Basic settings in Windows 10

If you are using Windows 10, all your processor cores will be fully loaded by default if your BIOS / UEFI is configured correctly. The only time you will use this method is when limiting the use of kernels, whether for software compatibility reasons or other reasons.

• Type msconfig into the Windows search box and press Enter. to open “System Configuration”.
• Go to the tab Loading, and then click Advanced options.
• Check the box next to “Number of processors” and select the number of cores you want to use (maybe 1 if you have compatibility issues) from the menu.

Click OK. and then Apply.

If you are using Windows 10, the box next to “Number of processors” is usually unchecked. This is because Windows is configured to use all kernels whenever a program can use them.

What are processor cores?

The processor core is an “independent” element on a common physical processor chip. Each core has its own processing hardware and cache, and is connected to the rest of the processor through the chip’s shared memory and system bus. A core is essentially a separate central processing unit, so a multi-core processor is like putting multiple processors together and working together.

The reason there are more cores in a processor is that it can often be more profitable to split computational tasks across multiple cores, allowing for faster and more efficient computations.

However, the effectiveness of this method depends on the operating system you are using as well as the specific application you are running; many operating systems and applications previously failed to take advantage of multiple cores and, as a result, did not see any measurable benefit from additional cores. Fortunately, almost all modern operating systems and many resource-intensive programs such as Adobe Premiere can take advantage of additional cores and, as a result, run faster and more efficiently.

Multi-core processors date back to 1996, when the IBM Power4 processor worked with two cores on a single die, which was revolutionary at the time. However, software support for this innovation did not appear immediately. Beginning with Windows XP in 2001, Windows began supporting multi-core operations, and many application developers followed suit. As a result, virtually any resource-intensive software you use today will take full advantage of the power of the multi-core processor you almost certainly have under the hood.

Basic settings in Windows Vista, 7 and 8

In Windows Vista, 7 and 8, the multi-core configuration is accessed through the same msconfig service described above for Windows 10. In Windows 7 and 8, you can also set the processor mapping, that is, tell the operating system to use a specific kernel for a specific program. This was helpful for many things; you can configure a specific program to always run on one core so that it does not interfere with other system operations, or you can configure a program that is having trouble running on any kernel other than the first logical core to use a kernel on which it performed better.

You may notice that the configurator lists twice as many cores as you should have. For example, if you have an Intel i7 processor with 4 cores, the window will show 8. This is because hyper-threading effectively doubles the number of cores: four real and four virtual. If you want to know how many physical cores your processor has, try the following:

• Press Ctrl Shift Esc. to open the task manager.
• Go to the tab Performance and press cpu.

Check the line “Kernels” in the lower right corner of the panel.

Enabling processor cores in Windows

One question we are often asked is whether a user needs to do something in order to take full advantage of the multi-core processors on a computer.

The answer is that it depends on the version of Windows you are using. For older versions of Windows, such as Windows XP, you may need to change the system settings in the BIOS to get the multi-core functionality to work. Any newer version of Windows will automatically enable multi-core support; you can change the settings to use fewer cores if you need to fix a software compatibility issue, but this is extremely rare.

How to activate all processor cores of a Windows 10 computer

The evolution of central processing units or CPUs is a fascinating and challenging topic to study. From the release of the Intel 4004 in 1971 to today’s Intel 10-series processors, these chips have seen astounding increases in speed and processing power in just five short decades.

Computing tasks that were once unimaginable even for the largest mainframes can now be performed with the cheapest budget smartphone, with even the simplest laptops having hundreds of times more power than the computers that powered the first space flights.

However, even with astronomically rapid advances in computing power, one innovation that still puzzles users is the concept of multi-core processors. Manufacturers such as Intel and AMD are touting the ever-increasing number of cores in new processors. 4 cores, 8 cores, 16 cores, even 32 cores. and their usefulness for heavy computing workloads. But what does that even mean?

Do I need to enable all kernels in Windows 10?

In fact, there are some opinions on this, although there is a fairly strong consensus among experts that you should use all the cores of the processor. There are two points that opponents are addressing. First, the reduction in energy consumption. Another argument makes a little more sense and stems from the first, it concerns laptop battery life.

