Solved: D810 Tethered Shooting and Dell PC problem

[Silversnapper]

I have been happily shooting my D810 tethered to my laptop until today when I decided to use my Dell computer instead - and how quickly things can go awry.

When I plug the 810 into my desktop computer, it 'dings' to acknowledge connection however, the camera is not visible in File Explorer and neither does NX Tether or Capture One 'see' it and therefore cannot connect. I have set up all the protocols as per my laptop but all to no avail, so off to Dell for assistance.

I have just spent the best part of 5 hours online with Dell computers to try and resolve why File Explorer, Capture One and Nikon Tether on my Dell PC cannot 'see' my camera when all work perfectly well with my laptop computer. The issue has not been resolved and the support guy has had to refer the issue to 'the team' in the hope of finding a solution. I have switched cables and USB ports so often I could do it in my sleep and I am tearing my hair out in frustration.

I am posting this in the hope that someone out there may have that little nugget of wisdom that will guide me to a resolution of the problem - and allow my barber to still make a small profit out of my infrequent visits.

 

[Needa]

Any progress?

 

[Silversnapper]

Any progress?

Not a peep out of Dell! When I'm feeling a bit masochistic, I go through all the advice I have read and received but still the problem persists. I've reloaded more drivers than you can shake a stick at, but now I think it's time to accept that it is just one of (computer) life's little mysteries and it's time to let it go. It's not a game-changer, more like one of those itches you just can't get at to scratch.

Thanks for asking and if the situation changes I will surely report back.

 

[BF Hammer]

My PC a year or more ago stopped finding my SD card readers. I have 3 different readers and they stopped working 1 at a time over a few weeks. I wish I wrote down what I did to fix, but it was in the Windows 11 settings somewhere. Has not been a thing since. It took me several days to find the solution.

 

[Silversnapper]

The last remaining solution I can think of is to do what used to be called a "Repair Install" This copies all the latest Windows files over the top of the existing files - in essence replacing them - without touching any of your programs or data. However, I've still got a few months of my Dell Support left so I am reluctant to do it myself in case it violates the support agreement - but there's nothing to stop me suggesting to Dell that they try it. - always assuming they stop ignoring me.

 

[Needa]

assuming they stop ignoring me

They only need to wait a few months.

Sorry you haven't been able to resolve it. I haven't used windows in years, hate when my wife asks for help. My first thought here was a driver problem but sound like that has been thoroughly explored. The next thing was a program or App is accessing the card like virus software or some photo program. Maybe check the start up file? Can you access the card with a card reader?
In my search on line there were two interesting things enabling camera access and turning off USB power saver. May be worth having a look maybe not. Anyway good luck!

 

[Silversnapper]

Thanks Needa. apart from two other Windows machines having no problem with the camera, the most frustrating aspect of this is that this PC in question acknowledges the camera with a 'ding' when it's switched on- as the Dell tech confirmed - but then just ignores it! <grrrr>.

 

[Silversnapper]

After thirteen days I am still no nearer having a solution to this issue, but I have found a temporary solution - let me explain:
I do a lot of close-up and focus-stacking macro work but even after having had bi-lateral cataract surgery in the last twenty years my eyesight (and shaky hands) are just not good enough for manual focussing at such short distances - even using the camera live view with it's larger screen.

To get round this, I have been tethering my camera to a PC or laptop using software to operate the camera and using live view on the bigger screens for focussing. I have been doing this since 2007 using <ahem> a different brand of camera. Since I have acquired Nikon kit I obviously wanted to carry on using this methodology. As noted at the outset of this post, I have been using the D810 tethered to my Windows 11 laptop with no problems, it was only when I decided to use my Dell Windows 11 desktop PC that this issue arose.

Now, to the workaround: I tether the camera to the laptop and then use a Remote Desktop connection from my desktop PC to the laptop and eureka! I get to operate the camera from my desktop and view the results on my lovely big 27in PC screen. a bit of a PITB but at least it gets me working.

I will allow some more time for Dell/Microsoft to get this problem resolved then, if it isn't fixed, I will pass this computer on to a family member and invest in a new one.

