Jan092012

Why can I no longer find my webcam through the start menu in Windows 7?

debbie asks:

My laptop recently stopped working, so my dad’s mate wiped my memory. The only problem is, If I pull up the start menu and type in webcam, it can’t find it, but it works fine on things like MSN, Facebook etc. I can’t figure out why I can’t recover it on the actual laptop.



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13 Answers -

0 votes

FIDELIS

January 10, 2012

Hello when you say wiped memory, are you referring to reformatting/ repairing your system?  If that is what you meant, probably the webcam software is not installed.  The reason it works with msn and other web based programs could be because driver for it is installed.  You would have to visit laptop’s manufacturer site and download the webcam software.  When you visit site, look for support/drivers section and type your model and operating system.  Check under drivers or program downloads available for your system.  Download webcam softare and install it.  Hopefully that helps.  If that is not what you meant or it doesn’t work, let us know. 

Nini

Fidelis please can you help? I have HP with built-in webcam. But I can’t access web cam there’s no icon on my start menu and in my programs. I go to device manager and there it is and it says the device runs properly, I even updated it and it starts when I open skype. But I want to access when not on skype but where to click to start it? Can’t find! Please any tips?

March 29, 2012
FIDELIS

 Hello, usually the webcam starts at startup of computer.  That is the case with HP.  You might want to start checking under any HP headings under all programs.  If it is not there, you might have to install the software interface for it.  If you let me know your model and operating system, I could find it out for you.

March 29, 2012
Nini

thank you so much for your time!! no there’s no hp heading in all programs. I’ve got Probook 4310s 

March 30, 2012
FIDELIS

 Hello, what is your operating system?  The following link will take you to HP support and drivers for you model.  Make sure to download the software that match your operating system.  Click your operating system and look under the section Softawre – Multimedia:

http://h20000.www2.hp.com/bizsupport/TechSupport/DriverDownload.jsp?lang=en&cc=us&prodNameId=3974410&taskId=135&prodTypeId=321957&prodSeriesId=3974409&lang=en&cc=us

April 3, 2012
Nini

Disaster :) I don’t even know what operating system is.

April 4, 2012
Cia

Hi FIDELIS, could u help me too? I have a Lenovo Y470 and after my school configure my laptop ytd, i can’t find my webcam application. I search under device manager and its working properly but I can’t find it anywhere!

April 4, 2012
FIDELIS

 Hello there, easiest way to find out your operating system version is to do the following:

XP:
– click on start’
– click on run
– type winver.exe
– make a note

VISTA/WINDOWS 7:
– click on start
– in search box type winver.exe

There are other ways to find out.  Try that first and let me know the results.

April 5, 2012
Anonymous

All of the info for this comment box was great! FIDELIS, you are awesome! I got my camera installed, and Nini had all of the same questions as me.

May 31, 2012
FIDELIS

Hello, I am glad your issue is fixed.

June 3, 2012
angel

hi.. pls help me out fidelis.. my i have neo basic b3230.and i cant seem to find a built in webcam driver for it.. i upgrade to windows 7 pro and i cant find my webcam anymore. pls help.

May 31, 2012
Susendeep Dutta

Firstly,did you tried the methods mentioned by Fidelis? if it didn’t worked then visit the manufacturer’s site and check for drivers.

Click on the link below to get drivers -

http://www.affordablecebu.com/load/computer_tricks/neo_basic_b3230_drivers_download/18-1-0-410

June 3, 2012
FIDELIS

Hello, after looking for neo basic manufacturers, I found the following site:

http://neo.com.ph/

After going into driver downloads, I found your model and the following is the link:

http://neo.com.ph/download-basic-series-drivers/cat_view/10-basic-series/126-basic-b3230

There does not seem to be a driver/software for webcam available there. I highly doubt this company has any drivers for windows 7 pro for your model because it comes with the basic windows 7.

When you installed windows 7 pro, did the installation found any drivers for webcam? It usually finds a generic driver for it. You would have to find the model and manufactuer for your webcam and try to find it online. While I do not use them, you could try driver finders software like the following:

http://www.driverupdate.net/

Here is also this link, where it shows you a different more complex way of finding drivers and gives you links:

http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/how-to-find-unknown-device-drivers-by-their-vendor-device-id/

or,
http://www.carrona.org/drvrdown.html

Let me know how it goes.