The power consumption of the processor is difficult to verify. The reality is that the power consumption of a modern PC can be high for a long period of time. But it is also true that power surges do not consume very much energy. Even at maximum power consumption, the Core i7 only consumes 130W. Compare this to the 250W refrigerator, 1400W window air conditioner and 3500W integrated air conditioning system.

The argument for extending laptop battery life (less power = fewer charge cycles = several years longer) has some visual appeal. I admit that, given how much a high-end laptop might cost, it makes sense to disable some of the cores. However, this goal can be achieved much more efficiently and easier by slowing down the entire processor a little. Lowering the frequency means that the laptop will run slower than usual, which in turn will reduce performance and dramatically reduce battery consumption. The cores, when not in use, simply do not consume a lot of power, so the savings will be minimal. Lowering the clock speed of the processor directly reduces the power consumption of the machine and can actually increase the lifespan of the laptop.

The processor is the most important part of your computer, so it makes sense to use all the cores to the limit. Of course, if you are still having trouble getting your device to the level of performance you want, you might consider upgrading your processor (if you have a desktop) or buying a new laptop.

How to enable Windows 10?

If you are a very active PC user and you constantly want to share information, then in this case, you should learn about: “How to enable Share in Windows 10?” This is necessary, at least for the reason that through applications such as: Microsoft Edge, Windows Store and even, through “Explorer”, you will have access to Share using a dedicated button.

The uniqueness of this Share activation method lies in the fact that you don’t have to install third-party software, but at the same time, you will need to follow the action log in order to be able not to harm the operating system. So, if you have even the slightest bit of doubt about the method described below, or about your actions, it is best for you to use the creation of a “Restore Point” and with its help, solve an accidentally arisen problem, if such a problem appears.

In order to start the settings, you need to do the following: use the “Run” window (WinR) → the “Run” window will have an empty area for entering a command, where you need to enter “regedit” → click the “OK” button → window “Registry Editor” will allow you in the left part of it to go along the following path “HKEY_CURRENT_USER \\ Control Panel” → reaching the last subsection, move the mouse cursor to an empty area on the right side of the window and right-click → from the “Context Menu” select the item “New” → an additional “Context menu” will open in which, you need to select “DWORD 32 bits” → the created parameter, name it “EnableShareSettings” → add the value “1” for the created parameter → you can close the “Registry Editor”.

Now, you will have to move to the “Options” in order to search for a new page called “Share” there, if this page exists, you can go to its settings, which imply adjustments to the exchange options: as mentioned above, go to “Options” → go to the system section with the same name “System” → find “Share” / “Share” → you independently choose those applications that have the ability to share content, right there, you can configure additional options → save the changes.

After completing all the above actions, you can call the “Share” / “Share” panel at any time, and for this, you just need to press simultaneously on “WinH”.

In addition, to check the correctness of the actions performed, it is always possible to launch: Windows Store, Edge or Explorer and make sure that the Share button is present and the application is functioning.

And finally. If you managed to enable Share in Windows 10, but for some reason this software function could not drag you into your networks, in this case, you should abandon it and do this the easiest way by changing the numeric value from “1” to ” 0 “in the created parameter” EnableShareSettings “.

articles

How to know if your processor (CPU) supports hardware virtualization (VT).

Depending on your processor model, follow one of the links below:

Download Intel Processor Identification Utility from the Official Website.

Click on CPU Technologies as shown in the image below.

In the drop-down menu you will find information regarding virtualization. A checkmark next to Intel® Virtualization Technology means hardware virtualization is supported on your PC.

For further instructions click here.

Download AMD-V Detection utility from this link.

Right click on the ZIP file and select “Extract All”.

Then click on the file with the extension.exe and run it as administrator.

Next, you will see a window with information about whether hardware virtualization is supported on your PC, whether it is enabled or disabled.

How to enable hardware virtualization (VT) in Windows 10 for BlueStacks?

How to enter BIOS to enable VT?

BIOS is used to initialize hardware and also allows you to control various attributes and functions on your PC.

By entering the BIOS settings of your PC, you can control the virtualization process, enable or disable it. The following steps will teach you how to enter BIOS in Windows 10.

Start your computer and click on the “Start” button.

In the start menu select “Settings”.

In Windows settings, open the update and security settings.

Click on “Recovery” and under the “Special boot options” option click on the “Restart now” button.

You will see 4 options. Select “Troubleshoot”.

Select ” Options”.

Select “UEFI Firmware Options” as shown in the image below.

