EOS Rebel T3i Error Message "The device has either stopped responding or has been disconnected"

[JJasd]

This error message (shown in the screenshot below) shows and pops up on my PC at random intervals, even when my camera is not plugged in. Whenever it pops up, 4 of the same windows pop up at a time, even days after I last had my camera connected to my PC (it actually just popped up 4 more windows while I was typing that sentence). 

Has anyone had this issue before? How do I fix it please?? 😭 It gets extremely extremely annoying, like yes, I disconnected the camera I am aware, it's telling me that I disconnected my camera 3 days ago about 40 times per day, literally counted that. 

Any help I would really appreciate, thanks. 

[shadowsports]

Greetings,

Since this issue occurs randomly without the camera being connected to your computer, it doesn't sound like its an issue with the camera or its software.  Instead, something with the operating system.

I can tell by the image that you are running a version of windows.  What software do you have installed for your device?  EOS Utility, DPP, etc?  What version(s) are installed?

Have you tried uninstalling them, restarting and installing the latest versions available?

Canon Support for EOS Rebel T3i | Canon U.S.A., Inc.

[JJasd]

Hi Rick, 

Thanks for your response! I never downloaded any EOS Utility or camera software or things like that, I only ever connected the camera to just transfer the photos that I took onto my PC, and that was that. 

As for the Windows version, I'm currently using Windows 10 21H2. 

Please do let me know if there is any other information I should provide. Thanks!

[Tronhard]

My first response is that to eliminate the potential of a now dead bug, you need to do the update to the current version of Windows 10, which is 22H2.  I would recommend going to Windows settings and run the update app.

[shadowsports]

Greetings

Are you 'safely" removing or ejecting the camera before powering off or disconnecting from the system?

See this for reference:

Safely remove hardware in Windows - Microsoft Support 

[RebelDog]

I have the same problem and I'm an MSCE so I can tell you this is Windoze being a pain in the arse.  So, you're right, it's nothing to do with the Canon Software, it's Windoze.  Doesn't happen under Linux.  I havent' checked Win11 yet.  In answer to your last question, there is no way to do that.  The device shows up just fine on the "This PC" listing, but a context menu click (right-button click) does not give the usual "eject" option.  I have all the most current drivers, which is becoming a moot point since Microshaft refuses to support Win10 any longer.  That's where I'm seeing the problem, so I assume the original poster is using version 10 as well.  I have tried powering the camera down, leaving it plugged in, and that looks like it works, because it disappears from "This PC".  So, it's safe to unplug it?  Seems to be, and no alert comes when you do it.  But wait an hour or so, "Oh, the device is unplugged or stopped responding!!!".  Yeah.  Both.  Could you provide an action to take, so that you stifle, MS?  No.  And 40 times a day is no exaggeration.  I went away for 2 1/2 days last week taking astrophotos with my T3i and there were over 100 message windows open on the PC, all with the same useless, pointless message.  I'm ranking it right up there with the "you can't rename a file without it complaining" nuisance.  (Yeah, I've tried all the registry manipulatoins, updated and restarted and it still complains about changing a file extension).  Someone reading this formum that has serendipitously found an answer is our only hope, I fear.  MS won't help.  I have pretty good connections (wrote Calculator, Notepad and Paint 1.0 after all) and you know what their best answer for the file extension nag was?  "You can hide your file extensions from the listing".  Yeah, that's the level we're dealing with here.

[RebelDog]

lol MCSE.  This bug gets me so I can't see straight  🙂

[RebelDog]

Windows 10 update KB5040427 released in July, 2024, seems to fix the problem.  You now get the error once.  After initially installing the patch there can be a problem with the device connected/disconnected tone plays randomly.  Fine tuning in settings is needed to get it all to behave properly, but that is something most applying the patch will have to deal with and is not particular to this problem.  But after going through all that classic-form Microshafting, everything has been working fine for the last two weeks connecting and disconnecting the Rebel without the constant nuisance messages. 

This Windows update appears to have a lot of "will get around to that some day" bug fixes, as Microshaft seems to be regarding this release as something they ended up having to do though they'd rather dump support for anyone that won't migrate to Win11...and right now.  If you intend to run Win10 for longer than just the next few months before upgrading, you really need to get this release.  You may well be living with it for the duration of your Win10 setup.

[Tronhard]

If your issue is now corrected, please mark this thread as resolved.

Firmware updates contain important fixes and security updates as well as new features. There are changes to 3rd party applications as well as the MS suite, so it is to your advantage to stay current.  I understand you are not keen to go to Windows 11, and that is fine as Win 10 is still fully supported until later next year.  In the meantime, I recommend always keeping your operating system and apps up to date with the current software patches.
I still have three computers running Windows 10 and have no issues as long as the updates are current.