 

[Clovishound]

I know it would be a serious investment, but one of the newer cameras that has focus peaking might be a simpler solution. I frequently use that on my Z cameras for manual focusing taking macro shots.

 

[Silversnapper]

I know it would be a serious investment, but one of the newer cameras that has focus peaking might be a simpler solution. I frequently use that on my Z cameras for manual focusing taking macro shots.

Thanks for your comment @Clovishound. Twenty years ago I wouldn't have hesitated, but sadly, age, mobility issues, pension and our present Government's fiscal policies rule that out of the question.

Since I made the #8 post I have discovered that my older 'retired' laptop will happily connect to the camera and run the software I use, so methinks I will sit it quietly in a corner and just use it as an 'intermediate server' for this very purpose. 'Long live adaptation'.

I will update forum if and when there is any further news.

 

[Needa]

Couldn't have just plugged the monitor into the laptop?

 

[Silversnapper]

Couldn't have just plugged the monitor into the laptop?

My Dell PC is an all-in-one model @Needa so no separate monitor, the old laptop is tucked away in the corner out of the way and I can use my PC normally.

 

[BF Hammer]

Depending on how large of a TV you might have available, you can use the HDMI connector of the D810 for LiveView.

Copied from the manual:
HDMI and Live View
When the camera is connected via an HDMI cable, HDMI displays can
be used for live view photography and movie live view (0 48, 59).
Note that if 1920 × 1080; 60p is selected for the Movie settings >
Frame size/frame rate option in the shooting menu (0 62), the
selected setting will only be reflected in the HDMI output during
movie recording if all the following conditions are met: Auto or 1080p
(progressive) is selected for HDMI > Output resolution, 100% is
selected for HDMI > Advanced > Output display size, and Off is
selected for HDMI > Advanced > Live view on-screen display
(0 270). At other settings, the output resolution, display size, or frame
rate may differ from that selected in the camera menus.

 

[Silversnapper]

Thanks for your input @BF Hammer. I didn't make it clear enough earlier that the reason I tether the camera is not only for the live view on a big screen for focussing, but I use Helicon Remote software to actually control the camera from the PC and the most important aspect is that when focus stacking, the software, given the start and end point of the stack, will calculate the number of shots required for the stack and then shoot them automatically - same as some of the Z cameras mentioned earlier.

This has been a really useful discussion so thanks again everyone.

 

[Silversnapper]

UPDATE

The problem has been resolved after a tip from Russ Beuker of ControlMyNikon.com, a company that offers camera automation tool software and for whom I had done some beta test reports. When hearing of my problem, he mentioned an issue with a USB driver installed by another camera automation tool supplier - qDslrdashboard, that uses a USB driver installation tool - zadig winusb, to install a new USB driver as part of their installation.

Now I had tried this software and found it didn't meet my requirements, so I uninstalled it as per their instructions. I also uninstalled the winusb driver as per their instructions - or had I? Perhaps I had been distracted and didn't actually do it, or I did and it didn't work - I'm not sure.

Anyway, I decided to uninstall it again, except that I found that I couldn't use the qDslrdashboard driver removal method because it needed the camera connected - which the current problem meant I couldn't do - a classic 'Catch 22' situation, so I set to and, more by luck than judgement I think, I managed to remove it manually and after several attempts and restarts, I can now access the camera again via my camera control software.

I don't think I have damaged anything else by doing this, however, File Explorer still doesn't 'see' the camera in the Devices & Drives section as it does on my laptop. I can't see this being an issue, just an irritant at the moment.

 

[Silversnapper]

UPDATE #2

I have just restarted my PC again after finishing tidying up my PC after all the preceding carry-on, deleting unwanted screen images etc and emptying the trash can and blow me down, contrary to the final sentence in my previous post #15, the camera is now visible in File Manager.

There are dark forces at work here I'm sure but I'll take it. Hopefully this saga is now over.

 

[BF Hammer]

Isn't it a great feeling inside to finally conquer that evil box of magic?