ATTENTION. If you do not see “UEFI Firmware Options” then disable Fast Startup or click here for an alternate way to enter BIOS.

In the new window, click on the “Restart” button to restart the PC.

After completing the above steps, you will be able to enter the BIOS settings of your PC. To learn how to enable virtualization, read the next section of the article.

How this article can be useful?

The instructions below will help you enable hardware virtualization in Windows 10. Alternatively, you can watch the video above.

However, you can enable virtualization in other versions of Windows as well. Depending on your version of Windows, follow the links below:

ATTENTION. If you cannot find the “UEFI Firmware Options” mentioned in the video, click here for an alternate way to go to BIOS and enable hardware virtualization.

How to know if virtualization is enabled on your PC?

Before following further instructions, please see if hardware virtualization is enabled on your PC / laptop. To do this, use the Windows Task Manager.

Open the Task Manager using the keyboard shortcut CtrlShiftEsc. Go to the “Performance” tab.

See if you have hardware virtualization enabled. Enabled means that it is enabled, Disabled means it is disabled.

If hardware virtualization is disabled, follow the recommendations below.

How to enable VT in BIOS?

Virtualization allows a single processor to run multiple operating systems at the same time, a prerequisite for BlueStacks to run efficiently.

The location of BIOS settings depends on various factors, such as motherboard model, processor type, chipset, and hardware manufacturer. Please refer to the documentation that came with your PC / laptop for how to enter BIOS. In the example below, we used ASUS laptops with Intel and AMD processors, respectively.

Click on Advanced Mode or press F7.

In Advanced Mode go to the Advanced tab.

In this section, you will find various options. Please select a CPU Configuration.

Under the CPU Configuration option, scroll down to the Intel Virtualization Technology option. Click on Disabled to change to Enabled and enable hardware virtualization.

Exit BIOS settings. When you exit, be sure to click the Save changes Reset button to save your changes. The button may be named differently depending on your PC model, but the point is to save changes before exiting BIOS settings.

Click on Advanced Mode or press F7.

In Advanced Mode go to the Advanced tab.

In this section, you will find various options. Please select a CPU Configuration.

Under the CPU Configuration option, scroll down to the SVM Mode option. Click on Disabled and select Enabled to enable hardware virtualization.

Then click on Exit.

You will see a window where you need to click on OK to save your changes. Now you can use BlueStacks and appreciate its high performance.

Graphics mode

This method is considered one of the most popular and is also suitable for beginners. To use the graphics mode, you need:

• Find “Programs and Features”, click on the item.

• Select “Turn Windows features on or off” on the left.

• Enable Hyper-V, make sure the labels are checked for all components.

• Shut down, press the exit button.

After completing all the steps, the program will search for and install the required components. The user will need to restart the gadget.

Using DISM

• Call the query string.
• Enter in the field: DISM / Online / Enable-Feature / All / FeatureName: Microsoft-Hyper-V.
• OS will process the request.
• The components are installed, confirm the actions.
• Enter the value “Y”.

The last command will cause the computer to restart immediately. This will configure Hyper-V.

Using

To create a new virtual machine, you need to run Hyper-V in the operating system and follow the algorithm:

• Press RMB on the PC name.
• Tap on “Create”, then “Virtual Machine”.

• The Settings Wizard will open, click “Next”.

• Set a name, specify a path if necessary.

• Select “Create virtual hard disk”.

• Select “Install OS from bootable CD”.
• Install ISO image file, specify path.

After installation, open Hyper-V, find “Options” in the menu. Here you can make the appropriate settings. It remains to return to the dispatcher. Right click on the created object, click on “Connect”.

You can enable the corresponding option in the BIOS with one Del button or F2, F10. After entering, find where virtualization mode is enabled, save settings.

What is virtualization and what are the requirements for a PC

This term is understood as the technology of programmatic presentation of the virtual version of IT products. These include OS, hardware platforms, file storage. Virtualization helps to reduce the cost of informative technologies, the acquisition of equipment that are available in virtual mode.

The use of technology allows you to create a working environment without affecting the resources of your computer. Virtualization allows you to use multiple systems at once. This is especially convenient for those who use outdated software that are not compatible with the current version of Windows 10. Processes that take place virtually are separate. Therefore, the risk of “catching” the virus is completely absent.

