How to download from an older digital camera to Windows 8 which does not support the camera?

You do not need camera support, although I would be surprised if the camera company doesn't have the driver you need. Regardless, you can use Explorer to move the files on your CF card to the computer. Since the computer doesn't recognize the camera, using a USB cord from the camera to the computer is useless. So, you get to buy a card reader. Be sure to get one that supports CF cards. Then plugging in the card reader with your CF card in it to a USB port on your computer will convince the system you have a Removable Storage device, which will look like a disk drive, so you can open the drive, drill down to the pix and move them to whatever folder you want.

Do not involve the camera. Take off the memory card, use a USB card reader to connect it to the computer and use Windows Explorer or (Mac) Finder to do the actual copying for absolute total control over what goes where exactly.

Just use the USB cable that came with the camera. Or get one. That is a "micro USB" connector on the camera side - and it is the same as those used by many smartphones (but we don't know which one you are using). If you need to buy a cable - I think I saw one at Fry's Electronics the other day for $4 - maybe less. Here's one for less

http://www.frys.com/product/7275623

The Canon Powershot S30 uses CompactFlash memory. You can use wither the USB cable connection - or a flash memory card reader that can deal with CF cards. Here is an example for $8

http://www.frys.com/product/7944290

I guess I am having trouble figuring out what you are driving at.

1. If you use a memory card adapter( about $6.00, locally) and plug it into a USB on your computer, you should have no problem, transferring the files from the memory card to the computer's hard drive.

2. if you are trying to connect to computer with the cord that came with your camera, then a resevre a bed in your cities mental ward, as this arrangement is very frustrating.

Any jpg file can be downloaded to ,any computer. So just open the camera, then open your picture area in your computer (or wherever you like to store pics), and copy the camera files to the computer. "Compatibility" is not needed.

Or insert the camera card into a card reader device and copy to the computer.

Buy the correct cable if you have not got one. Take camera and laptop to a good IT store to make sure you buy the right cable.

Take the memory card out, and put it in a card reader. Some laptops already have a card reader. If you computer doesn't have a card reader, you can buy one off ebay for less than $10.

Then, to transfer the images, using Windows Explorer, navigate to the removable drive, go into the DCIM folder, and inside one of those folders in there will be all of the image files. Select them and copy them, then paste them to a folder on your computer.

Update: Note you need a card reader that supports CompactFlash (CF) cards.

I advise you to buy a USB memory card reader. We can attach it to any computer with any operating system to its USB port and transfer photos.

I rarely connect my camera to computer. I take memory card out and read it with a memory card reader. Most newer laptops have such card readers built in for SD card.