Problem after installing Kodak EasyShare

I am running Vista Home Premium on a Dell XPS 410 with 2GB RAM.

Before installing Kodak EasyShare software for my camera and printer dock, to make sure there were no problems I went to msconfig, selected Services, checked "Hide all Microsoft Services" and then selected "Disable all." I went to Start Up and selected "Disable all" -- then restarted and proceeded to first install Quick Time Player (because the EasyShare software needs it) and then installed EasyShare and my computer did an auto restart.

I then went back to msconfig and selected "Normal Start" and restarted again to get my security programs and such back up and running and there were no problems with either of these restarts. Except that after that the Intel Viiv was included in the start up programs so I went back to msconfig/Start Up and unselected the Intel Viiv.

I downloaded the pictures from my camera into the EasyShare and then did some other work. I decided to restart to make sure I had that Intel Viiv still disabled and ended up with nothing but a black screen. I tried to restart 3 times and on the third try kept hitting the F8 key and finally got that options screen and selected Start Up Repair. After it ran I got a screen that said Windows couldn't repair, that if I had connected a camera or other device to my computer to disconnect it and try restarting again. I also read the report on the Start Up Repair and everything checked out fine until at the very end I think it said something about a device driver and an error code of 0x2.

I unplugged my Kodak camera and camera dock from the computer and restarted and it booted normally. But if it's the camera, why did it restart fine after the software was installed, and then again after I went into msconfig and selected Normal Start Up?

There's only one thing I thought strange. When the computer restarted automatically after the software install, I then plugged my camera/camera dock in and it downloaded a device driver, a little download box came up with the name of my camera and then it said everything was ready to use. After I went to the msconfig, selected Normal Start Up and restarted it did the same thing again -- said it was installing a device driver and that little download box came up and said the device was ready to use. I didn't think that should have happened again after it had already run through that process.

Can anyone tell me what might have happened here?

I have several clients with Kodak cameras and have had heaps of issues with the system slowing down or rebooting and even failing to boot...all due to the Easyshare software. My advice to them was to get rid of the software and go back to using either an External or an Internal card reader to transfer Pics. This solution has worked every time to date. It appears that the Kodak software may have some issues with a lot of common software out there..but nothing specific,hence the advice I gave.Hope this helps.

I'm sure you are right. I had this on my XP system, but after I bought a new computer with Vista I uninstalled EasyShare because I was having trouble getting a complete install on it. But I decided to try again and this time the install went without a hitch. Thing is, I also have the Kodak Printer Dock Plus. So in order to use that to print photos I might have to have this EasyShare software.

On the other hand, as far as just transferring pictures to my computer, some time ago I was able to transfer pictures from this Kodak camera and printer dock to my Windows Photo Gallery but I don't recall how.

Could I bother you for a little more advice since I am totally in the dark about your solution? I don't even know what a card reader is, but I think I would probably want an external one. Do you have to have a specific one for your brand of camera? Could you recommend a decent one for my camera?

External card readers plug into a USB port and can usually read most types of Flash cards. To transfer pics from your camera ,you remove the card from the camera..on Kodak this is under a flap in the side of the camera case...then plug the card into the appropriate slot of the card reader and once your PC recognises the card and installs a driver (all automatic),you can transfer your pics ,format the card etc. Card readers are available from almost any computer store,they also are part of most later model MFC. A simple Google search will give you all the info you want on this. One other thing worth noting, most popular digital cameras are recognised by Vista and usually (though not always) do not require software installation,as Vista contains the drivers,and pick them up natively.

I plugged my printer dock back into the computer, opened Windows Photo Gallery and all the pics on my camera immediately transferred to it.

I guess what I will do is leave the EasyShare installed in case I want to print pics with the dock as it really does print beautiful pictures. I will plug in the printer dock when I want to transfer pics and unplug it before I shut down. Hopefully that will work. If it doesn't then I will have no alternative but to uninstall the EasyShare and go with one of these card readers.

I want to thank you for your excellent help and advice.

My pleasure!!

Just to weigh in here about transferring pictures from the camera, I have two older Kodak's here (CX4230and DX6340) and haven't used EasyShare for years. In the case of both cameras it is just a matter of plugging them in with the USB cable and Windows detects and installs its own driver for them, and using Windows transfer wizard. Been the case across XP, Vista and Windows 7 (in both 32 and 64 bit flavors for all of them).

Unless there is a specific feature from EasyShare that you need for the camera, you can do without it. No idea about the printer dock, but does Vista detect and install a driver for it?

Stormy - Thanks also for your input! It would appear that this EasyShare is still going to cause me some problems. I'm pretty dumb about this stuff and I'm sure that's apparent. After reading your reply I dug out the original box my camera came in and sure enough there was a cable in there to connect my camera to the computer. I'm going to uninstall the EasyShare and just use this cable to transfer pictures.

Altho my printer dock does a fantastic job on pictures, in the past I have also printed pictures right off my computer that were extremely nice so guess this expensive printer dock will be used for recharging purposes only.

Thanks again to both of you for all the help!