There are several types of process for representing a set of computational resources:

• paravirtualization;
• structure virtualization;
• server virtualization;
• hardware virtualization;
• application virtualization and other types.

Each tool uses a certain kind of technology. For example, the Hyper-V hypervisor requires hardware virtualization technology. The device and operating system must meet the requirements:

• CPU support Intel VT-x or AMD-V;
• CPU support for Layer 2 Address Translation (SLAT) options;
• 64-bit OS;
• 4 GB RAM.

To function, you will need to enable the technology on the device, as well as run Hardware Enforced DEP. Without them, virtual machines will not start. Some OS versions require installation of an environment emulator, for example, Blustax. The platform allows you to run any applications and games hosted on Google Play.

The tenth version of Windows is equipped with a hardware compatibility tool for installing Hyper-V. The systeminfo.exe utility will allow you to see the parameters on demand for the hypervisor. For this you need:

• Call the query string by pressing “Win R”.

• Enter: Windows
• Run the application as Administrator.

• Find the requirements item, check the support for the installation of the virtual machine.

If next to each item there is a value of “Yes”, this means that there will be no problems with the installation.

How to enable hardware virtualization engine in Windows 10, 3 ways

When hardware virtualization technology is enabled, the user can create several virtual computers on a physical PC. Each of them can have its own operating system. The virtual devices will run at the power of a physical PC, without the need to partition the disk. In addition, the user’s personal data remains protected. Find out what it is and how to enable hardware virtualization in Widows 10 OS.

Command line

You can also install hypervisor components through the console. This will require:

• Go to “Start”.
• Select “Windows PowerShell”.

• Enter in the line: Enable-WindowsOptionalFeature.Online.FeatureName: Microsoft-Hyper-V –All.

• OS will process the data, offer to confirm the actions.
• Enter “Y” in any case.

Upon completion, the device will exit the graphics mode, a window for working with updates will open. The engine will work with the enabled hypervisor.

How to enable it?

The Hyper-V hypervisor is part of the OS and therefore does not require installation. It only needs to be turned on in the device using one of three methods.

Problems when enabling virtualization

The main problems with enabling the option include:

• the enable point is not active in the BIOS;
• there is no point to enable the mode in the OS
• the function is enabled, but the system and emulator respond that it is disabled.

In the first two cases, the problem most likely lies in the fact that support is disabled in the firmware. Processor specifications can be found on the Internet, where information on virtualization support is usually available. On some PC models, the processor can support the technology, but it does not turn on, since the BIOS does not provide a button to turn it on. Perhaps a system update will help here.

At first glance, it might seem difficult to enable virtualization. But, using the instructions described above, even a beginner can cope with the process. Before turning on, the user should make sure that the PC meets the system requirements. Virtualization technology allows you to solve many problems, so any owner of a gadget must master it.

Enable Offline Files for Network Folder on Windows Server

For the user to be able to mark some files as available offline, Offline Files support must be enabled in the network folder settings.

In Windows Server 2016, start Server Manager and for the File and Storage Services role in the properties of the shared network folder, enable the option “Allow caching of share”.

You can enable manual caching for a network folder using PowerShell (in this mode, users can manually select folders and files to be made available offline):

Set-SMBShare.Name Docs.CachingMode Manual

If the network folder is located on a computer with desktop edition of Windows, you need to enable the Caching option in the properties of the shared network folder. Only the files and programs that users specify are available offline.

Enable Offline Files in Windows 10

In Windows 10, you can enable Offline Files through the classic Control Panel.

• Open the Sync Center;
• In the left pane, select “Manage Offline Files”;
• Click on the “Enable Offline Files” button;
• Reboot your computer.

The user can now right-click on a file or folder in the shared network folder to be made available offline and select the menu item “Always available offline”.

Windows will begin copying the specified files to the local offline files cache. By default, the size of the cache for offline files in Windows is 25% or more of the disk capacity (depending on the version of Windows).

Now, if the original file server is unavailable, the speed of the network connection to it is slower than the specified threshold, these files will be available to work offline through the Synchronization Center.

Any changes made to Offline Files will be synced to the server the next time the computer connects to the network.

How to enable and configure offline files in Windows 10?

The offline (offline) files feature in Windows 10 allows you to make certain network folders or files available offline, even if your computer is not connected to the corporate network. In this article, we will look at how to enable and configure Offline Files in Windows 10 / Windows Server 2016 manually and using group policies.

