Disappearing Drivers!

Hello. I'm unable to connect to my ST8300C. Windows says the drivers have been found and installed. But the SBIG USB controllers don't show in Control Panel, and the camera won't boot up (no red light on the powered-up camera)


This is a new installation on Windows 7. I have installed and run the SBIG Driver Checker, have downloaded and updated the most recent drivers, and have received a success message from the Driver Checker. I've tried installing the camera on three different USB ports on my machine, with the same result each time.


Any clues as to where those drivers are hiding, or what I may have missed? Thanks!

 

I recall reading that there are two sets of drivers for the ST series, Classic and Pro, and you have to install the drivers that match the camera model.

Have a read of the manual from page 7, might be a clue to whats wrong.

http://diffractionlimited.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/ST-8300-Manual_12.pdf

William.

 

Joseph,

Just had a look at the driver checker on my Win 7 64 bit test system, when you install the driver checker you no longer see a pop-up asking you what type of ST camera you have.
This is now slightly different to the ST instruction manual.

Instead...

Launch "As Administrator" the SBIG Driver Checker and hit the "Remove" button to uninstall the current drivers.
Next click on the button " Config Drv", in the Window that opens click on the button "Select ST Model" and choose whether your camera is the Classic or PRO ST series (with or without the RHG Remote Guide Head connector) and tick the box to "Remember my selection", OK out of the windows then hit the "Update button".
Once the drivers are loaded hit the "Update Me" link at the bottom of the info text pop-up page, wait for a while for the info "Preinstalling Drivers" to disappear from the Status Window and "Idle" to appear.
Power up the camera and then connect it to one of the USB sockets.

Does it work now?

 

Thanks, William and Colin: After a time, I re-checked Device Manager and found the drivers present. I can't think of what I did to fix it, so maybe things just needed more time.

The camera's red LED came on when I jiggled the camera, and it may have a cold circuit board solder joint.

CCDOps wouldn't load because of a missing .dll. I downloaded and installed that, CCDOps ran, and I was able to connect to the camera. So all seems well.

 

That could also be a symptom of an incorrect sized power plug, if the power adaptor is not original for instance.
Lost track of the number of "faulty" medical devices I've seen over the years where the users had replaced a mains power adapter for one with the wrong sized connector!

Or, as with most low voltage equipment used outdoors, possibly the power socket and plug / USB socket and plug have become tarnished or corroded, a quick wipe of the connectors with some electrical switch cleaner applied via a cotton bud usually works wonders, avoid squirting anything directly into the camera sockets though, they are not waterproof, squirt the cleaner onto a cotton bud or pipe-cleaner and clean the camera plugs sockets that way.

Glad you are up and running again.

William.

 

There may be something to your theory. I recently bought the camera used, and found the camera power receptacle center post was compressed, causing an intermittent connection. Before this final troubleshooting session I fixed that, and power is now steady. The power adapter is original, and the camera seems otherwise in good condition, no corrosion in the power socket.