COM#) that returned an Illegal Device Name message, and click Remove
.
| CAUTION: | Do not select and remove any ports connected to a mouse, modem, or (LPT#) port. If this is done, the mouse, modem, or printer will no longer work. |
Click OK
to confirm the removal of the COM port.
Repeat Steps 2 and 3 until all invalid COM ports have been removed.
Click OK
to return to the System Properties dialog box. Close all open dialog boxes by clicking the X
in the upper-right corner of each box.
On the Windows 95 first screen, click Start
, select Shut Down
, and then click Yes
to shut down the computer. Turn the computer off when the screen message says it is safe to do so.
After a few seconds, turn the computer on. A New Hardware Found message appears, and Windows reconfigures and adds the ports correctly.
Try to acquire photos from the HP Photosmart digital camera to determine if the problem has been corrected.
Section 9: Verifying the computer has valid COM ports
Refer to the documentation for the computer or add-on I/O card for port configuration information. Use the port resource settings that match your hardware (as set in the computer basic input/output system (BIOS), or on the add-on peripheral card), or refer below for common hardware settings:
Typical COM port resources are as follows:
COM1--Address 03F8, IRQ4
COM2--Address 02F8, IRQ3
COM3--Address O3E8, IRQ4
COM4--Address 02E8, IRQ3
Verify that the ports are enabled in the computer BIOS (see Section 10).
Verify that the modem can be configured to COM3 or COM4 (if modem is set to COM1 or COM2). Consult your modem documentation for this.
Verify that the hardware (9-pin connector, ribbon cable, header connection) is in proper working order. If you need assistance, see Section 5.
Section 10: Computer BIOS (CMOS) configuration changes
The BIOS setup is a configuration routine that establishes certain basic hardware settings for the motherboard. Newer computers have built-in serial ports and can be configured using the BIOS setup routine. These settings are stored in a CMOS-type memory in the motherboard (independent of the hard disk, floppy drive, random access memory (RAM), or central processing unit (CPU)). Therefore, the BIOS configuration is also referred to as the CMOS configuration.
If familiar with the BIOS settings with the computer, follow these general steps to correct or modify the serial port configuration.
Making changes to the computer BIOS
The computer manufacturer is the best source for information for making changes to BIOS. It may be helpful to consult the computer manufacturer, or computer documentation, before going any further.
| CAUTION: | Changes made to the BIOS may alter the performance or functionality of the computer. Do not experiment with other settings unless you understand the impact to your current system. Make sure you adjust COM (or serial) port settings only. |
Review the current COM port resource configuration (COM ports, modem, USB, IRDA). This was done in Section 6, "Windows 95 COM port and modem configuration" Steps 1, 2, and 3. Then, proceed with the following section:
Detailed steps to changing BIOS/CMOS settings
Start the BIOS/CMOS Configuration Routine.
HP recommends inserting a blank or non-bootable floppy disk in the disk drive. This prevents Windows 95 from loading.
Click Start
, and then select Shut Down
.
Select Restart the Computer
, and then click Yes
.
While the computer is restarting, watch for a "Press ___ to enter setup" message. (The blanks represent a combination of keys.)
When the message appears, press the key or keys indicated to start the BIOS/CMOS configuration routine.
If a "Non-system disk or disk error/Replace and strike any key when ready" message appears, the BIOS/CMOS configuration routine failed to load. Press Ctrl+Alt+Delete, and then prepare to press the appropriate key or keys when the prompt appears or during the memory test.
