I'm interested in solving this for experimentation/learning only. I obtained one of these junkers:

http://www.amazon.com/Argus-DC1512-...

I have no cable, and the camera uses the same USB connector as the computer does, in other words, "type A" at both ends. I don't know if the cable is hard wired, has some sort of data/level converter circuit, or what. How do you "reverse engineer" these?

I've done some playing--two way radio programming, fer instance, with RS232/serial/parallel/etc, but USB is a black art to me.

One added twist, is since I know not what kind of power actually goes to the camera from USB, and the camera IS POWERED from USB during data transfer, it makes probing the thing difficult.

Not excactly rocket science. Put a good set of batteries in the camera, plug a USB cable into the camera and the other end into the PC. XP will bring it up as a disk drive, job done. If you have Windows 9X you need a driver, yertis:http://www.camera-drivers.com/drivers/213/213850.htm

That is the biggest fool thing we have ever done. The Atomic bomb will never go off, and I speak as an expert in explosives.
- Admiral William Leahy

It appears the camera requires drivers and are available for download. Get an A to A cable or if you have an excess of regular USB cables do a cut and splice.

This link might help:

http://pinouts.ru/Slots/USB_pinout....

Keep the old stuff running

thanks LinuxOS2. At least you must have read my post. I have found some other sites listing the USB pinouts, but the problem I have is "what is at the camera?"

I really can't figure out how to do so, and can't read any voltages with the camera on batteries. I MAY just "sacrifice" the camera and make an educated guess with a resistive limited bench supply, and power hte USB camera port up for experiment. I don't have much money in the camera, but I'd hate to "blow up" one of the computer ports.

Incidently, I did find some interesting sites re: Hacking these disposable/ one time digital cameras / camcorders.

Start with the pinouts like this:
#1 +5v
#2 -Data
#3 +Data
#4 -Ground

so if what you are trying to do is power the camera you would only use #1 5v +
and #4 Gnd -

Keep the old stuff running

The intent of USB is the power comes from the computer so the camera does not send power out. Think of the confusion if each device send power back to a hub.

The long sad and short of it

Well, I did get this POC to work.

Turns out the cable uses an "A" connector (like goes to the computer end) on both ends, and is simply wired straight through. I MADE A CABLE out of two junkers

I found some software download that works. The whole object was to try and learn a little about how USB works. Well, I learned little.

And there is more that lie's ahead....Enjoy

Keep the old stuff running

all USB cables are the exact same in every way aside from looks and size for example mini usb is the same voltage and pinout but its smaller for smaller devices (like most cell phones)
so its all very simple and basic 4 pin, 2 data and 2 power