The Official Computer Tech Support Thread

[Burning Down]

Originally Posted by Vanilla

Okay I did look thoroughly and didn't see anything so perhaps a driver is what I need. But I'll check when I get home.

Yeah if its not there then I think your computer just isn't recognizing the camera.

[Freebase Dali]

Originally Posted by Vanilla

Okay I did look thoroughly and didn't see anything so perhaps a driver is what I need. But I'll check when I get home.

If you don't see the name of the camera in device manager, the driver is not installed. Look on the hardware list for your computer (can probably find a service tag number underneath the computer on a sticker to enter into your laptop's manufacturer site) then when you find out what camera manufacturer and model it is, you can go to their site and download the latest 64bit driver for your model and install it. Alternatively, you can just look at the driver list for your laptop model on your laptop's manufacturer site and find the camera drivers there.

[Stephen]

Originally Posted by Freebase Dali

If you don't see the name of the camera in device manager, the driver is not installed. Look on the hardware list for your computer (can probably find a service tag number underneath the computer on a sticker to enter into your laptop's manufacturer site) then when you find out what camera manufacturer and model it is, you can go to their site and download the latest 64bit driver for your model and install it. Alternatively, you can just look at the driver list for your laptop model on your laptop's manufacturer site and find the camera drivers there.

I thought Windows usually pops up with a new hardware dialogue when it finds something attached that's not set up?

[Freebase Dali]

Originally Posted by stp

I thought Windows usually pops up with a new hardware dialogue when it finds something attached that's not set up?

It depends on whether Windows can just pull the driver out of its ass or not when it tries to auto-install generic drivers. Windows can't account for every 3rd party hardware/software combination. It can load generic drivers for the most common things that work on the same generic level, but that list is limited due to the vast array of different software out there with different coding and methods that it can't simply predict or be sufficient to support.
It's why hardware manufacturers ship their product with drivers to begin with.

Furthermore, Windows is ass bad at actually searching the internet for drivers. 90 percent of the time when you select the option to search for a driver, it will either say you have the best version already, or it can't find it, and it won't even look past its own generic driver if it even has one. Which is why it's a good idea to get drivers from hardware manufacturers, and why that's not a cliche' but usually a necessity.

Also, the integrated camera on her laptop isn't a plug-and-play device, and that's where you get that prompt.

[Stephen]

Originally Posted by Freebase Dali

Furthermore, Windows is ass bad at actually searching the internet for drivers.

Yeah I don't think that driver thing has ever worked for me. I just thought it would at least notice there was something plugged in that wasn't accounted for...

Originally Posted by Freebase Dali

Also, the integrated camera on her laptop isn't a plug-and-play device, and that's where you get that prompt.

but there you go.

[Freebase Dali]

Yea, I never trust Windows to do anything aside from what its own functionality dictates. When it comes to 3rd party stuff, relying on Windows to have a better idea than the actual manufacturers of that 3rd party stuff is definitely a misappropriation of confidence. 3rd party manufacturers builds their drivers based on the OS. Not the other way around. So I go with the manufacturer every time.

[Scarlett O'Hara]

Originally Posted by Freebase Dali

Yea, I never trust Windows to do anything aside from what its own functionality dictates. When it comes to 3rd party stuff, relying on Windows to have a better idea than the actual manufacturers of that 3rd party stuff is definitely a misappropriation of confidence. 3rd party manufacturers builds their drivers based on the OS. Not the other way around. So I go with the manufacturer every time.

I have noticed it always says the most updated driver is installed with other devices. I will definitely check up on the driver via the model. But now the computer is not even letting me access the internet since a cable was put in and now I have no idea to get the setting back to what it was so I can access it. I am so ****ing sick of this **** I just want to take the damn thing back honestly.

[Stephen]

Was the laptop running Windows 8 when you got it or did you upgrade?

[Scarlett O'Hara]

Originally Posted by stp

Was the laptop running Windows 8 when you got it or did you upgrade?

When I bought it, if it was my decision I would have preferred Windows 7.

[Freebase Dali]

Originally Posted by Vanilla

I have noticed it always says the most updated driver is installed with other devices. I will definitely check up on the driver via the model. But now the computer is not even letting me access the internet since a cable was put in and now I have no idea to get the setting back to what it was so I can access it. I am so ****ing sick of this **** I just want to take the damn thing back honestly.

What do you mean "since a cable was put in"?
Are you talking about no longer using wireless, and now using a wired Ethernet cable?