After removing the webcam from an old Compaq 620 laptop and connecting it to the USB port, it initially appears in the device manager under Cameras as HP Webcam 2.0, but then it is listed as HP Universal Camera Driver under Imaging Devices. However, the external USB camera cannot be detected by any application, including webcam test sites and Skype. If the USB camera is opened in Skype’s audio settings window during the initial auto-installation period, it will show up in the detected cameras list, but it will disappear once it becomes detected as HP Universal Camera Driver.
Although other people have successfully used their old laptop webcams as external USB webcams, this webcam cannot be detected as such. The connections appear to be correct, and power is not an issue, so the problem may be related to finding the correct drivers. The user has found a possible driver for Windows 10, but it is associated with Realtek, which does not seem to be related to the webcam based on the user’s previous experience. The user is concerned about installing the driver because they do not want it to interfere with the built-in webcam.
After installing the driver, the webcam is detected as HP Webcam 2.0 under Imaging Devices, but it causes Skype to hang when selected. The webcam testing utility that comes with the driver also hangs when attempting to preview the webcam. The user has also tried using a USB live install of Puppy Linux to scan for everything connected to USB, but the webcam still cannot be used.
The user is looking for a way to use this USB webcam and is wondering if there is a solution to this problem.
2 Answers
Introduction
Webcams have become an essential part of our lives, especially in the current pandemic situation where remote working and online meetings have become the norm. However, not everyone can afford to buy a brand new webcam. If you have an old laptop lying around, you can repurpose its webcam as a USB camera. In this blog post, we will discuss how to reuse an old webcam from a Compaq 620 laptop as a USB camera.
Hardware Connections
The first step in repurposing an old webcam is to connect it to a USB port. To do this, you need to disassemble the laptop and remove the webcam. Once you have the webcam, you need to identify its pinout and connect it to a USB cable. You can use a multimeter to identify the pinout of the webcam.
After connecting the webcam to the USB cable, you need to connect it to your computer’s USB port. Once you connect the webcam, your computer should detect it as a new device and try to install the drivers for it.
Driver Installation
The next step is to install the drivers for the webcam. You can check if the drivers are installed correctly by going to the Device Manager and checking if the webcam is listed under the Imaging Devices node. If the webcam is listed, it means that the drivers are installed correctly.
However, even if the drivers are installed correctly, the webcam may not work with all applications. Some applications may require specific drivers or may not be compatible with the webcam. In such cases, you need to find the correct drivers for the webcam or look for alternative applications that support the webcam.
Testing the Webcam
Once you have connected the webcam and installed the drivers, you need to test if it works. You can use online webcam test sites such as webcamtests.com to check if the webcam is working correctly. These sites allow you to test the webcam’s video and audio quality, as well as check if it is detected by the browser.
If the webcam works correctly with online test sites, you can try using it with other applications such as Skype or Zoom. These applications allow you to select the webcam from the settings window. If the webcam is detected by these applications, it means that it is working correctly.
Troubleshooting
If the webcam is not detected by any application, there may be some issues with the hardware or drivers. You can try reinstalling the drivers or connecting the webcam to a different USB port.
If the webcam is detected but does not work correctly, you can try adjusting its settings from the application’s settings window. You can also try using a different application to see if the issue is with the application or the webcam.
Conclusion
Reusing an old webcam from a Compaq 620 laptop as a USB camera is a great way to repurpose old hardware. With the right hardware connections and driver installation, you can use the webcam with various applications. However, if you face any issues with the webcam, you can troubleshoot them using the steps mentioned above.
I’m assuming you’re not serious and just having some fun. USB cameras can be purchased at a very low cost. It seems like the USB controller is altering the Plug and Play (PNP) ID after a timeout due to not receiving some desired information from your computer.
You should monitor the PNP ID it initially receives, and then the one it is changed to.