Offline files have been available in the Windows ecosystem for quite some time. All the user has to do is enable Offline Files on the computer and mark certain files or folders on the network share “always available offline”. After that, Windows saves the specified resources to a local cache on disk and periodically refreshes it in the background (every 2 hours. the frequency of synchronizing offline files can be set using the GPO Configure Background Sync parameter).

Configuring Offline Files Using Group Policies

If you want to enable the Offline Files service on all computers in an Active Directory domain, you can propagate the following registry settings to them through a GPO:

• HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE \ SYSTEM \ CurrentControlSet \ Services \ CSC. type DWORD Start = 1
• HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE \ SYSTEM \ CurrentControlSet \ Services \ CscService
  – type DWORD Start = 2
• HKLM \ Software \ Policies \ Microsoft \ Windows \ NetCache. type DWORD Enabled = 1

Alternatively, you can use the Allow or Disallow use of the Offline Files feature policy under the Computer Configuration GPO. Policies. Administrative Templates. Network. Offline Files. Here you can configure other parameters of Offline Folders:

• Configure Background Sync. enable background sync and configure sync intervals;
• Limit disk space used by Offline Files / Default Cache size. limit the size of offline files on the disk;
• Specify administratively assigned Offline File. a list of network resources that should be automatically synchronized to users’ computers and available offline (you can specify UNC paths to any network folders or the user’s personal directory \\ Server1 \ Users \% username%).

When analyzing problems with offline files in Windows, it is useful to examine synchronization events in the Windows log. Enable OfflineFiles sync logging:

wevtutil sl Microsoft-Windows-OfflineFiles / SyncLog / e: true / q

Then, for example, you can get a list of successfully synchronized files per day using the following PowerShell command:

To clear the offline files cache, you need to change the Format Database registry entry and restart your computer:

reg add HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE \ SYSTEM \ CurrentControlSet \ Services \ Csc \ Parameters / v FormatDatabase / t REG_DWORD / d 1 / f
shutdown –f –r –t 0

Other malfunctions

Even less often, the problem is on the side of a physical camera malfunction or cables that have come off their connectors. Experienced service center masters will help to correct the situation. An alternative repair option can be the purchase and connection of an external USB camera.

Be sure to check the antivirus settings, the most popular ones are equipped with anti-tracking functionality and can block the operation of the WEB-camera. For example, the Avast antivirus has similar settings in the Privacy section.

Driver problem

The camera may have stopped working due to drivers. This usually happens after an update, system errors, or conflicts between connected equipment.

• We go to the device manager.
• Find the section “Image Processing Devices”.
• We click on the name of the equipment with the right mouse and select the “Delete” option. We confirm the action.
• In the top menu, click “Action” and “Update configuration”.
• Reboot the laptop and re-enter the device manager.
• We look to see if there are yellow, red signs in the dispatcher opposite our equipment or in other sections, indicating a malfunction. If the signs are present, then you need to reinstall the drivers. To do this, go to the website of the PC manufacturer, enter the model into the search (it is written on a sticker at the bottom of the laptop or box) and download the video camera driver. An alternative is to use driver kits such as SamDrivers or special software such as Driver Booster. When choosing software, make sure it is compatible with the OS.
• If everything is in order with the equipment, then we try to restart the camera. To do this, click on it with the right mouse and select the item “Engage”.

Shortcut keys

Most notebook and netbook models are equipped with so-called “Hot Keys”. With their help, the procedure for activating the camcorder is simplified to a few clicks.

• Press the “FN” button on the keyboard and without releasing it press the button with the camera icon. In my case, this is “FN ESC”.
• After that, the standard camera control program should start.

If this method does not work, then you may have encountered one of two types of malfunctions:

• Defective keys.
• Required software not installed.

Each of the options will be discussed in more detail below. In the meantime, I propose to go to the main ways to fix the problem.

Trouble-shooting

In some cases, the standard launching methods do not work and the imaging equipment remains inactive. There may be several reasons for this:

• If keystrokes are used, they may be defective. Especially if liquid has been spilled on the keyboard or if the laptop has not been cleaned for a long time. There are two solutions, either to carry out repairs or cleaning, or use other methods of turning on the camera.
• Errors in the system.
• Drivers not installed.
• Software crash in drivers.

