medicnick83
Paramedic
Laptop was a HP Pavilion dv6363eu FYI.
This post serves more as a helpful thread than anything, also it's here so if anyone runs into this problem and uses the search function and such, might get help from it.
Initial Problem
Client has a XP laptop that is running very slow and web cam doesn't work.
It was a VISTA laptop, but because it ran so slow, it was suggested she downgrade to XP - this was done, but whomever did it, did a really kak job!
Actions Taken
I step in, I take laptop and do a nice "once over" which includes loading of all drivers and updates - after 2 hours, the PC is happy EXCEPT, the web cam doesn't work (never did) in any program, apparently it's installed but as a USB VIDEO DEVICE. (the error that came up when trying to use the web cam was "device in use")
No drivers on the HP site work, I spend 2/3 hours MORE Googling my ass off, finding all the possible different threads but ultimately linking to the same drivers.
Also, according to HP.co.za - there is no support for this laptop, especially for XP!
I eventually discovered by checking (via Device Manager, Hardware ID) that it was definately a RICOH web cam - don't even bother trying to find the driver via Ricoh's web site, it's a joke!
Also, I installed Windows 7 quickly on the laptop (using a different laptop hard drive) and found the web cam working.
Resolution Of Problem
I do a online tech chat to HP (because at this point, I'm all outta ideas, and I have 2 hours to go before I HAVE TO return the laptop), a lady by the name of Denise J gives me 3 URL's - 2 being the ones I've already tried (drivers) and the 3rd is a Ricoh VISTA driver.
I install the Ricoh VISTA driver and bam, it works.
Specifically; filename is sp34746.exe and it was 8MB in file size
Laptop returned to client working 300% better than it did before.
Hope this helps someone down the line.
This post serves more as a helpful thread than anything, also it's here so if anyone runs into this problem and uses the search function and such, might get help from it.
Initial Problem
Client has a XP laptop that is running very slow and web cam doesn't work.
It was a VISTA laptop, but because it ran so slow, it was suggested she downgrade to XP - this was done, but whomever did it, did a really kak job!
Actions Taken
I step in, I take laptop and do a nice "once over" which includes loading of all drivers and updates - after 2 hours, the PC is happy EXCEPT, the web cam doesn't work (never did) in any program, apparently it's installed but as a USB VIDEO DEVICE.
(the error that came up when trying to use the web cam was "device in use")No drivers on the HP site work, I spend 2/3 hours MORE Googling my ass off, finding all the possible different threads but ultimately linking to the same drivers.
Also, according to HP.co.za - there is no support for this laptop, especially for XP!
I eventually discovered by checking (via Device Manager, Hardware ID) that it was definately a RICOH web cam - don't even bother trying to find the driver via Ricoh's web site, it's a joke!
Also, I installed Windows 7 quickly on the laptop (using a different laptop hard drive) and found the web cam working.
Resolution Of Problem
I do a online tech chat to HP (because at this point, I'm all outta ideas, and I have 2 hours to go before I HAVE TO return the laptop), a lady by the name of Denise J gives me 3 URL's - 2 being the ones I've already tried (drivers) and the 3rd is a Ricoh VISTA driver.
I install the Ricoh VISTA driver and bam, it works.
Specifically; filename is sp34746.exe and it was 8MB in file size
Laptop returned to client working 300% better than it did before.
Hope this helps someone down the line.