usb 2.0 pc webcam not recofnized by windows xp no driver required

Question

usb 2.0 pc webcam not recofnized by windows xp no driver required

Anonymous

I purchased two (admittedly) cheap cams to try out Skype before really investing in better equipment. I have a Dell desk PC running Windows XP and a Dell laptop also Windows XP. Both about 4 years old. Never any problem with either in any regard.

The webcams are shown as USB 2.0 PC Webcam with no driver required for set up. I attached one camera to the laptop, and it was recognized and installed immediatley. The desktop is a different story. Here's what happens:

Plug in camera (with or without re-start) and the system displays a "USB PC 2.0 Webcam" message. Then it moves at once to the camera hardware installation wizard. It's looking for a driver. No driver exists (as far as I know) an NO driver is supposed to be required. When the wizard can't find a driver on its own, I end up canceling out. The camera is there, drawing power, because the built in lights are working when you turn them on. But, in "My Computer" there is no camera.

In device manager the camera is there with the usual yellow question mark. Still can not locate a driver which it continues to ask for. It must be something with this computer/Windows, as the camera functions perfectly on the laptop. I have both a printer and a scanner on this machine with never any problem. I have a Nikon camera I use to upload pics, and it too is instantly recognized.

Any help is appreciated in advance. I hesitate to buy another camera as I have a feeling I'll get the same results. Any solutions?

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6 answers

Answer 1

Yes. I followed the instructions. Let me say this is now the "Tale of Two Webcams."

The first was supposed to be PnP with no driver required. Just would not work. The computer went repeatedly to the Hardware Installation Wizard (HIW) looking for the non-existent driver. So, I bought another cam.

This cam is a ViMicro PC Webcam for USB 1.1/2.0; Model CAM-IM109N. This camera requires a driver and came shipped with a CD. The CD contains DirectX 9.0 and the driver for this cam.

I installed DirectX from the CD. However, it does not appear in the program list or on the add/remove programs list in Control Panel. There is a new program on my list called "AMCAP." It pops up an error saying I have no video capture hardware installed and that it can not function.

In the meantime, the the computer recognizes the cam when it is pluged in. As usual, it defaults to the HIW. BUT no matter what you do, either automatically, or by browsing, can you get the HIW to recognize this driver. It simply does not appear as an option. I even copied it to my documents folder and tried to get it from there. It just does not even appear in the HIW as available to select.

I've tried clean starts. I've tried safe mode starts. Nothing--nothing--will get this computer to recognize this driver....any cam driver for that matter. If I double click the driver file itself, it opens its own install wizard. It gets all the way to the end and then tells me it can not proceed because it can not locate a driver for the "Dell Wireless LAN card." That card came installed from the factory. The device manager says it is functioning correctly. In fact, I am using it right now.

I am grateful for any advice you have. But, to be very frank, I am just self-taught on computers. Got my first PC in 1985. And I have NEVER seen such a baffling mess as just getting this PC to recognize a simple cam. Many thanks in advance.

Answer 2

Sorry. I wish it would help. The brand is "cheap made in China." It claims to not require a driver. I did locate the manufacturer's web site, and they don't offer down loads. The camera is recognized and works perfectly on my Dell laptop (Windows XP). The install wizard never even comes up. The camera is working in less than a minute and appears in the "My Computer" folder.

The opposite is true for the desktop. The computer detects a new PC USB 2.0 camera, but goes at once to the install wizard looking for the non-existent driver. The desktop is a Dell Vostro 200; XP 5.1; Intel Core 2 Duo; BIOS Ver 6.00PG; running the latest version of DirectX. Something is blocking ths camera from simply being recognized, and forcing the install wizard to start and seek the driver that is not necessary.

Many thanks for the help.

Answer 3

Sorry to say it did not really help. I am beginning to think I probably have two possible solutions. A) Upgrade to a newer version of Windows or, B) Buy another camera that comes with a CD with specific drivers to accommodate the demands of the installation wizard.

I have not had his much trouble since 88 when I got a Winchester drive and I couldn't get it to park.

Answer 4

Hi,

I would suggest you to test the issue in clean boot mode.

How to configure Windows XP to start in a "clean boot" state

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/310353

Note: Also, see the section on how to return your computer to a Normal startup mode by following the steps under “Steps to configure Windows to use a Normal startup state”.

Answer 5

Hi,

What is the make and model of the webcam and the computer?

Method 1:

I would suggest you to refer the article and try to run the “Microsoft Fix it”:

Hardware devices are not working or are not detected in Windows

http://support.microsoft.com/mats/hardware\_device\_problems/

Method 2:

I would suggest you to manually download the drivers from the manufacturer’s website and try to install it.

Refer:

How to manage devices in Windows XP

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/283658

Let us know if it helps.

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usb 2.0 pc webcam not recofnized by windows xp no driver required

6 answers