How to turn on the camera on a laptop in Windows 10

In Windows 10, first you need to make some settings and only then launch the camera.

• Right-click on the “Start” button and enter the “Parameters” section.
• We open the subsection “Confidentiality”.
• In the left menu, select “Camera” and set the existing values ​​to the “Enabled” mode. Additionally, you can set permissions for individual applications that could use our visual equipment.
• Reopen the “Start” menu and click on the “All Applications” button.
• We activate the camera by clicking on the appropriate item.

After that, a standard program for working with a video camera will start. It has all the standard features for comfortable use.

Errors and damage to components

Very often, some OS functions stop working correctly as a result of a system failure. For example, after a wrong or abrupt shutdown of the laptop, damage to the hard disk side, or the presence of viruses.

The last two options should be checked separately, after which you can proceed to troubleshooting steps:

• We start the command line. Learn more about how to open it in Windows 10. In the seventh version, the principle will be the same.
• Windows 10 users enter the command “DISM / Online / Cleanup-image / Restorehealth” and press “Enter”. After its completion, execute the command “sfc / scannow”.
• Windows 7 users enter only “sfc / scannow” into the command line and click “Enter”.
• We are waiting for the end of the procedure and restart the laptop.
• It remains to check the file system errors. To do this, open “Computer”, click on the disk with the OS with the right mouse and go to “Properties”.
• Move to the “Service” tab and click on the check button.
• We set the checkboxes on the existing items and run the check. In the tenth version, there are no additional checkboxes, so we just start checking.
• If the system asks to add a procedure to the scheduler, then add and restart the laptop.

After that, we try to re-enable the WEB-camera using the keys or from a special section in the “Start” menu.

How to Enable Camera (or Webcam) in Windows 10 (Simple)

How to turn on the camera on a laptop in Windows 7

Usually, fresh, newly purchased laptops have the necessary software for the front camera to work properly. All that remains for the user is to turn it on.

• Click on the “Start” icon and go to the “Devices and Printers” section.
• The next window will display all connected devices. We find what we need, and with the help of the right mouse click we turn it on.

List of some laptop models and default application names.

• Acer is equipped with the “Crystal Eye” utility.
• HP offers to use the application “HP MediaSmart Webcam”.
• Asus provides its users with the “Life Frame” program.
• Lenovo uses the “Lenovo EasyCamera” software.

Perhaps you will have a different program, it depends both on the manufacturer’s company and on the laptop model. In terms of capabilities and controls, they are very similar, even a novice user will not be difficult to deal with them.

The current version of the program can be downloaded from the official website of the PC manufacturer.

How to turn on the camera on a laptop

Today it is almost impossible to find a laptop without a built-in camera. The only exceptions are very budget models. Even so, you can purchase an external USB browser and connect it to your PC.

And, it would seem, the camera should work immediately when the device is turned on for the first time, but unfortunately, this does not always happen.

That is why I decided to write an article on how to properly turn on the WEB-camera on a laptop, configure it and prepare it for further work. Let’s look at several methods using the example of Windows 10 and 7.

How to check a WEB-camera on Windows 10. How to enable.

Now I will show you how on Windows 10 to quickly check whether your camera works, if it does not work, see if it is turned on and show how the drivers are installed on the webcam.

Microsoft introduced a special program “Camera” in Windows 10, which we will use to check it.

Click on the “Start” button (lower left corner of the screen) and select “All applications.

Applications are sorted alphabetically in the list, so we find the letter “K” and go to the “Camera”.

In the window that appears requesting access to the camera, select “Settings”.

You can also go to the settings through “Start. Settings. Privacy” and here on the left we find “Camera”.

We select this item and in the column “Allow applications to use the camera” move the switch to the “On” position.

Now go to “Start. Applications. Camera” again and everything should work and you will see the image from the webcam.

This application has buttons for viewing photos (top left), brightness adjustment (top center), a button to take a photo and record a video (right).

Thus, we can check if the webcam will work in other applications as well.

If there are any problems, then there are several options for solving them.

SOLVED. Fix Camera not Working Asus Windows 10 in 3 Seconds

Older laptops often have camera buttons or switches of some kind.

Buttons are usually located near the power button and are marked with a schematic image of the camera, and switches are usually located on the end near the TouchPad.

