Don't know your OS, but this is based on XP:-
Check that you have wiaacmgr.exe (that is the picture aquisition wizard - [when opened it can call itself Scanner and Camera wizard]).
It should be in C:/ Windows/ System 32 folder.
When you connect any camera to a USB port for the first time Windows should tell you it has has found new hardware and automatically prepare for it to be used.
Just a chance the solution here is simple - make sure your camera is set to playback and switch it on when plugged in.
I have several cameras one of which is a Nikon and have no bother.
Because I have a few different cameras with different memory cards I use a multi card reader to avoid numerous cables lying about.
Other thing you might try is to use a different USB port. I have had hardware work in one port, but not another, but don't know why.
BTW, I never install the software that comes with cameras, but simply use XP camera wizard to download pics and an independent editor to fiddle about with them.
If you install the camera software to download pics it will simply reside in the same folder as the OS tool and you'll be offered a choice of what to use. Therefore if the OS is not automatically appearing then the camera software may not either or even not install.