Clients computer, is it the spawn of satan? Help please.

[Brandon]

Ok I'm having one hell of a problem installing a webcam on this clients computer. I did a quick type up of whats been going on, so i can come back to it/have a record etc. I need to have a working webcam attached to this system ASAP, any ideas? I've had this "client" for sometime, and I want to get this working...


- System: Dell Dimension 4100 Desktop.
128 MB pc133
ati 128 rage pro 16 MB
pent 3, 8xx mhz
30 gig HD

when he first presented the system:
non-operational system. OS would not load due to not being present/corrupted.


- Solution: Fix/update BIOS, install User/client(s) supplied OS Distro, install web camera (when avaliable).


- Note(s): Web camera was not avalable at time of system pickup.
User/client(s) supplied OS Distro, had no cd-key. I informed User/client(s) this could be a problem, and I would try to find a trial cd-key, as he supplied a legal/valid OS CD.

A standard test was done to system after each OS installation, E.G. insure/test CD-Roms, USB, PCI, Video cards, and other devices.

***This was a brief test.***


STEPS TAKEN TO REPAIR SYSTEM;
-------

1. Fixed/corrected BIOS Boot order.

2. Formated Hard Drive with NTFS File System.

3. Installed windows XP Home | user/client Distro.

4. Windows xp home user/client failed to report CD-KEY. Had to use 30 day Trial key.


- Note(s): Windows xp install was valid, with NO KNOWN PROBLEMS. (just trial)
Informed user that system was running, user wanted non-trial version of windows OS.


5. Formated Hard Drive with NTFS File System.

6. Installed windows 2000 pro multi-user-L.


- Note(s): Could not install Video card drivers for windows 2k pro, from card manufacturer website "ATI". Tried everything... result failure.


8. Contacted user/client explained the above, user/client gave CC information to purchase windows xp pro OS.

- Note(s):windows xp pro OS orderd Dec 16 2006 @ $99.00.






STEPS TAKEN TO PREPARE SYSTEM FOR NEW OS INSTALL;
-------

9. Formated Hard Drive with NTFS File System.

10. Installed windows XP Home | user/client Distro.


- Note(s): I reinstalled the windows xp home trial, less hassle, I could get it all setup, and upgrade to Pro when it arived.

After reinstallation of OS, I tried my personal webcamera, to my surprise the camera did not work...

Contacted user and informed him, he wanted to continue.




ADDITIONAL TESTING ETC;
---
in no order.

X. check BIOS settings... PNP, LEG support both enabled(FAILED)

X. Tried re-installing webcamera. (FAILED)

X. Tried turning down hardware acceleration (FAILED)

X. Tried Running webcamera in a different application E.G. Yahoo messanger etc. (FAILED)

X. Tried Changing resolution. (FAILED)

X. Tried Changing Color depth. (FAILED)

X. Updated BIOS from A-03?. Very out of date... (FAILED)

X. Examined USB bandwith/bandwidth limit. Webcamera did not exceed usb set limit. no warnings etc. (FAILED)

[Topcat]

Re: Clients computer, is it the spawn of satan? Help please.

what kind of webcam is it?


BTW, yes. Dell IS the spawn of Satan!

[Brandon]

Re: Clients computer, is it the spawn of satan? Help please.

The camera does work on and off, but only for a few seconds, then it displays a "something not functioning/operating" (something like that..) I get no errors or warnings in hardware manager the system seems very stable.

Also the camera works fine on a *almost same spec machine, 1ghz pent 3, 128 mb ram, on board video.

[Brandon]

Re: Clients computer, is it the spawn of satan? Help please.

It's a VEO advance connect.. I haven't had any problems with it on other machines.

Also the error message is " a device connected to the system is not functioning." Funny thing is I cannot find this device...

[Topcat]

Re: Clients computer, is it the spawn of satan? Help please.

I would say its going to be a driver issue/conflict somewhere... Grab the latest drivers for the video card, USB controller, and the camera itself. What chipset is the board? If its not an Intel (unlikely since it's a Dell), see if there's any chipset driver updates.

[arneson]

Re: Clients computer, is it the spawn of satan? Help please.

It's possible that a powered hub will operate this camera, it may be looking for as much as 500ma at 5vdc.

[Brandon]

Re: Clients computer, is it the spawn of satan? Help please.

In the USB properties it says the cameras Power REQ is indeed 500ma. I have a hub but I'm missing the adapter.. :/

all the latest drivers are installed.
chipset is Intel 815E.

How can I tell if the USB can give this camera enough juice?

[Brandon]

Re: Clients computer, is it the spawn of satan? Help please.

FIXED. Thanks for the replies, it was indeed a lack of juice. I have never had this problem. Get this... The hub I have has a Y cable, I had to connect it to both USB ports 500ma x 2, and it still wouldn't run... I then connected the adapter and it ran fine. So I figured I'd take the y cable off, and just use adapter it stoped working... This thing has to run with a y cable and both 500ma x 2 usb ports! WTF? Knowing my recent luck maybe something else is going to go poof...


Anyway, Thanks a ton .