Windows XP and Digital Camera and Scanners Conflict

I know this is not specifically a photography topic, but since it invovles scanners and digital cameras I thought someone else might have encountered it as well.

Yesterday, for the first time since I reinstalled my scanner on my new PC, I went to download images from my Canon G2 camera and it would not work. To make a long story short, Canon support tells me there is a known conflict with USB connected imaging devices on Win XP, where two imaging devices cannot be connected to the PC via USB at the same time. They gave me this link to Microsoft:
http://support.microsoft.com/default.as ... us;Q324756
which describes two scanners being connected to a single PC. Canon says this also applies to other imaging devices.

Has anyone else encountered this? I imagine that alot of us here have a scanner connected full time as well as a sometimes connected digital camera. The work around they suggested was the obvious, keep only one device connected at a time and then reboot between swithces. This sounds like a pain.

Tech Info:
Dell Dimension XPS 2.8 Ghx P4 processor
1GB ram
Win XP Pro
Canon G2 digital camera
HP Photosmart S20 Scanner (USB connection)

One other question: would an external card reader be interpreted as an imaging device or just another drive like the Lexar JumpDrive I use?

Thanks
Ken

I use Win 2000 Pro, and don't have any problems. I have two scanners (flatbed and film) plugged into USB ports, along with my little USB memory stick (which should be treated similarly to a card reader).

Yet another reason for me not to upgrade to XP!

-Paul

I haven't ever had an issue with a film scanner and a flatbed connected at the same time on XP.

A flash card reader shows up as another drive.

I have had no problems with windows xp home and flatbed scanner + slide scanner + coolpix 4300.
Coolpix registers as a mass storage device drive f.

EJ and Eider,

Question: do you have both scanners powered on at the same time they are connected? That seemed to make a difference to the tech support person. Problem with my scanner is there is no on/off switch.

Ken

Ken,
I have been told the same thing, but I have different warning messages. I use a Canoscan 2720U and have a HP Officejet d135 (a 4-in-1 with fax, scan, printer, and copy capabilities).

The Canoscan was installed first, so when I try to use the HP I get a message saying something like ".......memory cannot be 'read'." The scanner still works when I use it with Photoshop, but I cannot get the scanner utility to function (this is easier for my wife to scan photos of our son this way).

It's interesting taht you too have Canon and HP products...

Christoph

Flatbed scanner is always switched on (no power switch), so when using coolpix or slide scanner two devices are powered up at once.
Flatbed scanner is a cheapo branded direct, and slide scanner is minolta scan dual 111.

I had the same problem with HP and Epson printers. HP would trash the Epson. Resolution, sold the HP and got the new Epson combo printer/copier/scanner.

Conflicts seem to be a way of life. I have a problem with my usb card reader when I have my external usb hard drive working on my Windows 98 machine. Also have a problem with the external when the card reader is connected. Fine on xp. I have all internal usb ports and have tried switching them around too. I won't have that machine for too long anyway so I just live with it.

I am unable to have both my flatbed and Canoscan FS4000US functioning simultaneously with Windows XP. I have had to unplug my flatbed. Seems this is a known problem, as you say.