Reader Question: MS Scanner Camera Wizard - Lacking In Vista
Question:
 Is there a way I can get the MS Scanner and Camera Wizard on my laptop that has Vista? I really do NOT like the way the pictures download with Vista (no preview available to see the pictures I want to download before the download starts and save, is my biggest peeve). Plus I must immediately name the group and it’s too quick to ask me if I want to delete them.
I don’t usually delete photos from my camera/card until I have downloaded and burned them to a disk. So if I take more pictures, when I go to do the download, it gathers ALL the pictures I’ve taken and groups them. Grrrrrrrrr
Maybe I’m being stubborn to change, but I tried playing around with the Vista download from my camera for over 2 hours (trying different things) and I still wasn’t happy and went back and downloaded the pictures on my PC with Windows XP.
Is there a way to change settings for the picture download in Vista (I can’t seem to find them) or is it possible to get the MSSCW on my laptop.
Thanks a bunch!
Answer:
Hi, Holly. I get a lot of questions like this, because many “little” things changed in Vista, and since you’re already used to XP, it’s very disorienting.
First, I don’t know any way to get the Microsoft Scanner And Camera Wizard onto Vista. Instead, my advice is to check out third-party products that might better meet your needs. Your camera almost certainly came with software to download pictures (check your camera vendor’s website for a download). Adobe Photoshop Album and Google Picasa are free and might fit your workflow better.
Or, just change your workflow to fit what Vista can do. I just download everything to my computer at once, reformat my memory card to leave room for new pictures, and then selectively delete the bad pictures from the computer. I set Vista up to automatically backup my pictures to an external hard disk, so I’m not worried about losing them. If something does happen to my hard disk before the backup runs, I can recover pictures from the memory card after formatting it–so that backup still exists.
Hope that helps. Check out my pictures, if you’re bored.
For more information, read the Windows Vista Resource Kit (co-authored by your very own Tony Northrup). Got a question for Tony? Send an e-mail to qa@vistaclues.com.
Posted: July 28th, 2007 under Pictures, Reader Questions.
Comments: 10
Comments
Comment from Ron
Time: August 25, 2007, 4:15 am
Regarding: Scanner Camera Wizard
Why would Microsoft get rid of something that works so well? I tried the option on my new laptop with Vista. I did NOT like it. I do NOT like the fact that it downloads all of my pictures at once. I LOVED the scanner camera wizard because I could choose which pictures I wanted to download, create a title for that group (date and simple info), and download those particular pictures to a certain folder. For example, I break my pictures down to File folders by year, month and subject. If I took a bunch of pictures of a basketball game today. The file name will be 07-08-25 Basketball. It will go in folder 2007, subfolder, August, subfolder Basketball Games. All of the other non-basketball game pictures will be left on the SD card for future downloading to other areas/folders. If I let Vista’s new program do it then ALL of the pictures on my 2 Gig SD card will be downloaded at once and I will have to go in and manually change each one of them. What a pain! I thought Vista was supposed to be helpful not more painful and time consuming. I’m considering returning my computer and getting an older model with XP.
Comment from Kevin
Time: November 14, 2007, 3:14 pm
I have windows XP SP2 and the Scanner and Camera Wizard seems to have dissappeared from my computer. I used to get a window with several options when I popped my SD card into my laptop’s drive, one of which being the scanner and camera wizard. I have searched all files and folders including hidden, I have explored, checked the device manager and I cannot find this program. Where did it go and how do I get it back?
Comment from Troy Gruchalski
Time: November 28, 2007, 4:39 am
I don’t understand why microsoft would take away the “Scanner & Camera Wizard”???
It worked great & worked with almost any type of camera….I’m very disspointed that windows vista does not have this program. It’s like they took 2 steps back (The Apple comercial is starting to make more sense)
Upset customer
Troy Gruchalski
Comment from LJ
Time: December 6, 2007, 10:46 pm
I download pictures by just clicking on the SD card from the My Computer option and then cut and copy the pictures I want. Now with Vista, it seems like I can’t cut and copy my pictures, and worse… I can’t delete them!!
They have an option which says, Open as Portable device… that allows you to cut and copy pictures as well as delete them, BUT when you put the SD card back in the camera, all the deleted pictures are still there!!
How do I delete pictures on my SD card on Vista???
Please help!!
Comment from Patrick
Time: February 8, 2008, 10:38 pm
The Vista Options for this just SUCK!!! I hate Vista and want to get a new PC with XP on it now, how messed up is that? Bring back the old wizard!!!
Comment from Andrew
Time: February 26, 2008, 2:42 am
I just want to cast my vote as well: this was a phenomenal mistake on the part of Windows! Pulling the Scanner and Camera Wizard in from XP and trying to run it doesn’t work even if printers are attached, installed, and the wiaacmgr application is set to XP compatability mode. Microsoft programs not being compatible in Microsoft operating systems: Brilliant! With fumbles like this, Macintosh doesn’t even need to advertise (and I don’t like Macs, mind you).
Comment from oscarfndo
Time: March 16, 2008, 2:47 pm
I am very dissapoint whith vista…///// .please bring back …
SCANNER AND CAMERA WIZAR………..SUPPOS TO BE BETER
WHEN YOU MOVE FOWAR………
Comment from James
Time: April 8, 2008, 3:27 am
So…are they going to do anything about it?? has anyone figured out a useful thing to do?
Comment from Mike
Time: April 14, 2008, 7:17 pm
I can not believe that I am having this much problem with not able to gete my camera to work with my Vista program.
I have a fujifilm finepix A330 camera and HP Vista laptop.
Comment from Dan
Time: April 30, 2008, 11:00 pm
I have spent sp much time trying to get Vista to run as well as my XP. I think the scanner and camera wizard is the straw that broke vista’s back. I am going to take the time to “upgrade” back to XP.
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