Web camera also known as webcam
Most newer laptops come with a build-in web camera also known as webcam. The web camera is located on the top of the display panel. Some people think the web camera is a part of the LCD screen but it’s not. The web camera is a separate module which is mounted inside the display panel above the LCD screen.
On the picture below you see a laptop display with removed bezel. The web camera module is glued to the display cover. The web camera is connected to the system board via a cable which plugs into the connector on the right side of the web camera board.
The web camera cable runs alone the right side of the LCD screen.
The web camera board and LCD screen are two separate modules and can be removed and replaced separately.
WEB CAMERA RELATED PROBLEMS.
Let’s say your web camera stopped working. You can see the camera detected in the device manager, but it will not work. What can you do? Try reinstalling the webcam driver and most likely the problem will be fixes.
Here’s how you can reinstall the driver.
Go to the device manager and find the webcam. It might be listed in USB devices. Right click on the webcam entry and uninstall the driver. Now restart the laptop. When it boots, the laptop will detect the webcam and install the driver. Does it work for you?
Laptop parts | Repair Man | 
December 26, 2008 9:20 am
May 7th, 2009 at 3:26 pm
Last week my web camera in a Toshiba Satellite A205 laptop stopped working. I tried reinstalling the driver but it didn’t help. I tried removing the camera from the device manager and let it redetect it, but it didn’t work. I tried reinstalling the web camera utility from Toshiba site, but it didn’t work.
The camera was turnign ot and the blut LED light up but there was no image in the webcam window, just a black screen.
Yesterday I received a new webcam board and opened the display assembly. It was so easy to replace the webcam. I simply uplugged the cable from the webcam board and replace it with a new board.
Rebooted the laptop and it started again!!!
May 8th, 2009 at 8:59 am
tom,
Yep, it’s easy if you know how to open up the display panel. I just did a similar repair and it took me about 15 minutes to replace the webcam.
July 26th, 2009 at 6:08 am
I have a HP Pavilion dv9000 laptop which I think is a part of the dv9500 series family for some strange reason. It doesn’t have a webcam. I was planning to buy a display bezel with a webcam section and also buy the webcam module. Do you think it is possible to install this?
I guess the real question is whether there is a web camera board on the dv9000t laptops even though they don’t come with a webcam.
July 31st, 2009 at 10:38 am
Jai,
I think it’s possible but you have to take a look at the motherboard and find out if it has a connector for the webcam. I’m not sure if your laptop is “pre-wired” for the webcam. If not, you’ll have to find the cable.
I think the webcam modules plugs into the motherboard.
Here’s the official service manual for HP Pavilion dv9500/dv9600/dv9700 notebooks. Take a look at the page 26, it has the display assembly components break down. Also, you’ll find part numbers for all components inside the display panel.
November 12th, 2009 at 10:08 am
I’m trying to integrate camera from toshiba a205 to a105. Is anybody can explaing what wire do what or give me some kind of the diagram of the cable and if this is usb camera? There’s 5 small wires and I wonder if I can modify it to usb connector. Thank you.
November 17th, 2009 at 11:32 pm
Leo Mazur,
I don’t know the pinout of the cable, but I’m pretty sure it’s a USB camera.
I just check it in the device manager (I have Satellite X205) and it says: USB 2.0 camera.
November 21st, 2009 at 10:00 pm
i have theguts of a veo webcam but not the usb male connection, does any one know how i could go about wiring it to a regular tv?
April 12th, 2010 at 8:57 pm
Hi, I need to replace the cable that conects the webcam to the laptop because it’s broken. Do you know where I can find it? I have a Toshiba Satellite A205. Thanks
April 15th, 2010 at 8:40 am
Bulacho,
You can search for a replacement web camera cable using Toshiba part number. I believe that V000929810 is the part number for the cable in Satellite A205 series.
Google the part number and find the seller. Contact the seller before buying this part just to make sure that’s what you are looking for.
June 12th, 2010 at 3:31 am
If you need to replace your webcam can find some useful info here
http://erkinson.altervista.org/riparare-webcam-asus-f5-acer-5720g-2/
August 16th, 2010 at 2:36 am
the camera do not apear with out usag the chat
August 16th, 2010 at 9:26 pm
haitham,
Not sure what is your question.
