DV-953 USB Connect Crashes XP -- Help!
 

Hi all,
I've got an interesting issue with my DV-953 and I'm hoping someone can help me work out what to do about it:

I didn't use my DV-953's still image upload capability for about two months. In the intervening time I recorded and played back video via the firewire connection, and used the camera as a camera, but I didn't do any still-image work. Today, I wanted to take some pictures so I deleted the pictures that were already on the memory card, switched to low-res mode, and shot 4 stills. The pictures recorded fine, I can preview them in the viewfinder, but when I connect my camera to my Windows XP Pro SP2 PC, the PC reboots. No error, no warning, just black screen for about a second, then reboot.

Reinstalling the drivers doesn't seem to fix this problem, nor does using different USB ports. I haven't got access to another PC to test if that has any impact.

Has anyone dealt with this problem? I'll probably call Panny tech support tommorow, but they're closed now (AFAIK) so I thought I'd post here.

This doesn't need to be a problem with the camera. The problem
is definitely on the Windows system:

1. a faulty driver (could be the panasonic one!)

2. a corrupt windows system/installation

3. a component that blocks something

4. virus / trojan / malware / spyware

My guess would be either #1 or #2. Are there new drivers out for
this camera? How old is this installation? How clean is it?

Try disabling the windows firewall before connecting the camera.

A simple solution to your problem would be to use a card reader
to take the data of the memory card instead of the supplied driver
and software.

Good calls, Rob. My Windows install is relatively fresh (~6 months) and relatively clean, and Windows Firewall is disabled. I run ZoneAlarm Personal, but it never had a problem with the camera before. In any case, thanks for the advice. I will try reinstalling with new drivers, but since a card reader is only $30 or so, and sending my camera off to service for a feature I hardly use anyway is probably far more than that, I think a card reader is the simplest answer.

Ditto, and I like the ability to save other types of digital camera media when friends and family drop by. I went with a Sandisk 12-in-1 USB 2.0 reader.