Using the most common Windows XP and Windows 7 operating systems as an example, today we will describe how to check the camera on a laptop. If there are no problems with the first of them, then with the second, unprepared users may have difficulties. Following the directions given below, to make this procedure will not be difficult.
How was it?
The easiest way to perform such an operation is to check the camera on a laptop using the Windows XP operating system. It is enough to go to “My Computer” and find the necessary device in the “Scanners and Cameras” section. Then double-click the left mouse button on its icon. A window will open in which what is happening at the current time will be displayed. If there is no such icon, then you need to install the drivers, which can be taken either on the Internet or from the laptop CD-ROM (it must be included with the mobile PC). The procedure for installing this software will be described in the next section.
Drivers
To ensure the normal functioning of any computer device, drivers are needed. These are programs that control the operation of equipment, including webcams. First you need to check the correctness of their installation. To do this, go to the "Start", then - "Control Panel". In the window that opens, we find "Device Manager". We point the manipulator pointer at it and double-click the left mouse button. Then you need to pay attention to the section “Image Processing Devices” (for “Windows 7”) or “Scanners and Cameras” (for “Windows XP”). Open it with a single mouse click. There should not be any icons in front of the webcam (for example, a yellow triangle with an exclamation mark). In this case, skip this step and proceed to the next. Otherwise, before checking the webcam on a laptop, you must install this software. It can be downloaded from the official website of the mobile PC manufacturer. To do this, using the search engine, we find the corresponding Internet resource. Then on it you need to find in the "Download" section the software we need and download it. At the next stage, we press the key combination “Vin” (the “Windows” logo is drawn on it) and “E” in the English keyboard layout. Explorer opens. In it we find the “Downloads” folder (in some versions it may be Download). Then we find the drivers and double-click the mouse to start the process of installing them. In the future, following the instructions of the wizard, install them. After that, it is recommended to reboot.
Specialized tools
At the next stage of solving the problem of how to check the camera on a laptop, you need to use specialized software (for example, VirtualDyub) or Internet resources (http://videochatru.com/ - one of them). In the first case, you need to download such software from the Internet and install it in exactly the same way as the drivers. Then run this program. After that, what is happening in the visibility range of the webcam should appear on the screen of the mobile PC. In the future, this program can be used to shoot videos. Another implementation option for this test is the use of the Skype program. In its menu you need to go directly to the "Tools" section, then - "Settings" and then - "Video settings". In this case, the exact same picture appears as in the previous case.
the Internet
In some cases, specialized software can be replaced with a website. One of them is http://videochatru.com/. In this case, to get an answer to the question: “How to check: does the camera work?” - it is enough to connect to the global web and launch a browser on a mobile PC. In his address bar, enter the previously given address and press "Enter". Then you will need to give permission to use the webcam by the browser. After that, the image from this device will appear on the computer screen. If in the first case you can check the camera without connecting to the Internet, then you need to install special software. In the second, the situation is exactly the opposite. As a result, we note: if there is Internet, then we use the second method. Otherwise, the first is left without an alternative.
Summary
As part of this material, we described how to check the camera on a laptop under the control of such operating systems as Windows XP and Windows 7. The easiest way to do this is in the first of them. It is enough to install the drivers and go to "My Computer". But in the case of Windows 7, everything is much more complicated. Not only do you need to install drivers, you still have to use special software or an Internet resource. This is the answer to how to check the camera on a laptop in this case. Moreover, those methods that work on the "seven" are perfect for Windows XP. So in this case, there are much more options for verifying the health of this device.