Visit the manufacturer’s website. Usually they have software to manage webcam.
June 29th, 2011 at 2:20 pm
hello fr pls help,
first format my laptop and then updated all driver incuding webcam
but still it shows message, “the camera is used by another program.”
does this is software problem or hardware and how it is can be solved
thanks pls reply
July 6th, 2011 at 9:35 am
there is some driver problem for sure, means ur camera driver is used by another software or any other program.
dont think there is problem in hardware if it shows correct in device manager,
reason it happens with me also in same manner, and it had been solved few days before, well in my case bluethoot was hv driver conflict,
July 8th, 2011 at 9:35 am
I have MSI CR600, but it have motherboard malfunction, repair is too expencive so i want to use some parts, like webcam, but I don`t know what colour means what. On webcam connector goes red, two orange, black and yellow wire. Please, can somebody help me.
December 16th, 2011 at 6:11 pm
i have a toshiba c640 laptop and the camera was not working anymre, the part where it is installed is starting to heat-up every time i turned on the computer,,so im planning to remove the camera,,is it possible to remove it without damaging the LCD?
December 27th, 2011 at 11:28 am
@ecp,
Yes, it’s possible.
The webcam module is not part of the LCD screen, it’s a separate unit.
The webcam module mounted above the LCD screen and in most cases it’s not necessary to remove the screen in order to access the webcam.
Here’s an example of taking apart a Toshiba Satellite C650 screen, it’s probably very similar to Satellite C640.
http://www.irisvista.com/tech/laptops/Toshiba-Satellite-C650-C655/remove-replace-screen.htm
All you have to do is remove the screen bezel, disconnect the old webcam module and replace it with a new one.
January 3rd, 2012 at 8:30 pm
What kind of cable is connected to the camera?
January 4th, 2012 at 12:57 am
@Repair Man
Thanks!!!..i appreciate your help..i just want to ask why is it that when i turn on my laptop, in the exhaust part, the smell is not good, it smells like a burned part or something or its just the HD that is turning so fast and produces the smell?..im planning to open it up myself in order for me to remove dusts that is stuck in it.. need your help,,:D..thanks..
January 4th, 2012 at 1:06 am
Just want to add a question, if it is ok that i removed the camera from the cable, without disconnecting the cable from the inside part of the laptop?,because i did removed the camera but i did not replaced it with a new one and i uninstalled the web camera application… thanks.:D
January 4th, 2012 at 7:36 am
@ecp Yep, you can remove the cam from it’s place and just leave the cable there. I did it with mine, re-installed everything from scratch, and nothing wrong happened.
@everybody
I want to re-formulate my question. I have removed the camera from the laptop, and now I have a pretty decent webcam + mic, and I am trying to give it an utility as surveillance camera embedded in a book or something like that. But in order to be able to do that I need to know what kind of connector and cable does the webcam use, it’s the same one than the one in the pic.
Thanks a lot!
January 4th, 2012 at 4:03 pm
@ Courious,
It depends on the laptop model.
Sometimes it’s a separate cable. Sometimes it’s a part of the video cable harness.
January 4th, 2012 at 4:07 pm
esp,
I cannot tell without looking inside the laptop. Could be just dust. Or there is a component failing on the motherboard.
What is your laptop model? Maybe I can guide you to the disassembly manual.
January 4th, 2012 at 4:12 pm
@ Courious,
I doubt that you can use the laptop camera like that.
Most likely the webcam connected to internal USB connector, so you should be able to power up and use the camera from USB but I don’t know the pinout. This is just a guess.
January 8th, 2012 at 1:48 am
@Repair Man:
Its a Toshiba Satellite C650.Hope you can help.thanks.
January 23rd, 2012 at 6:54 pm
@ esp,
Sorry for late response. Somehow I missed this comment.
I published Toshiba Satellite C650/C655 laptop disassembly instructions here:
http://www.irisvista.com/tech/laptops/Toshiba-Satellite-C650-C655/disassemble-toshiba-laptop-1.htm
Hope it helps.
February 22nd, 2012 at 3:53 am
Hi there!..thanks for the reply…i just want to ask..about the blue screen error..what probably is the cause of it? does it mean that my RAM is damaged?