Originally Posted by
cambrensis
Several questions:
1) Did your camera ever accept a memory card? I have the impression that it did, but that its card reader (the part you put the card into) has failed.
2) When the camera was new, did it come with a usb cable for transfer? If you have lost the "destructions" do an online search. (If you let me know make and model I'll see what I can find out)
At the moment re (1) - my guess is that it used to work with a card but that the camera's card reader has failed. This may be hardware or firmware (both internal to the camera) in which case there is little that can be done without changing the camera. It is rarely economic sense to repair I am afraid.. That same firmware would be usng the USB port as well, so ths is the cause of the problem.
USB normally has 4 connections: 2 x earth, 1 x data and 1 x positive line (5 volts). As you have never connected your camera via usb before, it is possible that it must have NO internal batteries when using usb. Bear this n mind as we try to find out exactly what camera this is.
Let me know either here or via PM and I'll try to help further.