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    Webcam Problem!

    Discussion in 'Dell' started by xscribble, Jul 25, 2010.

  1. xscribble

    xscribble Newbie

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    Today I self installed a webcam and bezel.

    Things went smoothly except for the fact that it doesn't work... lol
    The webcam's LED lights up blue, except I can't get any video from it using ANY programs (Dell Webcam Center, Skype, etc.)

    I have no clue what is going on, I've already tried different drivers, and uninstalling/reinstalling.

    By the way: Currently running a Windows 7 Ultimate on a Vostro 1400.
     
    xscribble, Jul 25, 2010
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  2. MrSpock2002

    MrSpock2002 Notebook Evangelist

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    I seriously want to see pics of this!
     
    MrSpock2002, Jul 25, 2010
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  3. xscribble

    xscribble Newbie

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    What do you mean?
     
    xscribble, Jul 25, 2010
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  4. MrSpock2002

    MrSpock2002 Notebook Evangelist

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    Pictures of the Bezel and Camera if you can. Also where did you plug in the webcam cable? I thought it was all connected via the display cable to the motherboard, so I'm a bit confused how you installed it with a display with no webcam built in.

    Also Windows SHOULD detect it and use a generic driver if your using Windows 7. Dell's XPS 1640 used to have a driver for it and is on Dell's site. Now their 1645 does not use a Dell driver, instead it uses the Windows generic driver. What OS are you running?
     
    MrSpock2002, Jul 25, 2010
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  5. xscribble

    xscribble Newbie

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    Ahhh so you think i custom built it. Nah the vostro is nice because it is pretty generic, the webcam attaches to a cable right after you take the bezel off :p

    Anyway - hmmm is this probably a hardware problem then, assuming that what you say about Windows 7 is true?

    I'm running Windows 7 Ultimate.
     
    xscribble, Jul 25, 2010
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  6. MrSpock2002

    MrSpock2002 Notebook Evangelist

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    I've build many desktops and worked on many laptops, and so fare with Win 7 any webcam that came from Dell, HP, etc always worked great with the generic driver.

    Go to your device manager, does it show anything there that says "unknown device"? Also look under (I THINK it's user input) to see if it lists it there.
     
    MrSpock2002, Jul 25, 2010
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  7. xscribble

    xscribble Newbie

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    No, the drives always load and recognize the camera, but whenever i open up a program to use the camera, it just doesn't work... it's sooooo weird...

    does this sound like a hardware or software problem?
     
    xscribble, Jul 25, 2010
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  8. MrSpock2002

    MrSpock2002 Notebook Evangelist

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    That's odd.... It sounds like Windows is seeing the camera fine... Maybe the camera is bad?
     
    MrSpock2002, Jul 25, 2010
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  9. xscribble

    xscribble Newbie

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    Ok, i guess i'll order another one, and we'll see if that works :D
     
    xscribble, Jul 25, 2010
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  10. niffcreature

    niffcreature ex computer dyke

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    not incredibly relevant... but they tend to be USB right? maybe I heard that dells arent...

    When I had a sony Z series, I could never get the webcam to work. not on linux or windows. Later on I took the whole thing apart... guessed at the wires and spliced it to a USB plug... it worked great!

    If its not a ribbon cable :p give it a try. USB has 2 pins for 5v. maybe you're just missing the data pin
     
    niffcreature, Jul 30, 2010
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  11. xscribble

    xscribble Newbie

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    wow that's pretty damn ingenious and crafty, but the cable connecting to my webcam is a ribbon cable just as you said :p

    thanks for the advice though, really appreciate it!
     
    xscribble, Jul 30, 2010
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