June 3, 2012
FIDELIS

Hello, I found the link for manufacturer of your laptop. It is the following:

http://neo.com.ph/products/basic-series

The following are the drivers available for your model. There does not seem to be any driver/software for webcam.

http://neo.com.ph/download-basic-series-drivers/cat_view/10-basic-series/126-basic-b3230

If you find the webcam’s manufacturer by following the steps described in the next link, you can probably find a driver for your webcam if available:

http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/how-to-find-unknown-device-drivers-by-their-vendor-device-id/

You can also try driver finder software like the one below. There are several software doing this. Personally, I do not use any of them but if you have no other choice you could try. Maybe it works for you:

http://www.driverguide.com/

June 3, 2012
Sii

Your posting of April 3,2012 has made me reinstall my webacm after windows 7 was installed on my laptop.Thanks a lot boss.

June 4, 2012
Barb

HELP PLEEEEEEAASEE!!! I have a HP Pavilion dv6500, I upgraded to windows 7 home edition and my built in camera was working fine until
A few days ago it just kind of died or something and I can’t find it anymore in device manager… I did find an unknown device which I’m pretty sure is it. How can I fix my webcam? Or of I can’t, can I add an external cam to my laptop? Thank you bunches!!!

July 31, 2012
Jessica

Hi, I can’t find acer crystal eye webcam icon on my start menu anymore, so i can’t take pictures because i don’t kno where to find the webcam, but when I visit device manager the webcam is working properly and the driver is up-to-date, plz help!

August 24, 2012
0 votes

Jay.0

January 10, 2012

Check your program files,
if you do not find any folder of the webcam software you were using, you will have to install it.

Open my computer, and check if you can see your webcam.

0 votes

Anonymous

January 10, 2012

find your webcam folder then drag and drop the icon to windows start menu

0 votes

Rohan

January 11, 2012

install the webcam software or go to windows movie maker > webcam video

0 votes

Amy McFarlane

May 19, 2012

my laptop got wiped and i can no longer find my my web cam on my computer do i have to install it again ?

ha14

You have to install the software and the driver to regain your web cam.

May 19, 2012
FIDELIS

Hello, I am afraid you have to download and install the camera software. Your best bet is by visiting the laptop’s manufacturer site and download the appropriate software for you laptop according to model and operating system.

May 20, 2012
Kannon Y

There are a number of automatic driver detection and installation programs that make finding such things far easier, although first try obtaining the required driver directly from the manufacturer’s website. If you can’t then try an alternative method.

http://www.ghacks.net/2010/01/28/update-computer-drivers-with-driver-easy/

At the bottom of the ghacks article, there’s a list of a variety of different driver identification and installation software. Feel free to examine them.

Driver Easy is probably the easiest to use however. It can be downloaded here:

http://www.drivereasy.com/

I would advise using DE only for the missing device drivers. Almost all of the time it works for driver updates, but every once and a while it can accidentally install the wrong driver and cause the computer to crash. Good luck!

May 20, 2012
0 votes

elius

June 2, 2012

Dear sir,
I have fujitsu lifebook L series, I do not what happen to my web cam ( integrated built in ) can not use for so long. My labtop operation system is window 7
I can not even use in skyp, yahoo mesanger and so on.
I have already installed cyberlink web cam software, as well as fujitsu driver software like usb webcam sonic.. but still can not use web cam
I am worry it might be hardware problem inside.
but I am sure, I did use before my webcam, when I bought it and use for few months.
Could you help me to find a solution for me
thanks in advance

0 votes

joreen

June 6, 2012

hi, i have a sony vaio VGN-CR353 and my webcam isn’t working (skype). the system says it is usable and in working condition but arcsoft and skype says can’t start video. my system is windows 7 enterprise 32-bit. please help.

Susendeep Dutta

I think that both the softwares are trying to use the webcam but it can work only with one software at a time.So,you need to check whether it has some association with some softwares.

