Pics not transferring to the computer

Just figured this one out. Man, they don't make it easy. I'm borrowing my roommate's PowerShot A510 and since it has a USB port going out, I'd assume I could simply connect the camera to my PC and access my images directly. Almost every other camera I've seen will register itself to Windows as a straight USB connection (prompting the Windows screen asking how you want to open the connection - 'open folder' etc). This one just sits dead quiet about things :)

If you've just bought this camera at a garage sale or are borrowing it or for whatever other reason do not have the "bundled" software and driver CD or have the camera's serial number, do not bother trying to find windows drivers or try to obtain any software from Canon. You won't get very far.

FINALLY found the solution in the User's Manual (which was free thank God). You can download the manual here: http://usa.canon.com/cusa/support/consumer/digital_cameras/powershot_a_series/powershot_a510#BrochuresAndManuals
(Select your operating system and download the "PowerShot A520/A510 Camera User Guide". File name is PSA520510CUG-EN.pdf)

In the User Guide, page 107 (I'll paraphrase):
1. Put camera in Play mode (the switch on the back (green arrow in green box)
2. Press Menu button (center one of the three along the bottom of the view screen)
3. In the 1st menu option (Play Menu, again green arrow in box highlighted), use the wheel button to scroll down to highlight "Transfer Order". Press Set (center of wheel).
4. You should now see "Transfer Order (DPOF) at the top of the screen and "Qty. of images 0".
5. Below "Qty of images 0" you'll see "Order", "Mark All", and "Reset". Order lets you select individual images; Mark All marks all current images for transfer; and Reset is reset. Press Set to choose.

Note: pressing the Menu button while selecting images brings you back to this main screen. If you are already at this main screen and you aren't ready to do your transfer yet, DON'T press the Menu button from this screen as it will initiate the transfer to your computer. Not a horrible thing, but might cause a mini freak-out.

7. Once you're selected the images you want to transfer, from the main Transfer Order window (now showing "Qty. of images" with a count of the images you selected), press the Menu button.

8. You'll see a white progress bar at the bottom of the screen. Don't worry! it's not deleting files or something bad.. (my first thoughts :) ..
9. Go to your PC and Voila! the Windows AutoPlay screen is now active!
10. Proceed with normal Windows USB operations (transferring at least, I didn't try any deletion).

I hope this helps somebody else out there who spent the last 3 hours trying to dig through internet hell to get this to work.

Atm, this is as much as I know so I probably don't have any good answers for any questions. Sorry :))

But, hope this helped at least!

Use a card reader to download your pictures to a folder you create on your desktop. From there, you can transfer the pictures to any program you wish.

Use a card reader to download your pics.

Use a cardreader to download your pictures.

Once you manipulate the pictures on your computer, they usually won't show properly on your camera when you transfer them back.

Afetr you plug your camera into your PC using USB Cable, can you transfer the images via my computer and selecting the camera from the devices with removal storage under the drives lists?

When connected to the PC the cameras display will blank out, this is normal. If the cameras "Communication" setting is set to "Normal" you can only download images when the cameras drivers have been installed of the bundled CD. If you change it to "PTP" (Picture Transfer Protocol), you can connect it to any computer without installing drivers. Set the camera into playback mode, press the menu button and navigate into the menu with the tools(setup). You will find it there. Good Luck!

Hmm perhaps the USB Cable has dust in it. Have you tried blowing into the ends to clear any dust?

I dont have a permanent fix for this but you can recover those precious pics.. When you can open it in photoshop just use file save as option to save them onto the computer.. Also when you are done with transferring all these pics then format the memory card(normal format not quick) then take some sample pcis and see if it skips again.. Postback so that we can followup on this..

cant transfer pictures 2 computer