problems with Zoombrowser Ex - help required pls

Just got a canon IXUS 850IS - great camera. really recommend it
Previously had an Ixus II so thought would be easy to just upgrade the Zoombrowser software! how wrong was I!
Basically have got the software on pc but it just will not allow me to connect to the camera and download any images. I have tried loads of the troubleshooting suggested in the book but to no avail. Even uninstalling software and re-doing. Problem appeard to be the USB drivers as its the camera that can't connect.
This is becoming frustrating as i need to download the images!
Can anyone help with a simple step by step as to how i can resolve this and get all of it installed properly?
I run with Win 2k - have heard this may be the issue but why?
Or are there alternatives soemone can suggest to help me out??
i.e. Is it poss to just use my old version on Zoombrowser with new camera - do i need a new usb driver still?
sorry but i need some help!
thanks

[jenufa]

Probably easier to get yourself a card reader.

[Darkstar_surfer]

Having a card reader as a back-up is always a great idea, but since I went through this problem myself last week I know how annoying it can be when your new camera has an apparent problem.

My problem was due to not having the correct driver. This can be found on Cannon's support page. Have you tried the canon twain driver 6.6.3.

[senu]

Originally Posted by Darkstar_surfer

Having a card reader as a back-up is always a great idea, but since I went through this problem myself last week I know how annoying it can be when your new camera has an apparent problem.

My problem was due to not having the correct driver. This can be found on Cannon's support page. Have you tried the canon twain driver 6.6.3.

You no doubt refer to THIS THREAD

I would suggest that having a card reader is far better than just a backup.
While I totally agree that it is immensely irritating to feel your new camera and PC are not getting on Im not as sure there is a reason why you should feel that using the bundled software for download is the "ideal way".
Certainly there is no harm in seeking the "right" driver as suggested above

A few advantages of card readers

They are affordable, portable and require no drivers on most PCs running Win 98se and above (ie 2000-vista), and Macs
If you have several PCs , It may not be possible (or desirable) to install Canon software on all of them
Using a card reader routinely means you can have a card in the camera shooting and still be able to download ( great if out and about ,have more than one card and you have a laptop/PC to download to)
Card readers are considerably faster for download
You don't drain your cameras battery just for download :also, if it isn't well charged the download may get corrupted
Many programs ( Adobe Photoshop Elements comes to mind) automatically detect both the card with images in a card reader, as well as a connected Camera for downloading and "cataloguing" images

As such some cameras even come with a card reader in the box

I am a great fan of the RAW software DPP that comes with Canon DSLRs but while Zoombrowser is pretty useful, I dont consider it Essential

[JohnG]

I always use a card reader these days as I was fed up with the length of time zoombrowser used to take to download photos from the camera when connected directly. It seemed to get longer the more photos I'd got on the hard drive in the folders zoombrowser was monitoring.

thanks for the help everyone
yes i am about to get a crad reader - loads to choose from any suggestions?
also - just to mention i never had any probs ata ll with my original version of zoombrowser - was always quick and work well
do you think i'd be able to just revert to using this to view all my photos - assuming i download from new camera with a mem card?
cheers for help

[senu]

Originally Posted by pummel

yes i am about to get a crad reader - loads to choose from any suggestions?

Dazzle make some good ones as does Sandisk. ( ive only used both) Im not sure how much difference a few seconds of extra downlosd speed makes so i would avoid spending too much on them

.....also - just to mention i never had any probs ata ll with my original version of zoombrowser - was always quick and work well
do you think i'd be able to just revert to using this to view all my photos - assuming i download from new camera with a mem card?

Do you have Photoshop Elements.?.. It ( amongst others) has an excellent Browser as well as being a very good Photo Editing software
I speak as someone in a household with 2 Canon DSLRs and an A95 all of which come with Zoombrowser ( installed but not used a lot )
I dont really think its "all that"
Certainly If you like it that much install the old one by all means..Just be aware that with your card reader and other software you dont need it as such.