I sync my iPhone with my MAC but sometimes I connect my iPhone to my Windows 7 machine in order to copy pictures/movies directly from the iPhone into a folder without using iTunes. For some reason, last time I decided to do that, I could not see the my iPhone as a windows device anymore. This is what solved my problem:
and
1) The iPhone was not showing as a Windows device:
(clipped from http://community.spiceworks.com/topic/162248-iphone-not-showing-up-in-windows-explorer ) thanks for UYI6067 reply:
"Uninstalled iPhone in Device Manager (with phone connected), unplugged
it, waited a minute, then connected and waited for automatic install to
take its course. Resolved!"
2) The iPhone now showed as a Windows device but the DCIM folder was empty (not loading properly):
(clipped from http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/windows_7-pictures/i-cannot-see-any-photos-in-the-dcim-folder-of-my/92a7c831-539a-48a5-b199-2b2a1213d343 ) thanks for d0ppay 's reply:
" If your screen locks on the iPhone/iPad, and if it was locked
while you plugged it into your computer, then the DCIM folder that
typically contains all the pictures on your camera roll will be empty
(security). Unlock and plug it back in to USB. Detailed steps here:
http://davidvielmetter.com/tips/access-the-dcim-folder-on-your-iphone/
"
Those 2 actions fixed my problem.