Computer doesn't recognize camera to upload pihotos via usb port.

[chiggi64]

After several years, all of a sudden my computer won't recognize my camera when I try to upload.  It was not working 2 days ago and I got some advice via chat from Microsoft, including turning it off, taking a new picture and putting new batteries in camera.  No luck. Then yesterday morning it was working.  This morning it is not working again.  When I plug the cord from camera to laptop into usb port, I don't hear any "bong".  When I unplug the cord, I hear a "bong" and a message comes up saying Windows cannot recognize the last device I tried to connect.  I  spent over an hour on the phone with Microsoft this morning and the guy tried everything; computer kept saying there were no drivers.  Yet it worked yesterday morning!  Microsoft advised me to contact HP to see what was up but I can't find how to talk or live chat with anyone without paying through the nose which I cannot afford.  Is this scenario familiar to anyone and can anyone help?  Would be greatly appreciated.

[Echo_Lake]

@chiggi64

Thank you for posting on the HP Support Community.

• Did this happen after a recent window or software update?
• Have you tried checking the camera on the devices?
• Do you have camera software DVDs or CDs?
• Have you made any hardware/software changes?

While you respond to that, let's try these steps: 

Hard Reset: Follow steps from the link: https://hp.care/2GnkMa8.

BIOS default: 

1. Turn off the computer and wait five seconds.
2. Press the Power button to start the computer and repeatedly press the F10 key to enter the BIOS setup menu.
3. On the BIOS Setup screen, press F9 to select and load the BIOS Setup Default settings.
4. Press F10 to Save and Exit.
5. Use the arrow keys to select Yes, then press Enter when asked Exit Saving Changes?
6. Follow the prompts to restart your computer.

Next, uninstall universal serial bus controller from device manager.

1. Use shortcut keys Win + X on Windows 10.
2. Select Device Manager.
3. Expand the entry. Right-click the universal serial bus controller and select Uninstall device.
4. You may need to check the option Delete the driver software for this device, and then click the Uninstall button.
5. Reboot the computer.

Hope this helps! Keep me posted for further assistance.
Please click “Accept as Solution” if you feel my post solved your issue, it will help others find the solution.

[chiggi64]

Thank you for the advice, but I am more confused than ever.  

I am not sure what a port replicator or docking station is.

I don't have any USB storage devices, external displays (don't know what that is).  My printer is working but I can't find any connection to the computer; it is just plugged into the wall outlet.  Could it be a wireless connection?  Should I unplug it from the wall?

Not sure what an AC adaptor is.  This is as far as I have got on that one, the hard reset.  All that is plugged into my computer is my mouse and keyboard.

Now, the BIOS solution:  I turned off the computer and turned back on again and started pressing F10 key.  The screen came up for BIOS but pressing F9 or F10 had no effect whatsoever and the Exit Saving Changes screen was up in the middle and it was the only thing I could click on but since I hadn't made any changes, I didn't click on anything.

Microsoft has already uninstalled the camera and reinstalled it and it didn't make any difference.

I do not have an installation disc; none came with my camera so I am afraid to uninstall it.

Another thing - when I plug the camera in, I used to get a Windows thing where I could upload photos and view them and name them.  I have only seen that once recently and it said it uploaded the photos but there was no way to view them.  I went through my whole Pics folder and none of the photos I had supposedly just uploaded were there.  I haven't seen that Windows camera thing since. Now when I plug in the camera (on the rare times it does recognize the camera), it goes straight to DCIM and when I follow through, it shows not the photos, but just letters and numbers associated with each photo and there is no way to upload more.  I have to go to This PC and then H drive and upload that way.  I also have two other methods of uploading, Arc Photo Studio 5 and an Olympus app but neither of them work anymore.  So strange.

I await your next advice.  Thank you.

[Echo_Lake]

@chiggi64

Thank you for posting back. 

Let's try this:
Method 1: Go to Settings > Privacy > Camera. At the top of thewindow, ensure it says “Camera access for this device is on.” If it says cameraaccess is off, click the “Change” button and set it to “On.” 

Method 2: Double-click Imaging Devices to expand the list of webcam drivers. If the HP Webcam-101 or Microsoft USB Video Device is listed, right-click the driver and select Update Driver Software and follow the on-screen instructions. Restart your computer, and open your webcam software to see if the problem is resolved.

Keep me posted!

[chiggi64]

Hi,

Actually that problem got resolved.  When I was first trying to get into the HP forum, I accidentally got into something called Just Ask, one of those places you pay for.  They only charged $5 for a one week trial period so I went for it.  Meanwhile, a tech at my ISP told me to get a new cord, which I did.  It helped a lot. I have 4 ways to upload pics but only one of them worked and I still wasn't getting the Windows screen coming up to use.  Just Ask advised me to restore to a previous point. I had also found out from my ISP tech that the reason I couldn't get through to live chat with them via the icon on desktop was because Chrome wasn't working, so they reinstalled Chrome.  I restored to one week earlier, Aug 21 but it didn't help.  The guy at Just Ask was doggedly determined to find the answer for me; he suggested I restore to an earlier point.  I only had one earlier point, Aug 13. It  took over an hour but it worked. Then I tried to let the guy know but couldn't get to him and realized the restore had uninstalled Chrome again so I reinstalled it myself.  Now all is working.

