This is an issue I've had for a while now. I thought I had it resolved, but if anything it is now worse. There are two parts to the issue that I think are related. 1: I've always had problems on a PC (running Windows XP Home, SP1) with the Scanner and Camera Wizard - namely that it never ran when I plugged in my Sony Digital Camera. I had to use Explorer to transfer files which worked but was a bit of a pain. The camera worked fine, and the wizard worked, on other PC's. I've also tried clicking on "Properties" for the camera (which appears as a Memory Stick device) and setting the "Autoplay" settings - but it keeps reverting back to a default and not working. 2: I've always had problems on the same PC with an external USB flash drive (PQI 256Mb drive). I've posted here and on other fora before and somebody suggested that I use the Autofix program available on the Microsoft website. I tried this and it seemed to work, though I've found that I've had to use it frequently when I use the flash drive as the drive seems to be recognised for a session and then stop driving. The USB drive works fine on other PC's. On the problem PC, it causes Explorer to freeze and I have to remove the USB Drive to unfreeze. Now I've noticed that both the camera and the USB Drive are giving the same problem. Both cause Explorer to freeze, and the only way to unfreeze is to unplug. This means that I can no longer access files on either the camera or the USB drive. At the moment when I plug in either device the "Autoplay" dialog box sometimes comes up - and either it defaults to the scanner/camera wizard (in which case it initially seems to work and you can see some of the pictures in the diaglog screen, but it then freezes and most of the pictures are represented by a red square with a large red X in it and the word "downloading") or it defaults to a different dialog box titled "Autoplay" with a moving flashlight icon. The only way to exit is to unplug the USB drive. Previously I have also uninstalled all my USB drivers and reinstalled them - no luck. I have also uninstalled each USB device (such as wireless keyboard, printer) and installed them one by one in case there was a power issue or some conflict - no luck. I am now at wit's end and my hair is non-existent. Can anybody help?

Is this onboard USB? Do you have USB 1.1 and USB 2.0 devices plugged into the same card/ mobo? I had a problem with USB 2.0 and USB 1.1 devices attached to my mobo (which supports USB 2.0). As soon as I went out and bought a 1.1 card and separated the 2, my problems went away. When all else fails beat the $%!* out of it!!!

It is onboard USB (2.0) with two front and two rear ports on the PC. The USB Flash Drive is a USB2 device, the camera I believe is a USB 1.1 device.

Try putting a USB 2.0 card in and you probably will fix it. There seems to be controversies when you use the 2 separate devices on the same card/ mobo. Don't get a 1.1 card (that's what I did and it still did not work). Get a 2.0 card if you're going to try that. When all else fails beat the $%!* out of it!!!

angrymen2001 Thanks for the suggestion. Will adding a new card help if I only am using one of the devices at the same time? I also have a USB wireless mouse/keyboard and a USB printer (HP officejet) connected - I'm not sure if these are USB 1 or 2 but they work fine. Previously I have unplugged all the USB devices and only had the flash drive plugged in - it still froze. I also uninstalled all USB drivers and allowed them to reinstall - again it didn't resolve the problem. I also don't have the problem on my other PC (which has on borad USB 2 ports) - both the flash drive and the camera work fine on that. So I'm not sure that adding a USB 2 card will resolve the situation (and would like to try something else before dashing out to buy another card and find space for it in my PC - I'm not sure I have any free slots left).

I don't think it would fix your problem either from what you just told me. Sorry I can't be of more help, I'm clueless at this point. Maybe keep trying combinations of them as one might be interfering with the other? When all else fails beat the $%!* out of it!!!