Importing digital photos onto computer

[shivvy]

I have got a new laptop recently and am finding importing photos a bit of a chore.
Is there a free to download programme that makes this easier that anyone could recommend?

Thanks.

[gen2]

I prefer to use a card reader (very cheap if your laptop doesn't already have one built in). The memory card then shos up as another disc drive and you can then simply drag across the ones you want to your chosen destination folder on your hard drive.

[shivvy]

Thanks gen2. How would I know if my laptop had a card reader?

[gen2]

Mine has a slot in the side next to the USB and ethernet sockets. It has the logos of some of the card types above it (eg SD, XD)

[Buenchico]

(2-part post)

You've not actually stated where you're seeking to import photos from. Gen2 has assumed (as I would) that you're referring to images which are stored on a media card from a camera or mobile phone. If so, you simply need to look for a slot which that card will plug into.

If your laptop hasn't got a slot for your media card you can buy a USB card reader quite cheaply. Some 'pound shops' or 'discount stores' might have them. Otherwise try Asda or Tesco Extra (or buy online - see below). Some USB card readers only accept one particular type of card. Others have several slots for a wider variety of cards. This one will accept the SD cards which many cameras use:
http://www.ebuyer.com/product/180306
but this is more versatile:
http://www.ebuyer.com/product/179888

[Buenchico]

If you're not completely conversant with the way to move files within Windows, this brief tutorial might help:
Plug your card into the reader slot. Double-click on the new drive icon to show its contents. (You'll probably only see a folder at first. Just keep double-clicking until you reach the image files). Resize the window (if necessary) so that it only takes up part of your screen.

Now go to 'My Pictures' (or whatever other folder you want to put the pictures in) and resize that window (if required) so that the two windows are side by side.

To transfer all pictures across, go the window displaying the image files and click Edit>Select All. Click on any file and (while keeping the mouse button held down) drag the files into the other window. Job done.

If you want to select a block of files (rather than all of them) click on the first file and then hold the Shift key down while clicking on the last.

If you want to select a collection of individual files, hold the Ctrl key down while clicking on them individually. (When you've completed your selection, drag them across to the other window, as above).

Chris

[shivvy]

Oh goodness - a lot to read/consider!

I take the card out of my camera and put it into the side of my lap top. A small box then pops up and asks where I want to save them and what I want to call them. However I could have a number of different sets of photos that I want to save to different files eg there could be a total of 50 photos to save but 10 of them could be from a party, 25 from holidays, etc. However I seem to have to save them all to a temporary file under the same name, and then move them into the different files that I want and then rename them.
Also, before I save the photos I like to rotate the ones which need rotating and then delete the ones that I don't want, but the rotating seems to take forever to save.

My last computer seemed to have a programme that made this all a lot easier.

I hope this make sense?!!

[Buenchico]

Your laptop seems to be running a default program which you don't need anyway.

Close the pop-up box. Go to 'My Computer' and double-click on the icon for the card.

Then follow my instructions from above. The only exception is that you might want to create some new folders within 'My Pictures' (or wherever else you store your images). If so, when you've got the 'My Pictures' (or whatever) window open, go to File>New>Folder. Type the name of your new folder (e.g. 'Party') and hit 'Enter' twice. Then you can select your photos from the card window (as above) and drag them across to the new folder.

Doing things that way will be incredibly quick but it won't rotate, rename or crop your photos. However you can do that afterwards, either by using the Windows Picture Viewer (cr@p!) or with a decent image viewing program, such as Irfanview:
http://www.irfanview.com/

Chris

[shivvy]

Thanks for this Chris - you are always so helpful :0)

I will have a look at Irfanview tomorrow.