Web camera not detected, imaging devices missing in device manager and webcam not working

Anonymous
2014-09-16T14:48:31+00:00

*Original Title: imaging devices missing in device manager and webcam not working

imaging devices missing in device manager and webcam not working  HI,      Iam using DELL INSPIRON 15R 5520, windows 8.1 64 bit.      Last day when i clicked on the camera tile it said 'to get started, connect a camera' and i found out that none of my apps and desktop applications could     use the webcam.Each time i get an error massage saying camera not detected.My webcam used to work perfectly till then.          And the 'imaging devices' entry is missing in device manager.

Windows for home | Previous Windows versions | Devices and drivers

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Anonymous
2014-09-17T10:21:35+00:00

Hello Prudhvi,

Thank you for posting your query in Microsoft Community.

Sorry to know you are facing inconvenience with the web camera not working on the computer. I can understand how frustrating it could be when computer and connected devices don't work as expected.

This issue could be because of the driver for the device is corrupt or needs to be updates.

Please help me with the following information:

  1. What is the make and model of the web camera?
  2. Have you made any recent changes to the computer prior to this issue?
  3. Do you get any error code, if so what is the exact error code?

4. Do you see a yellow exclamation mark in device manager for camera device in device manager?

5. Is the web cam integrated with computer or are you using an external web cam?

6. If you are using external webcam, what is the make and model of the webcam?

Method 1: Try running the Hardware and devices troubleshooter by following steps below:

1. Press “Windows Key + R”, type Control Panel.

2. Then type “Troubleshooter” in the Search box and hit enter.

  1. Select “Hardware and Sound” from the Troubleshooter Window.
  2. Select “Hardware and Devices”.

Camera app and webcams help

Refer (If you have problems with your webcam)

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-8/camera-app-faq

If you are using a internal webcam, run the Diagnostics for Webcam Issues

Webcam Diagnostics

http://en.community.dell.com/support-forums/laptop/w/laptop/3557.webcam-diagnostics

Also refer to the article:

Using and Troubleshooting the Dell Webcam and Dell Webcam Central Software

http://www.dell.com/support/Article/us/en/04/SLN85507/EN#Troubleshooting-Webcam-Issues

Method 2:

Step 1: I suggest you to visit the computer manufacturer website and install the latest webcam drivers.

http://www.dell.com/support/home/us/en/19/product-support/product/inspiron-15r-5520/drivers

Steps 2: If webcam drivers are not available for Windows 8.1, you can install download Windows 7 driver and install it in compatibility mode. Refer to the help link to install the drivers in compatibility mode.

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-IN/windows-8/older-programs-compatible-version-windows

Hope this information helps, please reply with the status of the issue and the required information for any further assistance.

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  1. Anonymous
    2015-06-02T22:56:23+00:00

    I'm having the exact same issue as above, except I have an HP, not Dell--so obviously it's a Windows problem... I have (had?) a webcam in my laptop (HP TrueVision HD) that was working just fine, but as soon as I installed updates, it disappeared. My computer doesn't even recognize that it ever existed. I cannot find it in the Devices, Control Panel, Program Files, list of Drivers... NOTHING. It just... disappeared. So all those instructions posted above are no help at all, because the things I'm supposed to click or search for--they simply don't exist! Please tell me how to get my computer to find the webcam software again. This is extremely frustrating (especially when trying to Skype family living far away!).

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  2. Anonymous
    2015-06-23T08:19:16+00:00

    Hello Grace,

    Thank you for keeping us updated on the status of the issue and apology for the delayed response.

    However, before we proceed I would require some more information to assist you better.

    What is the make and model of the computer?

    I would also request you to please provide the screenshots for the issue that you are facing in Windows 8.

    Refer the link for How to include a screenshot in your post.

    http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/wiki/windows\_other-windows\_programs/how-to-include-a-screenshot-in-your-post/2594b08e-32a3-476a-85a6-b021181be7e4

    Please reply with the required information, in order to help you fix the issue.

    Thank you

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  3. Anonymous
    2015-06-23T10:15:26+00:00

    Hello,

    Thank you for keeping us updated on the status of the issue and apology for the delayed response.

    I would suggest you to run the Hardware and devices troubleshooter by following steps below:

    a) Press Windows key + W on your keyboard.

    b) Type Troubleshooting and click Troubleshooting.

    c) Click on View All.

    d) Click on Hardware and Devices Troubleshooter.

    e) Click on Next button to run the troubleshooter.

    Hope this information helps.

    Please reply with the troubleshooter report, in order to help you fix the issue.

    Thank you

    Hi,

    Somehow I never got notified of this response till someone else responded.

    I've attached a couple screen shots of the results of running the Device Troubleshooter.

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  4. Anonymous
    2015-06-26T19:57:46+00:00

    Hello,

    Thank you for the information.

    It seems that there are some corrupted drivers existing in the device manager. I would suggest you to try the following steps to uninstall all the hidden drivers for webcamdevice and restart the computer. Let the Windows install the generic drivers and then see if it helps you to fix the issue.

    1. Press Windows key + X, click on Command Prompt (Admin).

    Note: If you are prompted for an administrator password or for a confirmation, type the password, or clickAllow.

    1. Command prompt window will be open.
    2. At the command prompt, type the following lines, pressing Enter after each line:

    set devmgr_show_nonpresent_devices=1

    cd\ %SystemRoot% \System32

    start devmgmt.msc

    1. Device manager Window will open.
    2. Click on show hidden devices under View menu Tab. ****
    3. Expand all the nods under device manager**.** 7. There would be many grayed out entries in device manager uninstall all the grayed out entriesunder all the nods and then restart the computer.
    4. Find and expand webcam device.
    5. Right-click on every device under the Bluetooth and then click on Uninstall to remove them one at a time.
    6. Restart the computer. On restart, Windows will re-install the generic drivers automatically.
    7. Now test to make sure that the issue is resolved.

    Hope this information helps.

    Please reply with the results, in order to help you fix the issue.

    Thank you

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