Problems updating driver manually (webcam sony vaio)  


  1. Posts : 2
    Windows 7
       #1

    Problems updating driver manually (webcam sony vaio)


    Hey guys,

    I recently installed Windows 7 on a "not-supported" sony vaio model VGN-CR29XN. As expected almost all drivers where installed automatically - also the driver for the internal webcam. But unfortunately the webcam is not working.

    I did a lot of research and came across some threads pointing to drivers from ricoh who apparently are manufacturers of the sony inbuild motion eye webcams of those vaio models. I downloaded the drivers pointed out and tried to update them manually.
    Unfortunately my system refuses to update to a driver that I want and keeps insisting that there is no better driver than the one previously installed from the system. If I uninstall the driver and search for new hardware it automatically installs the same driver immediately and tells me my hardware should be working fine now...

    The driver installed from the system is: usbvideo.sys from microsoft dated 21.06.2006 version 6.1.7600.16385
    The driver from ricoh I am trying to install is r5u870 video device driver for mc501cb version 6.1005.301.00 from December 2006
    Regarding the ricoh homepage (and if my previous information about this model being the one build into the notebook is correct) this model is being discontinued.

    I still believe that if I somehow can convince my system to use the ricoh driver instead of the microsoft one I might be able to get my cam to work - but I cannot work out how to override the automatic installation routine of windows 7.

    Any help with this issue will be highly appreciated.

    Greetings from Hamburg
      My Computer


  2. Posts : 867
    XP, Vista, W7 64bit Home Premium
       #2

    I was working with this link Help getting all drivers on Sony CR4000 and there plenty of sucessful sony viao's installers and webcam - read the whole thread if necessary, the last posts are mainly concerned with the webcam - you might need to use compatibiilty mode or install thru device manager, or the correct installation order.

    If you unpack the driver (unzip) and sort thru the folders till you find a info file you can bypass the installer and install it thru device manager - go here for complete instructions - You cannot install a device driver by using its installation program in Windows Vista

    Ftp site with all sony drivers : ftp://ftp.vaio-link.com/PUB/VAIO/ORIGINAL/

    Your driver page : Vaio : Sony Europe
      My Computer


  3. Posts : 2
    Windows 7
    Thread Starter
       #3

    "whest" YOU are my hero of the day

    Although I knew all the things you wrote - what I did NOT have so far was the link to sony vaios ftp driver page.

    Just for anybody else with similar problems:

    I finally solved the issue simply by downloading the complete drivers pack for my model from the above mentioned ftp site (e.g. "CR2 drivers.zip" for the VGN-CR29XN) unpacked it and REALLY just ran the setup.exe for the camera driver... I did not even have to start the setup in compatibility mode or anything... (Although I am pretty sure the initial drivers pack on the ftp site was ment for vista)

    I really wonder WHY sony does not provide this kind of information on their support website - hence the only drivers not automatically installed with windows 7 installation 32bit in this notebook model are the memory card reader from TI and this da... webcam. Is THAT so difficult to mention???

    Anyway - although I always used to be extremely fond of sony and all their products - I shall not purchase any notebooks from them anymore and not recommend them either... Their customer support is not what I expect these days and really NOT recommended for anyone NOT totally familiar with PC issues of all sorts... (Some time ago I had similar problems changing a vista installation back to XP, which sony also did NOT support in any way for at least half a year - finally when all world was complaining about vista and they probably ran into problems selling their hardware they obviously changed their restricted policy...)



    and for YOU "whest", I leave my very best wishes and millions of "thank yous"

    Snowy Greetings from Hamburg
      My Computer


  4. Posts : 867
    XP, Vista, W7 64bit Home Premium
       #4

    Sunny Greetings from Australia have a good one
      My Computer


 

  Related Discussions
Our Sites
Site Links
About Us
Windows 7 Forums is an independent web site and has not been authorized, sponsored, or otherwise approved by Microsoft Corporation. "Windows 7" and related materials are trademarks of Microsoft Corp.

© Designer Media Ltd
All times are GMT -5. The time now is 09:55.
Find Us