OT...camera software won't download, and I don't know enough to fix it. Options

[jwade]

I just got a new digital camera (Pentax optio 4S) and in the process of trying
to load the software from the CD into my computer I got an error message
reading: The Windows Installer Service could not be accessed. This can occur if you
are running Windows in a safe mode (I'm not) or if the windows installer is not correctly installed.

Any thoughts before I plunk down $49.95 to Dell for 90 days of tech support? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sad.gif)

Thanks

john

[Pnambic]

On my HP digital camera, there is actually a setting on it that allows me tell the camera to present itself to the connected computer as a removable disk-drive instead of a camera. This allows me to connect to any computer (via USB) and access any pictures that are on the camera. It also allows me to use the camera as portable storage if necessary.

A Compact Flach reader is not software; its a small adapter that plugs into your computer's USB plug and allow the computer to read the compact flash memory card that many digital cameras use as a removable disk drive. Looking at the stats on your camera, it doesn't use Compact Flash, but most of those readers support other types of memory cards as well. Look for one that reads Secure Digital (SD) or MMC cards since thats what your camera uses.

But if you can't do that....I got this from Microsoft:

To resolve this issue, follow these steps:

 - Log on to your computer as an administrator.
 - Click Start, and then click Run.
 - In the Open box, type cmd, and then click OK.
 - At the command prompt, type msiexec.exe /unregister, and then press ENTER.
 - Type msiexec /regserver, and then press ENTER.

 - Verify that the SYSTEM account has full control access permissions to the HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT hive in the Windows registry. In some cases, you may also have to add Administrator accounts. To do so:WARNING: If you use Registry Editor incorrectly, you may cause serious problems that may require you to reinstall your operating system. Microsoft cannot guarantee that you can solve problems that result from using Registry Editor incorrectly. Use Registry Editor at your own risk.

-Click Start, click Run, type regedit in the Open box, and then click OK.
 - Click the following registry hive:
 - HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT
 - On the Edit menu, click Permissions.
 - If SYSTEM is not listed in the Group or user names list, click Add, make sure that the local computer name appears in the From this location box, type system in the Enter the object names to select box, click Check Names, and then click OK.
 - Click SYSTEM in the Group or user names list, and then select the Full Control check box under Allow in the Permissions for SYSTEM box.
 - Click Apply, click OK, and then quit Registry Editor.

 - Restart the computer. If the problem is not resolved, repair Windows XP. For additional information about how to repair Windows XP, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base: KB315353

Hope this works out!