G73sw-xn2

So i just bought my G73SW-XN2 and I have a strange issue. My webcam is not being recognized. I almost got a few viruses trying to download the driver for it, since I have to get all those crap driver updaters that need to be registered and so forth. It's a bit weird, when I set up the comp, before putting in the driver CD, everything worked fine. The camera was working on the 'smart logon manager' program, i played around and took a few pics (although i couldnt figure out how that program worked either) and then I put in the driver CD, installed a few things, went to my programs list and probably uninstalled something important for the webcam while doing some bloatware cleaning... now it's gone. Don't know if i actually removed something important, or if the updates to the drivers actually ruined it. Either way, webcam isn't recognized by the system anymore. I can't find any program to run it, I can't see it in the device manager (shouldnt it be called usb 2.0 something or other cam?) etc... help? I tried to call ASUS 24 hr support but the phone just goes blank after inputting a few options, and they havent responded to a previous email i wrote a few days ago.

 

The webcam should be under imaging devices. Look for it there or look for an unknown device, it should be the webcam.

 

I don't have an imaging devices on my device manager. all i have is Batteries, Bluetooth radios, computer, disk drives, display adapters, dvd/cd-rom drives, human interface devices, IDE ATA/ATAPI controllers, keyboards, Mice and other pointing devices, monitors, network adapters, processors, sound video and game controllers, system devices, and universal serial bus controller. I'm missing the imaging devices out of this list right?

 

umm dude.. You do know that Asus gives you a CD with all the drivers and applications you need. Uninstall the driver.. and reinstall it with the CD. If you didnt get the CD check on Asus' website.. The fact that you almost got virus' tells me you're not downloading from Asus' website... Theres a reason they put drivers on their site........

This is what you should have. If not use the snip tool and post the picture on here to let me see to better help.

Start > All Programs > Accessories > Snipping Tool

Thats the direct way to get to it in case you didn't know.

 

Reaper, I tried using the driver CD again, but there's nothing there about the cam. I can't uninstall the driver because I can't FIND it. (where would it be anyway? Wouldnt it be device manager?) It seems as if all my problems started when I put in the driver CD and installed all that crap.. Asus' website doesnt have the webcam driver either (as far as i could see, It has the webcam program LifeFrame but it says 'webcam driver must be installed' and I dont see the driver unless its got a weird name)

here's a pic of the device manager I see.
http://i270.photobucket.com/albums/jj103/ffaulin/DeviceManager.jpg
posted direct link if img code doesnt work.

Let me clarify also, before I put in the driver CD, i was playing around with the smart logon and it activated the camera when I opened the program. I typed in my password and took a few pics etc. Then i went on to uninstalling bloatware etc, put the drivers cd, installed the essentials... then no cam? suddenly. I noticed cuz on skype i wouldnt even get the option to 'answer with video.' Thank you for the help.

 

Check in Universal Serial Bus controllers if you have an unknown device since the cam is connected via usb internally.

 

I have 20 Items in my DM. You only have 16. And I didn't reinstall half the stuff from the CD. I just installed the essentials. So you just may very well have to either do a restore to a certain point or just do a fresh install of windows 7 HP and use the product key on the bottom of the Laptop. then use the cd to get all of your essential software and drivers back.

 

I just reformatted with the recovery disks i made, and nothing. I'm guessing I have a hardware problem? Maybe the webcam just came undone inside? grrr this is so frustrating. Everything is back the same way as I got the laptop a few days ago, but the camera is not working still, not in device manager, nothing. great...

 

Fyve: if you live in the US/Canada, you can find a local Asus ASP location and have them look at it.

ASUS Notebook Authorized Service Provider

 

Chasity is right. Take it to a local place. The camera just might have come loose, or just isn't working at all. I wouldn't be surprised. The second I turned my Asus on the first time, the Screen was all sorts of fked. Color and everything was all messed up, but I got a brand new one to replace it. If you just got this then youre still well under warranty..

 

Yep, hardware problem.

 

If you made your Recovery DVDs with camera not being identified, then when you reformat with Recovery DVDs you will have the same problem.

Format it with Windows 7 x64 only, choose Home Premium Edition and don't worry about the Product Key. See, if the camera shows. Then you can use the product key under your laptop.

There a quite a few sites where you can download Windows 7 x64 for a clean install.

 

I believe I made the recovery DVDs before the camera problem, but i'll double check by doing the win7 reinstall. thanks. If not, it definitely is a hardware issue so i'll go ahead and contact asus... if they'd answer their phones it would be great

 

Before you do that, go to Safe Mode. Then go to Device Manager and under View check for hidden devices. See if you have any devices with yellow check mark on them.

Best regards,

KOR!

 

Thanks KOR, I tried that and no good. Still not detecting the cam. I already went through all the BS procedures with ASUS tech support, and we determined its a faulty unit. I'm sending it back to newegg as I feel it would be faster than the 10-14 business days ASUS quoted me on repair. The other reason is that I hate having a new item that has to be opened up and repaired, as I have learned no one does anything right nowadays so I'd probably end up with more problems down the line. Opened a replacement RMA now I just have to hunt down a cardboard box to ship it back in. How sucky... I was really enjoying this thing, and I really need it the next few days for school. Lame. Maybe a new one will fix my starcraft 2 lag issues (when I would start up sc2 sometimes it would run the menus flawlessly, other times noticeably laggy menus, although game performance wasnt affected this did bother me)

 

You can use a linux livecd like ubuntu and then go to Applications->Accessories->Terminal and run the lsusb command. You should see a webcam there (something like chicony, etc). If you don't see it there it's probably a faulty webcam or unplugged at the motherboard header.