April 13, 2007, Use your inner wizard, By Charles Miller

Several times recently I have encountered people who have bought a new digital camera and have followed the instructions telling them to load into their computer the CD that comes with the camera. This is one of those times that disregarding the instructions might be the best course of action.

The camera instructions tell you to load that CD, but those instructions were written by people who sometimes have their own agenda.

The manufacturers say the CD that came with your new camera has software on it to enhance the functionality of your camera. While this is sometimes true, there are some other consequences you should consider before blindly loading up your computer with all their software. There is a good chance you do not need anything on that CD and can just leave it in the box.

I suggest trying to use the camera first without following the directions. Simply connect your camera to an open USB connector and allow it to be recognized and configured automatically. Windows XP includes the “Scanner and Camera Wizard” which will walk you through the process of downloading photos from the camera. You should install the special drivers only if this does not work and you need the drivers unique to your hardware.

That CD is also likely to contain software used to copy pictures from the camera to computer and to edit the images. I have always recommended against loading most of the software that comes included with digital cameras. For the most part, this software is what we in the trade refer to as “bundleware” or lousy software that was not good enough to sell on its own. Manufacturers bundle this software with the camera and advertise “$100 worth of free software!” Some of these programs are real junk.

A problem sometimes encountered with these programs is that when they copy pictures from your camera to the computer, the software hides the images on your hard disk to make it difficult for you to view them with any other program. This is clearly an attempt to “trap” the user so they cannot switch to another program later. Another scenario sometimes encountered with bundleware is that after they get you trapped into using it, you have to pay to continue using it after 90 days or to activate some of the program features.

Instead of getting ripped off like this, I suggest that when you buy that new digital camera, leave that CD in the box. It is very likely you will find the functionality of the “Scanner and Camera Wizard” provides everything you need, and this is already included in Windows.

Another reason I urge digital camera users to give the “Scanner and Camera Wizard” a fair chance is that it is compatible with a wide range of different cameras. The driver software for different cameras is supposed to work in harmony with other programs, but the fact of the matter is that if you installed the software for a Nikon digital camera it can conflict with your new Olympus camera, which might conflict with your friend’s Canon camera. The manufacturers do not do this maliciously, but in their quest to provide enhanced features for their camera, they can make your computer incompatible with other brands of digital cameras.

By not using the CD that came with your new digital camera, and relying on the “Scanner and Camera Wizard,” you can entirely avoid problems associated with incompatible drivers and troublesome bundleware.

Charles Miller is a freelance computer consultant, a frequent visitor to San Miguel since 1981 and now practically a full-time resident. He may be contacted at 044-415-101-8528 or email FAQ@SMAguru.com