You don't really need additional software to accomplish this. You should be able to use Windows copy and paste, or the Mac equivalent, to get the images from the card to the hard drive. This is assuming you don't plan to do any image editing on the way.

What you do need is a good card reader, either USB plug-in or built in to the computer itself. It's much faster and more reliable than trying to upload from the camera itself.

Exactly what problem are you having with the upload?
Are you getting an error message, or a blank stare from the monitor, or ?

I agree with the request for further information to help fix the problem. As an aside, if you are looking for simple and cheap, I have not had a problem downloading right from the camera. So, what you are requesting should be pretty simple. My first question(s) would be what type of OS are you using, camera and photo format?

One of my rules is to never connect the camera to the computer. Like Bill suggested, just put the memory card into a USB card reader and connect it to the computer, which will treat it like another hard drive. Then use the operating system to drag the images from the card reader to a folder you've created to manage the images in. If you don't create separate folders, all your images will be thrown together and require more work to find anything.

Quote:
Could someone please steer me towards a software program to download pics from a storage card. All I really want is something to get the pics from the card and send them to a hard drive. I do not need to give them stars etc. I have tried elements 6, photo explosion, the software from the cameras, the list goes on and on. Just a simple transfer utility to send them to a dedicated hard drive for pics.

Thanks for your help

I don't really have a problem. I just do not want to go through all the hoops with the software. I have Elements 7 as my last purchase ( to many previous ones to list ). About 75% of the time it could not find the card reader, or would x-fer 15-20 pics then shut down. I don't need to give stars, make alblums etc. My preferred method is to just dump all the pics to a hard drive ( I have one dedicated to pics only ) and as time permits pull up the ones I want to save, maybe touch them up a bit and burn them to a disc. Then erase the non keepers and start over again. I am using an HP desk top with windows xp, and an HP laptop running windows vista. Both are dual core machines with a ton of memory, good video cards etc. I went out and bought a new card reader today. I have a Digital Concepts, and a Belkin card reader. I got a JOBO one today, it looks like a better one. Will try it after I post this.

Thanks for your help any any suggestions. I really appreciate this!

The Pooh

I think many apparently do not realize that a digital camera flash memory card is to a computer just another kind of drive. No software should be required to use a card reader, and then open the memory card from a computer and transfer the files stored on it to a folder, new or already made for storing photo image files whether JPEG or Raw. With Raw however you must use an application that has the conversion code for your camera, like a current version of Adobe Camera Raw, to convert and open the Raw file. Using a photo editing application usually adds complexities to what should be a simple data management task.

Think we have solved the problem. To start with, I think both of my readers were bad. Had my doubts with one of them, so got another. Not much better. So this time I got the best one they had. Problem solved. You do get what you pay for. Also I was inserting the usb before I put the card in the reader. When I put the card in the reader and then plugged it in all was fine. Pulled 217 pics from one card and 87 from another, worked great! This is just what I needed. Might even load Elements again and give it a second chance.

Thank you for all of your help and suggestions.

The Pooh