The Internet helps people communicate regardless of the distance that separates them. At the same time, it makes it possible not only to "read" and hear, but also to see the interlocutor. There are various services that allow you to arrange a video session. To do this, you need a video camera, or, as it is also called, a webcam. Many models can work without special software. But there are even more of these cameras that cannot be used without drivers, especially cameras from unnamed Chinese manufacturers.
Instructions
Step 1
Plug your camera into a USB port on your computer. If the microphone is built into the camera, a single cable will come out of the device. If the microphone is designed as a separate device, you will see an additional thin cable with a plug, like on headphones. It is connected to the red socket on the sound card of the computer. When you connect the camera, a message will appear on the screen stating that a new device has been found and prompting you to find a driver for it.
Step 2
Close the Add New Hardware Wizard window. Right-click on the "My Computer" icon and select the "Properties" line. Another option: press the button on the keyboard with the Windows symbol (flying window), and then, without releasing the first button, press the Pause | Bright key, which is located in the upper right of the keyboard. In either case, a system properties window will open, where your processor, amount of memory and operating system will be indicated. Remember what kind of system you have: Windows XP, Vista or Seven. Also pay attention to the bitness, that is, if there is an inscription "64-bit operating system", it is worth considering.
Step 3
Click the Device Manager link on the right side of the page if you have Windows 7 or Vista.
Step 4
Select the "Hardware" tab and click the "Device Manager" button if you are using Windows XP.
Step 5
As a result, a window will open in which all the devices on your computer will be presented. For example, the camera will be listed as “unknown USB device” and marked with a yellow icon.
Step 6
Open the camera properties window. To do this, double-click on the line with the yellow sign, or right-click once and select the line "Properties" from the menu.
Step 7
Switch to the "Details" tab. Select the line "Device Instance Code" or "Equipment ID Codes" from the drop-down list. A description line with something like the following text will appear below: USBVID_22B8 & PID_2A62 & REV_0002 - this is service information by which the operating system recognizes devices and can associate them with one or another driver from the internal archive. At the same time, it is a coded indication of the manufacturer and model of the device. Copy this description line.
Step 8
Launch your browser and open any search engine page. Insert your line with the equipment code, that is, cameras, into the request window. If nothing is found, remove the extra characters so that VID_22B8 & PID_2A62 remains, and search again. VID and PID are manufacturer and device identifiers. So you will find out what kind of camera you have and where to look for a driver for it.
Step 9
Go to the site with the driver for your device and download the file, taking into account your operating system. Disconnect the camera, run the downloaded driver installation and reconnect the camera. If everything is done correctly, the camera will work.
