You must not use Vista, as it does get degrade and get slower with time. With regard to Canon's firmware, I *suspect* you're correct--either it works or it doesn't.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Noel_Carboni
Either it works or it doesn't, and it occurs to me you might mess up your chances of getting a good (possibly warranty) fix out of Canon if you upgrade the firmware yourself.
Re warranty: You got to be kidding Noel. How does warranty factor into doing a firmware update? That is completely nuts. Canon even *encourages* you to update your firmware. And that's why they provide instructions.
Have you registered your camera with Canon so that you get Canon's notices about updated firmware? Have you ever updated your own firmware Noel?
Do you know of a situation where Canon denied servicing a Camera or charged extra because a customer updated his firmware while using Canon's updated firmware and following the proper instructions?
Basically, I'm now thinking that if the problem is not the compact flash, or the user looking for focus immediately and terminating the preview, then there just might be a hardware fault on the camera.
If the easy fixes don't help, I'd put it in for repair.
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There's not enough info here to come up with a definitive diagnosis, but if the firmware is up to date and the problem occurs consistently with a variety of memory cards, it might be time to have the camera checked at a Canon Factory Service Center. Since Kevin Carter is based in the USA, it might also be a good idea to contact Canon USA's Call Center toll-free at 1-800-828-4040 as a first step.
I have Vista x64, running the very same installation I put in a year ago. I had an initial few bad weeks with it which I finally traced to a faulty nVidia display card. After that: Pure bliss. I use this computer 16+ hours a day, doing many, many things with it. It is my primary graphics and software development and testing and customer support workstation. It does not degrade, it does not get slower, and it runs for months with the only reboots being those initiated after a Windows update. This is primarily because I don't download and install every app or applet or toolbar that web pages want me to (intentionally or otherwise). In short, I know how to keep a Windows computer tuned and running well. If your Windows system is slowing down or becoming unstable it's no one's fault but your own.
I have upgraded my Canon camera firmware, successfully, on one occasion. I did so for a very specific reason (though I'll be damned if I can remember what it was; it was years ago). I follow an "if it works don't fix it" philosophy with my cameras, and amazingly enough they just work and work and work. I'll tell you this: If you brick a camera (i.e., make it unresponsive) by trying a firmware upgrade when there are obvious hardware problems it's going to cost more to get it fixed.
The short answer is this: Don't try upgrading the firmware to fix an obvious hardware problem, it's as simple as that.
If your Windows system is slowing down or becoming unstable it's no one's fault but your own.
This is getting off topic.
My Vista runs fine as far as Vista goes. But you need only do a brief search and you'll find several well respected experts who claim that Vista does slow after usage.
Iolo also says its tests indicated that Windows 7's startup times, like Vista's, degrade over time. After several "commonly-used" applications have been installed on a new Windows 7 box, for instance, its boot time — again, as measured by the company — slows to two minutes, 34 seconds, an increase of 64%.
Perhaps you want to give them a lecture or challenge them to a camera duel too?
Quote:
Originally Posted by Noel_Carboni
The short answer is this: Don't try upgrading the firmware to fix an obvious hardware problem, it's as simple as that.
Going to your original statement, the one I found objectionable:
Quote:
Either it works or it doesn't, and it occurs to me you might mess up your chances of getting a good (possibly warranty) fix out of Canon if you upgrade the firmware yourself.
Allow me to refocus the discussion: Do you know of a single instance where Canon either refused to service or charged extra because a user had upgraded his firmware? A simple "Yes" or "No" will suffice.
You left a response that *might* give others pause in doing a firmware upgrade because it might affect their warranty. I believe that NOT to be the case.
As Chuck mentioned in his response, as long as the firmware is up to date, then the camera should be sent in. Let's leave it at that.
The short answer is yes, I have read testimonials by people - just a few admittedly - who "bricked" their cameras and ended up going through a far more involved and costly repair process. I can't find any of the original information, but the long and short of it was that if the camera had been running the repair people stated the fixes could be done more easily or more quickly, but with the camera "DOA" (i.e., the software not running because hardware faults resulted in a partially failed update) it ended up taking much longer to get it back.
Does this experience apply right now? I don't know. Canon's service centers may all be equipped to inject code into a dead camera. Maybe the cameras themselves are more resistant to "bricking"; technology certainly marches on.
I am an engineer. I can assure you it takes a lot of discipline to keep one's head straight when dealing with a problem, and not just try stuff that's not likely to work. I've followed FAR too many people down that path, cleaning up messes.
Camera firmware doesn't go wonky all by itself. It's not like Windows; you aren't regularly installing gadgets and toolbars and whatnot in the camera. If something stops working that was working, it's a good bet it's a hardware failure, and a firmware upgrade isn't going to fix it!
And yes, I'll put my skills with Windows up against any expert out there. I've been doing computer and software engineering since 1976, using virtually every operating system there is at one time or another (and even written a few), so I might have a little more experience than many online "experts". Bottom line is I have a stable system that doesn't degrade over time, so I can say with confidence that I know how to do that! I'm not saying the general public's Vista systems aren't degrading, but if they are it is because of actions they are taking. I can't count the times I've cleaned toolbars and other useless junk off people's computers.
How many Add-Ons are you running in Internet Explorer?
Hey, I'm just tossing out my own experience and expertise here, such as it is. You are quite free to ignore my advice; there's a decent chance I'm wrong as I couldn't possibly tell you what's wrong with your camera with any certainty from here.
Unless they have a specific problem that is directly addressed by a Canon firmware update, the vast majority of people have no business upgrading their camera firmware. Canon, as a rule, don't appear to fix things that aren't documented in the release notes. It makes sense, really, as I'm sure the cameras go through huge testing cycles before mass production release.
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