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viper2523

Hi there....

First time poster here just bought my vaio yesterday.. I seem to be having problems in getting my eye-motion camera to work.. The model is VGN-FW11ZU and I am running factory shipped Windows Vista Ultimate... I have tried running through the online help guide (PDF doc installed on the desktop) and it says the problem could be driver related.. I have gone into device manager and the driver / hardwired device isn't even there let alone being unrecognised (question mark etc)

Just wondered if anyone else has encountered this or else the laptop is going back to the shops for a replacement!!

Blencogo

Hi Viper2523 and welcome to Club Vaio.

If you can't find the camera in Device Manager then the camera is faulty or has become disconnected. Have you tried looking in all the sections of Device Manager (like USB Devices) for the uninstalled camera? Vista Ultimate has a nasty habit of trying to use its own drivers rather than the correct ones and the camera may be installed as something other than expected.

If it is not there then return the Vaio and ask for a replacement.

viper2523

Hi.. Thanks for the reply..

I am absolutely devastated if I have to take it back but if it doesn't work.......................

I have checked the USB devices and there is a driver marked up as unknown... The plot thickens.. I am a bit of a Vista Virgin to be honest and could do with some further instruction if at all possible...

Blencogo

What does it say for the unknown USB Device?

What happens if you open the 'Vaio Camera Capture Utility' from All Programs?

I have just had a look at the Original Drivers Package for your model and there is no Camera Driver included. See here: -

http://support.vaio.sony.co.uk/downloads/preinstalled/preinstalled.asp?site=voe_en_GB_cons&c=0&s=VGN...

Check if you have a Sony (Ricoh) camera driver in C:\Drivers or C:\Windows\Drivers.

I think I would have a word with Sony Support on Monday because the driver should be available. They will probably recommend a full system restoration from the Vaio Recovery Centre to reload Vista and all the drivers. Call them here: -

http://support.vaio.sony.co.uk/contacts/contacts.asp?site=voe_en_GB_cons&tp=vaio&cc=en_GB&cm=phone

If you are feeling adventurous over the weekend you could try installing the camera driver from the FZ31Z. I am not sure if you have an identical camera but I doubt if you could do any harm. Check you also have the Vaio Camera Capture Utility installed (Check in C:\Program Files\Sony): -

http://support.vaio.sony.co.uk/downloads/preinstalled/preinstalled.asp?site=voe_en_GB_cons&c=0&s=VGN...

viper2523

What does it say for the unknown USB Device?

DEVICE TYPE Universal Serial Bus Controllers ------> MANUFACTURER Standard USB Host Controller ------> LOCATION Port_#0002. Hub_#0003. In the comments section it states that no drivers are installed for the device

What happens if you open the 'Vaio Camera Capture Utility' from All Programs?

Vaio Camera Capture Utility isn't even there!! I have even looked in C:\Program files\Sony

I have just had a look at the Original Drivers Package for your model and there is no Camera Driver included. See here: -

http://support.vaio.sony.co.uk/downloads/preinstalled/preinstalled.asp?site=voe_en_GB_cons&c=0&s=VGN...

Hmmmm

Check if you have a Sony (Ricoh) camera driver in C:\Drivers or C:\Windows\Drivers. After looking through C:\Windows\Drivers the Ricoh Camera device isn't listed......

I think I would have a word with Sony Support on Monday because the driver should be available. They will probably recommend a full system restoration from the Vaio Recovery Centre to reload Vista and all the drivers. Call them here: -

http://support.vaio.sony.co.uk/contacts/contacts.asp?site=voe_en_GB_cons&tp=vaio&cc=en_GB&cm=phone

If they insist on a system restore, do you think it's wise to make the recovery disks now or later? I don't want the current state to be my system recovery point until the problems are resolved...

If you are feeling adventurous over the weekend you could try installing the camera driver from the FZ31Z. I am not sure if you have an identical camera but I doubt if you could do any harm. Check you also have the Vaio Camera Capture Utility installed (Check in C:\Program Files\Sony): -

http://support.vaio.sony.co.uk/downloads/preinstalled/preinstalled.asp?site=voe_en_GB_cons&c=0&s=VGN...

I have already registered with e-support online and have logged/opened a query. I'll see what Sony support say on Monday and take it from there.. If I get no Joy I'll give them a call on Monday then otherwise it's back to the shops for a replacement....

Thanks for the assistance!