How To Troubleshoot When Skype Has No Video [Windows] -

http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/how-to-troubleshoot-when-skype-has-no-video-windows/

June 7, 2012
0 votes

fridely

June 23, 2012

i cannot access anymore my built in webcam of my neo basic 3230 mini. it says that no webcam is found in my system. i cant even find a driver for it and its not available in screen start up. how can i resolve this problem

Susendeep Dutta

Download drivers form the link below and install it -

http://www.affordablecebu.com/load/computer_tricks/neo_basic_b3230_drivers_download/18-1-0-410

If it doesn’t helps you then use Slimdrivers -

http://www.driverupdate.net/

June 25, 2012
FIDELIS

Hello, check the solutions provided for your model in the comments above. Here is the link for drivers, only thing is to make sure that it is same model and operating system:

http://neo.com.ph/download-basic-series-drivers/cat_view/10-basic-series/126-basic-b3230

June 25, 2012
0 votes

Gaelle

July 9, 2012

Hello, i have a Dell n5010 and i’ve been reformatting my laptop and i can’t find the camera in the start menu. Can you send me the link to download dell central driver on the dell website?

0 votes

TWIST

July 15, 2012

Hi, I have the HP mini 110-3130NR but I’ve recently had it repaired due to viruses.All of my factory settings have been deleted and now i’m operating under windows 7 ultimate? in the device manager i can see the hp webcam but i cannot access it without getting on a website that automatically pulls it up.What do i need to do? Please help!

Oron

Download the software from http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/softwareDownloadIndex?softwareitem=ob-86309-1&cc=uk&dlc=en&lc=en&product=4307949&tmp_track_link=ot_search and run it to install the camera software again on your laptop.

July 15, 2012
TWIST

I tried to run the software but its saying that the driver does not support it?

July 16, 2012
Susendeep Dutta

Visit the link below and click on blue coloured check now button which will allow HP’s site to scan your PC for missing drivers and hence will update your drivers as well as install your webcam driver.

July 20, 2012
0 votes

Daniel James Winters

July 22, 2012

hi their my windows 7 laptop webcam is not working i kind of download ManyCam end i went to the cameras to see other cam when i pass one of them something come up on the screen. end it say with a Big RED X manycam can’t connect to your webcam for some reason. Please check to see if your webcam is currently in use by another application and exit that application. i child to find the other website that i put the webcam but i don’t remember were i last putter. i need help so i kind pug in my webcam on skype to talk with my girlfriend.

thank you

ha14

set manycam as your skype’s camera source.
Step 1, Select your video device in Skype:
Tools -> Options -> General (tab) -> Video Settings (tab)
Step 2, If this wont work, get to manycam to enable skype video. Find the Manycam’s Settings. Check the option to enable Skype Video. If it’s checked, Uncheck it. Restart Manycam. And check it again.

unstall all the USB ports in Device Manager, reboot, and let Windows reinstall them.

Dell XPS M1530 Laptop Web Cam Not Working in Windows 7 64 bit – “Web cam in use by another program” error
http://datamagga.com/Technology/dell-xps-m1530-laptop-web-cam-not-working-in-windows-7-64-bit-qweb-cam-in-use-by-another-programq-error.html
although is for another hardware you can try it if you wish, but first do a system restore point to revert back to earlier state if necessary.

July 24, 2012
0 votes

Unknown

July 23, 2012

Hi Fedelis , I Have An Toshiba Windows 7,Laptop.. I Cant Seem To Find My Built In Web Camera Application.. Ive Tried Alot To Get It Back.. Just Because I Havent Been On That Certain Application Is The Reason Y It Has Dissapeared .. Is There A Possibility That My Web Camera Application Could Have Been Deleted?

susendeep dutta

If any other person didn’t have any sort of access to your laptop and if your laptop didn’t got affected by and you didn’t uninstalled it,then you can find the application by searching it in start menu.Just click on the start button and type the name of your webcam application,and you’ll see related suggestions or your application.

July 24, 2012
0 votes

hi

August 25, 2012

Hello,fideils will you help me to? I have a laptop that has a webcam but i dont know how to install it