Next, go to the “Start. Settings. System” system, go down to the very bottom and find “About the system” on the left. Here we also go down and select “Device Manager”.

In the device manager, we find the “Imaging device” by clicking on it, you can see your webcam.

To enable or disable it, you need to right-click on it, select “Enable” / “Disable”.

If a webcam is not present in the File Manager under Imaging Device, but an undefined device with an exclamation mark is displayed, it may not have drivers.

On this site you can find descriptions of how you can install all drivers for most laptops, as well as for specific models.

You can also go to the official website of the laptop manufacturer. In our case, Acer (acer.ru).

Usually there are Russian sites, and there are European ones, and there are more European drivers. Therefore, if you did not find drivers on the Russian site, try to search for them on the European.

On the site we find the tab “Services. Drivers and Manuals”. We go to this page and here you can find drivers by serial number or laptop model.

If there are no drivers for Windows 10, you can search for them under Windows 8, 7, they are usually compatible.

You can also search for drivers by hardware ID. To do this, go to the “Device Manager” and right-click on the device, select properties.

Go to the “Information” tab, click on the “Device Description” drop-down list and select “Equipment ID”.

The ID of your hardware will appear in the window. We copy it and drive it into any search engine with the postscript “. download drivers”. The search engine will display several sites where you can download drivers.

If it does not find the full ID, you can delete a pair of sectors in the ID.

As a result, you can determine the following options for why the camera does not work.

• Switch / shortcut keys not enabled on some older laptops.
• Drivers are not worth, or are not the same.
• Windows problem.

Equipment setup

Blog about modems, routers and gpon ont terminals.

How to turn on the webcam on a laptop

Now the webcam is one of the essential attributes of a modern laptop. Indeed, video calls via Skype or web applications are a very popular form of communication today. By default, it is always turned on as a computer device and is powered. But here it is in an inactive state. Therefore, a lot of users do not even suspect about it, simply not knowing how it can be used and surf the Internet with the question “How to turn on a webcam on a laptop.” In fact, in 90% of cases, to activate it, you just need to launch an application that can work with a webcam. Unfortunately, there are no built-in webcam utilities in Windows 7 and Windows 8 operating systems. Therefore, third-party software comes to the rescue.
The software that comes preinstalled on the computer may include such a program. If it is not there, then you can download it from the Internet.

Another program that most likely you already have installed and which perfectly knows how to work with the camera is Skype.
To check the operation of the laptop webcam, you need to go to the program settings and find the “Video settings” subsection:

There you can take a picture and see the result.
Instead of Skype, you can also use Google Talk or ICQ.
You can also try to launch video communication on the Odnoklassniki social network.

The second reason. why the webcam may not work, is the uninstalled drivers.
Often, friends, acquaintances or so-called “computer wizards” from the ads are called to reinstall Windows, and as a result, the user gets a half-working system precisely because some of the drivers are simply not installed. To see this, we launch the device manager. To do this, press the WinR key combination on the keyboard and in the Run dialog box that opens, in the Open line, type the command:

This will open the Device Manager of your Windows 7 or Windows 8. Now let’s see if there are any devices with a yellow exclamation mark in the list:

In my example, as you may have noticed, there is an element “Intergrated Webcam”. an integrated webcam, and just marked with the icon. This means that her laptop sees, but she will not work until you install the driver. What to do in this case? To begin with, right-click on it in the context menu, select the item “Update drivers”:

Searching for the driver on the computer.
If the system does not find anything, then you will need to go to the website of the manufacturer of your laptop and find the “Support” section there. In it you will need to select your device model and go to the download drivers and software section (“Download Drivers and Software”). We are looking for a webcam driver, download the installer and run it. After restarting the laptop, the webcam will be turned on, of course, provided that everything is done correctly.

The third reason is the camera is disabled programmatically in the device manager.
To eliminate it, you will again need to go to the Device Manager and find the “Imaging Devices” section there:

There we find the laptop’s webcam and see if there is an icon with a down arrow on it, which means that the webcam is disabled. In this case, click on it with the right mouse button to call the context menu and select the “Activate” item:

After that, we again try to run the program in which you use the laptop’s webcam and check its operation.

Correctly, the above methods solve the problem in 99% of cases. The remaining 1% is usually hardware damage to the device. This is especially common on old laptops and you can fix this problem only through a trip to the service center.