Tethered Trouble

[Bob B]

I've been shooting tethered for several years using Canon EOS Utility and Canon XSi with no problem. During the past year the program freezes the computer screen and I must turn the camera off in order to unfreeze it. I then have to select the EOS Utility icon and start over. Sometimes it does not freeze but the EOS Utility program just disappears from the monitor (sometimes it says 'lost the connection' prior to disappearing ) and I must turn the camera off and once again select the desktop icon and start over.
1- I deleted EOS Utility and reloaded the disk but the problem continues.
2- Updated it but the problem continues.
3- Used Live View untethered and it works fine.
4- Tethered to a laptop and it works fine.

Any useful suggestions would be appreciated

[Onslow]

If it all works fine hooked up to a laptop, then I would suggest you have some computer issues. These could be any number of things.

Disk failing, corrupted system files, viruses. The list is quite long. What version of the operating system are you running and is it compatible with the latest version of the EOS utility?

[Bob B]

Originally Posted by Onslow

If it all works fine hooked up to a laptop, then I would suggest you have some computer issues. These could be any number of things.

Disk failing, corrupted system files, viruses. The list is quite long. What version of the operating system are you running and is it compatible with the latest version of the EOS utility?

Thanks for responding
I'm using Vista on both the desktop and laptop. After deleting the EOS Utility from the desktop I installed the original from the disk that originally came with the camera. It still had the problem. I then updated it and the problem remains.
What is amazing is the variability of time it takes before it freezes up. Either 1 second after activating Live View or randomly up to 1 - 2 minutes. It seems to have its own built in timer

[Onslow]

Originally Posted by Bob B

Thanks for responding
I'm using Vista on both the desktop and laptop. After deleting the EOS Utility from the desktop I installed the original from the disk that originally came with the camera. It still had the problem. I then updated it and the problem remains.
What is amazing is the variability of time it takes before it freezes up. Either 1 second after activating Live View or randomly up to 1 - 2 minutes. It seems to have its own built in timer

Has Vista been updated with the latest patches? Have you done a disk scan to verify you have no file system errors? If yes, how and what program, what were the results.

[scatterbrained]

could it be a USB cable or port?

[Bob B]

Originally Posted by Onslow

Has Vista been updated with the latest patches? Have you done a disk scan to verify you have no file system errors? If yes, how and what program, what were the results.

I was about to pursue your helpful suggestions when I decided to experiment with the easier path first, as suggested by scatterbrained.

Originally Posted by scatterbrained

could it be a USB cable or port?

I tried a different usb port and the problem cleared up. Many thanks.

[Onslow]

Originally Posted by Bob B

I was about to pursue your helpful suggestions when I decided to experiment with the easier path first, as suggested by scatterbrained.

I tried a different usb port and the problem cleared up. Many thanks.

Glad it worked out. My mistake not suggesting the port.....

[Brooks]

It's almost always the usb port or cord. If not then it's probably an o-ring!

[Bob B]

Originally Posted by Onslow

Glad it worked out. My mistake not suggesting the port.....

No problem . I deliberately used the same usb cord on the laptop in order to rule it out as the troublemaker. I never thought about the port being faulty.

Originally Posted by Brooks

It's almost always the usb port or cord. If not then it's probably an o-ring!

I need to change the plugs more frequently

[JSheppard]

The JerkStopper from Tether Tools prevents any movement of the USB cable and a secure connections at the port. It may be a good and inexpensive place to start

JerkStopper Camera and Computer Cable Retetion Devices for Tethered Photography