New laptop webcam help

n1kk1_2

Hi all

I have just brought a new laptop and everything is working fine it is just that i do not know how to get the webcam feature to work. The user manual does not tell me how to use it but i know it has one because it is fixed in the lid of the computer.

I wondered if anyone else can help me figure it out.

The laptop is a phillips 12NB5800

Thanks

n1kk1_2

Any ideas?

Does anyone else have this Laptop?

novagirl

I have a laptop that has a webcam in it like that but I also haven't a clue how to use it! Mine is a Sony Vaio though not a Philips

weegie.geek

In your control panel there should be an entry called "scanners and cameras".

Depending on the type of camera, there might be a preview in there, assuming the drivers are installed and it's working.

To use a webcam you need to be using a prog that'll utilise it, like msn messenger. In one of the menus in messenger, I forget which, there are options for setting it up to use it while chatting.

n1kk1_2

I have just looked in the camera scanners part of the control panel but nothing is listed there! Does this mean its not set up properly?

weegie.geek

it's either not setup properly or isn't WIA compatible.

In the control panel, choose system, go to the hardware tab, then click device manager.

In the window that pops up, if there are any entries with a red x or a yellow exclamation mark, there are problems with those devices, and you should take a look at the troubleshooting and probably download and install the correct drivers.

In the "Sound, video and game controllers" section - I THINK, I don't have a webcam connected to this pc, so if there are any other sections that look like it might be applicable, like usb etc, look in there - there might be an entry for your webcam.

If you double click the entry for your webcam it should tell you a little about it, and if the drivers are installed properly.

Have you tried using your webcam in MSN or the like? You'll need to go into the menus like I said and tell it to use your webcam.

OohSoHolly

Usually most laptops come with a driver disc for the built-in devices, you might want to check what dics you recieved with your laptop and see if any of them are for the webcam.
Also just noticed that the Philips website isnt very helpful. I hate bad Customer Support, especially with computers as it is always! needed.

n1kk1_2

under imaging devices i have found a genesyslogic usb2.0 pc camera is that it?

if yes then it says its working properly i just don't know how to turn it on. I have never tried a web cam before so i have no idea how they work anyway! I will have a go at trying it in messenger like you suggested!

banger9365

it only works with skype or msn messanger and programs like that ,i have to same lappy,and the back up disk take 6gb of hdd space why can they not supply proper disks with the lappy,took me at night to get rid off it,
and it do's not show up any where in vista