In the modern world, the Internet plays a huge role. It has become not only a place where we can receive information and share it with other people, but also a huge platform for communication. It is impossible not to admit that in many ways this would have been impossible if technology had not appeared that made interactive dating possible.
We are talking about webcams, with the help of which you can not only talk with the interlocutor from the other end of the world, but also see him in real time. As a rule, absolutely all modern laptops are equipped with them by default, and the number of monitors to the PC in which they are can not be called small.
It is not surprising that beginners often ask about how to configure a webcam on a computer.
What it is?
At first, it would not be out of place to talk about what kind of equipment it is.
This is the name of a digital device, the purpose of which is to capture and further transmit via the Internet a static image or video broadcast.
Image exchange is performed using an intermediate ftp-server, the information on which is downloaded either periodically (at regular intervals) or continuously.
The video stream is not always through the use of the capabilities of the computer itself. Some models can not only work completely autonomously (via Wi-Fi), but can also be used as an ftp server. This is especially valuable when you want to organize a full and continuous broadcast.
But in the vast majority of cases, users buy the simplest models, which do not have even a tenth of such capabilities. But if you need a motion-fixed model, you will have to spend a little more on it.
So how to set up a webcam on a computer?
Desktop Models
Today in stores there are dozens of varieties, the price of which sometimes does not exceed a couple of hundred rubles. If you use a more or less modern operating system (starting with Vista), then special configuration is not required. As a rule, when connecting the device via the USB port, the OS will find and connect it itself.
But it’s not always that simple. As a rule, if Windows XP is installed on your computer, then you should not hope for a similar outcome. The system, released in 2001, simply physically cannot “know” more or less modern devices. Before setting up a webcam on a computer in this case, you will need drivers. Normal manufacturers apply media with them to their products, but semi-underground Chinese artels rarely do this.
Important!
That is why we recommend looking at the packaging of the camera before buying, information on the compatibility of equipment with various operating systems, specifications and other information should be noted on it. If there are no media in the kit, then on the label must be written "Plug-and-Play". This means that the device only needs to be connected to the computer, after which the OS will independently find and install the required drivers.
Actually, this is where the basic setup ends. Now you only need to run the program for video conferencing. Immediately see if the utility has detected a camera. Consider the configuration procedure for the example of the popular "Skype".
We configure the equipment in "Skype"
Run the program. The main program window will appear, in which we are interested in the "Tools" item. Select it by left-clicking, and then activate the "Settings-Video Settings" section. If after that a window with a video opens, then everything is in order, the camera is found and installed in the system. Before setting up a webcam image, it would be useful to say a few words about your privacy on the network.
Good to know!
Considering that only your friends and acquaintances do not always call on Skype, it’s not out of place to put a check mark next to the option “To anyone” in the section “Show my video”. In this case, you will be able to decide for yourself to whom and when to show your bright face when calling. However, we continue.
Something does not work?
What to do if the computer cannot find the webcam? First, make sure you plug it in. It sounds silly, but it often happens that the plug comes out of the connector due to careless movements or the actions of pets that can pull the cable.
If everything is in order, then make sure that other programs that can use the camera are not running on the computer. Keep in mind! Even a browser window in which some kind of chat is launched, suggesting the possibility of using the camera, is suitable for this definition. The fact is that this equipment can be used by only one application at a time.
Is there no problem with this too? Then you will have to pay attention to the state of the drivers again. Perhaps they were set somewhat wrong. To verify this, right-click on the “My Computer” icon, and select “Properties” in the pop-up context menu. A window opens with the characteristics of the computer, on the left side of which you need to click on the "Device Manager".
In the list that opens, find something like "Image Processing Devices." If everything is normal, then in front of this item there will be no pictograms or icons. When there is a driver conflict, an exclamation mark will be found nearby. In the same case, when the system did not find the camera at all, then the item “Device for image processing” will not exist at all.
How to fix it?
If the computer stopped seeing the webcam, then it is likely that the same ill-fated drivers are to blame. After some software malfunctions, as a result of viruses or even incorrect shutdown of the computer, they may be damaged.
To fix this type of problem you need to find the item “Device for image processing” in the “Device Manager”. Found? Then right-click on it, and in the pop-up window of the context menu, select the "Properties" item. Another dialog box opens, in which you must go to the "Driver" tab. There are "Roll back" and "Delete" buttons.
If you press the first, the system will automatically try to roll back the driver configuration to the last successful state. In the case when this does not help, the driver can simply be removed. After that, you need to disconnect the device from the computer, restart the latter for reliability, and then reconnect the camera and reinstall the software to work with it.
Adjust video and sound quality
But most often, user complaints are not even related to the fact that the equipment is not detected by a computer, but to the fact that the image and sound quality do not live up to any expectations.
So how to adjust the quality of the webcam? First, do not forget that the quality of the content display directly depends on the speed of your Internet connection. If it does not even reach 128 kbps, you should not expect miracles. In this case, only connecting a different tariff or switching to a more democratic operator can help.
For example, consider the image quality setting in the already mentioned Skype. To adapt it to the requirements of your exacting taste, you need to find in the settings (how to get there, we have already said) the item "Webcam settings". In general, before setting up a webcam on a computer, it does not hurt to familiarize yourself with the menu in more detail, you will find a ton of new features that will certainly be useful to you.
Going into it, you find yourself in a dialog box with detailed settings in which you can adjust the contrast, color depth and other options. Advice for beginners: if you don’t understand the meaning of their change, it’s better not to touch anything, as the consequences can be quite serious.
But! For those who like to “optimize” everything with their own hands, there is a wonderful “Default” button located right below the list of all settings. If you did something wrong, just click on it. As a result, all options will be reset to the initial ones.
Setting up wireless models
Admit, you are unlikely to be delighted that you need to extend an additional USB cable to most webcams, which turns an already tangled ball of wires from the back of the computer into a weave of pasta. To avoid this, you can invest in a wireless model. She looks more stylish, and there will be no confusion.
As a rule, wireless webcams for a computer do not need any special configuration. They work through a Wi-Fi connection, so that any modern computer will pick up a signal without any problems. But! If you unknowingly bought a wireless model for your old computer, you definitely need a Wi-Fi adapter, which is most often a PCI card that plugs into the corresponding slot on the motherboard.
Of course, there are USB models, but we do not recommend using them together with old computers, as they are physically unable to provide an adequate data transfer rate. To install a webcam on a computer in this case, you need to understand that problems with image quality and synchronization may depend on your router. If the video is jerky, or even completely disappears, try moving the router out of line of sight.
Wi-Fi issues
The concrete wall and the abundance of other wireless networks in your building can also interfere with signal transmission. If this is the reason, then before buying you should focus on models that can operate at a frequency of 5 GHz. They are less susceptible to interference, but lose in the effective signal transmission range.
If the computer does not see the webcam wirelessly, try looking for those places in your apartment where the signal level will be as high and stable as possible. In addition, try to repeat all those actions with the drivers that we described above.
We remind you again that new webcams can be extremely difficult to “make friends” with old computers, so this should be borne in mind before buying. With this opportunity, it is better to purchase time-tested USB-models.