Canon Digital Rebel XTi camera - sometimes USB wire doesn't register when it's plugged into camera and computer at the same time

You should not have any problems.
ALTERNATE WAY TO TRANSFER PHOTOS TO COMPUTER
If your photos are stored on the memory card, then removethe memory card from the camera and insert it into an USB memory card reader.Connect this USB memory card reader and memory card into the USB port of yourworking computer. Your computer will see this as an USB Mass Storage Device oran external storage device; you can then open the folder on the memory card andcopy the photos to your computer.Memory card reader is a handy device and is inexpensive. Youcan copy photos from other cameras and you can also download photos off yourmemory card to someone else's computer without the need of installing anyprograms.

You can download the driver aand reinstall it from this link: http://www.nodevice.com/driver/EOS_400D/get37008.html Make sure your existing Canon software, if any, is removed before installing the new driver. If this doesn't work you can always purchase a card reader and extract your photos directly from the memory card.

http://www.usa.canon.com/cusa/support/consumer/eos_slr_camera_systems/eos_digital_slr_cameras/eos_digital_rebel_xti_ef_s_18_55_kit#DriversAndSoftware

Rebel XTi Digital Camera with 18-55mm lens drivers at above link.

1. There are hundreds and hundreds of programs that can restore lost files from a formatted drive... just google it

2. You cannot use a usb cable to transfer files (or at least not on my computer) with this camera, you have to take the card out of the camera and directly plug it into your computer

Hope I helped

Vista is your problem. Solution...buy an inexpensive card reader to download your pics to a folder you create on your desktop. From there, you can send the pics to your photo editing software.

Do you have a USB card reader? You can pick these up cheaply, and it is quicker and easier to take the memory card out of the canon and read it with the card reader.

I have had the same problem with getting a busy signal after plugging in the USB cord. Usually turning it on and off a few times, giving it a few seconds in between, works for me.
Also, have you tried just going into My Computer and clicking on the drive for the USB you've got you're camera plugged into and transferring the photos onto your pc from there? They only go onto your pc, not into a program but you can get them into one from there.

I believe there are 2 modes of usb transfer that you can pick in the camera. They are set somewhere in the menu in the options. If you go through the menus thoroughly you'll find it. One option is for connecting the camera directly to a printer and the other is for computer transfer (there might also be an Auto setting but I don't remember for sure). Make sure that setting is set for computer transfer. If that doesn't fix your problem, re-install or update EOS Utility / ZoomBrowser.

I am not sure about this matter but it seems there is a problem with your new computer. it might not recognize the usb cable.
try to plug your camera in another USB port and try again.

Have you tried replacing the USB cord? You also might want to try getting an inexpensive CF card reader so you can remove the memory card from the camera and then just plug the both of them into your computer's USB slot and upload from there.