Rebel XTi no longer connects to PC as a drive

[spokanekevin]

My Canon digital Rebel XTi will no longer connect to my laptop as a drive. It used to show up as a drive named. If I remove the memory card and attach it to a card reader everything works fine. I would prefer to not have to use a card reader if the camera can connect directly as it has done for years. 

[spokanekevin]

I meant that it used to connect and show up just like any USB flash drive or card reader would as another drive in This PC (Windows Explorer). Now it doesn't. Several other answers offer up a PTP communication method in the second tools menu but mine apparently doesn't have that. My second tools menu has only language, video system, and sensor cleaning. 

[spokanekevin]

It does not have that in the second tools menu where other users have found it.

[kvbarkley]

You might need to be in one of the "creative modes" like P, that unlocks more menu items.

[BurnUnit]

Newer operating systems regularly fail to recognize older cameras. Microsoft has no interest in offering updated drivers for such a limited demand, and I don't think that should a big surprise to anybody.

Even if my Win7 or Win10 machines would recognize my old Digital Rebel, I'd still prefer to use a USB card reader to download my image files using Windows File Explorer. It's still plenty fast and I don't have to worry about the extra drain on the camera battery.