If no prompt appears with instructions for getting in to the BIOS/CMOS, or if a large logo covers the instructions, try using one of the following key combinations:
F1
F2
Delete
Ctrl+Alt+S
Some computer manufacturers require a complex procedure to access the BIOS setup, and in rare instances a special boot-up floppy is required. If this procedure does not work, and a procedure is not outlined in the computer user guide, contact the computer's manufacturer for assistance.
| CAUTION: | During startup, the computer offers entry to the BIOS setup only very briefly. If you do not insert a non-bootable floppy disk (as suggested above) and you do not start the BIOS configuration routine in time, you must let Windows 95 finish loading before shutting down the computer and trying again. |
Open the Peripheral configuration screen. This may be listed on the first screen of the CMOS/BIOS/SETUP, or in one of the submenus. The submenus are normally across the top of the screen and typically include General
, Advanced
, Advanced Features
, Chipset
, Chipset Features
, PCI
, Power
, and possibly Peripherals
.
| NOTE: | It is possible to abort changes by turning the computer off. This is a safe way to avoid changes that can cause the computer to lock up. |
Use the arrow and Tab keys to navigate through the screens. The serial ports may be listed as serial ports or COM ports. Or they may be in another submenu titled "Peripheral Devices, Integrated Peripherals, I/O Devices or Device Configuration." Find the serial or COM port area and follow the directions on the screen to select and modify the selected item.
| NOTE: | Menus and labels vary for different computer models. |
Common instructions to access the BIOS peripheral configuration include the following:
Arrow left/right: Select Next/Previous Menu
Arrow up/down: Select Next/Previous Item
Tab: Next Menu heading
Shift + Tab: -Previous Menu heading
Enter: Open Sub-menu, or Choose Selection
+/-: Change (this control may vary)
F7/F8: Change (this control may vary)
Esc: Back to previous level, Cancel, or Exit
F1: Help
F10: Save Settings and Exit
Secondary COM port disabled: Recommended resource changes
| NOTE: | Do not assign identical addresses to any two ports. However, COM ports 1 and 3 can share the same IRQ, and COM ports 2 and 4 can share the same IRQ. |
Enable COM Port 2 or B with: Address 03E8, IRQ4.
Enable COM Port 2 or B with: Address 02E8, IRQ3.
Enable COM Port 2 or B with: Address 02F8, IRQ3.
Enable COM Port 2 or B with: Address 03F8, IRQ4.
Either or both COM ports set to auto: Recommended changes
| NOTE: | Do not assign identical addresses to any two ports. However, COM ports 1 and 3 can share the same IRQ, and COM ports 2 and 4 can share the same IRQ. |
Change COM Port 1 to: 03F8, IRQ4 Change COM Port 2 to: Address 02F8, IRQ3
Change COM Port 1 to: Address 02F8, IRQ3 Change COM Port 2 to: Address 03E8, IRQ4
Change COM Port 1 to: Address 03F8, IRQ4 Change COM Port 2 to: Address 03E8, IRQ4
| CAUTION: | If the system has infrared or universal serial bus (USB) support, it may be shared with the second serial port. If this is the case, this may be changed using the port's Mode setting. The second port must be in Normal mode to work. Determine which devices need Infrared or USB in your system before changing port mode settings. Infrared/USB devices stop working if disabled in the BIOS. |
If both serial ports are enabled or set to specific resources without conflicts, the problem may be internal hardware. A ribbon cable may be connected backwards or connected improperly. To look for this problem, open the computer case. A qualified computer repair technician may need to solve these hardware problems. See
"Section 5: Alternate sources of technical support"
for details.
Using the controls listed in Step 3, save the changes and exit.
If there are any doubts about the changes made, turn off the computer to discard all changes. Most BIOS configuration routines save only during exit. Or, choose the Discard changes and Exit
option.
Try to connect to the camera.
Start Windows 95 and ensure that the camera is on and properly connected. The camera must be in communications mode (the letters "PC" or a computer icon appears on the LCD screen).
Acquire from the HP Photo Finishing Software or Image Editing Software. The camera should connect at this time.
Test other serial devices (if applicable).
Once communication with the camera has been established, check to see if the changes made are affecting other serial devices. If any of those devices stopped working, consult the user guide for that device for alternative solutions that allow both devices to work with the computer.
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