I did check what you just advised and my camera thing in settings is ON.

Another problem, this time with my printer.  I used to be able to operate my printer from my keyboard; there was an icon on my bottom task bar and when I clicked on it, everything worked fine; I could do anything, the HP printer thing came up on my screen; it was so easy.  Now I have a new printer and I can't find any way to do that; I am relegated to staring at that tiny, tiny screen on the printer with those tiny, tiny things to press on to do things; scan, copy or print.  I have to stand up to see it and find it very difficult as the things to press are so small.  Is there any way of making my current printer accessible from my keyboard and the HP working thing to come up on my computer screen, or was my last printer a fluke where they don't make that option available anymore. I have hounded the internet but all I can find is how to set it up in the first place, not how to access and use it via keyboard and computer screen.

If you have any thoughts on this, I would greatly appreciate it.  I am no spring chicken anymore and having to stand up and deal with that miserable tiny screen is just so much more difficult than just doing it from my keyboard.

Thank you.

[Echo_Lake]

@chiggi64

Thank you for posting back. 

Glad to hear that the camera issue is resolved.

apologize for the inconvenience caused and due to latest software driver update, the old features seems to be faced off. However, I did found something for you which will make printing more easier. The command is Ctrl+P will send the print job. 

Hope this helps! Keep me posted for further assistance.
Please click “Accept as Solution” if you feel my post solved your issue, it will help others find the solution.

[chiggi64]

 Hi,

Obviously I didn't do a very good job explaining what I was looking for, as you  didn't get it at all.  I know  all about Control P and it works fine if something is already on the computer.  What I am talking about is something else entirely.  When I had my last printer, the buttons on the printer ceased to work so I called HP (must have been still on warrantee) and the lady showed me how to operate it from my computer.  There was an icon on my bottom task bar and I would click on it and a HP Printer screen would come up asking me if I wanted to print or copy or scan.  Right there on my computer screen, not up on the printer.  I could put a photo or document on the printer glass and operate any function, i.e. crop, rotate, select jpg etc all from my keyboard; never had to touch the printer screen or save it to documents.

My last printer was wired. The new one is wireless.  I wonder if the reason I can't access this function anymore is because my new printer is wireless, or maybe it is just not something they put on new printers; or maybe you can get it on more expensive printers; altho my last printer wasn't expensive.  It is a shame because it is so much easier to operate the printer from the keyboard than trying to read that tiny screen and use those tiny buttons, (even my small fingers are too big).

Also, there was an icon on  the desktop I could click on and the same HP Printer window would come up with options to do what I want.

It is strange indeed.  Everyone I talk to has no idea what I am talking about; like it never happened............. but it did!

I also remember my first system was Outlook Express which had the capability of using fancy stationery for personal emails. They replaced it with Windows Live which did not have that ability.  When they killed that off, I bought Outlook which, altho it does not have a stationery option, if you go to options, you can bring something from documents to use as stationery.  But I digress.

If you can find out how to do this, I would greatly appreciate it.

Thank you.

[chiggi64]

Hi, 

I can't for the life of me find your last comminique regarding my printer but you gave me instructions to uninstall it.  

I went to Devices and Printers and right clicked on HP, typed printui.exe /s and ok and clicked on drivers tab.  My printer is HP OfficeJet Pro6968.  The only thing close to that is OfficeJet Pro 6960 PCL-3 so I supposed that is it.  I clicked on it and clicked remove.  Then you said to click OK but there is no ok to click.  A small window comes up asking if I want to remove driver only or driver and driver package. I have tried several times with both options.  When I click on one or the other, it asks me if I am sure I want to delete it.  When I click yes, another window comes up telling me that it cannot be removed because the current driver is in use.  I have gone as far as to totally unplug the printer and still it tells me it is in use.

Should I have been asking to remove driver only or driver and driver package?

Where do I go now?

Thank you, hoping to hear from you soon.

[chiggi64]

So sorry, the last missive I sent you was meant to go to The_Fossette who had given me the printer advice.

Sorry!

[Echo_Lake]

@chiggi64

Apologize for inconvenience caused.

Let's try the root level driver uninstallation process.

Root level uninstall and reinstall printer drivers: 

• Go to Control panel – Programs and feature – Select all the HP OfficeJet Pro 6968 All-in-One Printer entries and uninstall them.
• Now go to Control panel – Devices and printer – Select all the printer entries and remove the device.
• Then press the "windows key" + "r" to get the "Run" window open - Type "printui.exe /s" and press enter.
• Under print server properties, go to drivers - remove any entry there as well.
• Again, go to run window, type – “c:/programdata” – Go to Hewlett Packard folder, remove any printer related folders & files.

To reinstall: https://support.hp.com/us-en/drivers/selfservice/swdetails/hp-officejet-pro-6960-all-in-one-printer-...

If the issue still continues, install using Using the Windows Built-in Print Driver: Click here

Hope this helps! Keep me posted for further assistance.
Please click “Accept as Solution” if you feel my post solved your issue, it will help others find the solution.