Details: PAC7301 VGA Output PC Camera SOC

Can this old (2007) webcam still be made to work, I hate to chuck potentially perfectly good stuff out, if it's reusable.
If I know it is working I will search for a project for it.

It still 'pings' when I plug it into my USB port - but does not show up.

I assume it needs some software driver if is going to work.
I hunted around for some time but failed to find a solution.

Any help appreciated, by a struggling novice.

 

The chip has a Linux driver.
https://github.com/torvalds/linux/blob/master/drivers/media/usb/gspca/pac7302.c

 

Details: PAC7301 VGA Output PC Camera SOC

Can this old (2007) webcam still be made to work, I hate to chuck potentially perfectly good stuff out, if it's reusable.
If I know it is working I will search for a project for it.

It still 'pings' when I plug it into my USB port - but does not show up.

I assume it needs some software driver if is going to work.
I hunted around for some time but failed to find a solution.

Any help appreciated, by a struggling novice.

Your success will live or die depending on whether you can find a driver. There are a bunch of free USB Camera driver files out there and I don't think there's any better way to choose one except to just keep trying them.

 

The chip has a Linux driver.
https://github.com/torvalds/linux/blob/master/drivers/media/usb/gspca/pac7302.c

I'm on Win 10 so I assume that would not be any good to me (different OS) ?

 

Your success will live or die depending on whether you can find a driver. There are a bunch of free USB Camera driver files out there and I don't think there's any better way to choose one except to just keep trying them.

Yes, I actually tried some of that before posting, downloaded a couple (Logitech), no success, sadly

 

Yes, I actually tried some of that before posting, downloaded a couple (Logitech), no success, sadly

Try any of the ones here?
https://beebom.com/10-best-webcam-software/

 

Try any of the ones here?
https://beebom.com/10-best-webcam-software/

I tried 3 of those - 2 just grabbed screen shots from the integrated laptop camera. The other one IP CAMERA VIEWER just locked up.

Am I incorrect in thinking that firstly I need the laptop to see the USB webcam? Do I need some kind of driver?, because although the USB webcam pings when plugged in, there is no other indication that it exists!

 

I'm on Win 10 so I assume that would not be any good to me (different OS) ?

The only thing close (PAC7302) after a short search is a win 7 64-bit driver for a Japanese device.

Google can translate.
https://www.horic.co.jp/64inst.html

YMMV

 

Am I incorrect in thinking that firstly I need the laptop to see the USB webcam?

Yes, but without a driver there will be next to zero communication, maybe just an identification of what the device is.

Do I need some kind of driver?

Yup, the system has no idea what to do with it without a driver.

...although the USB webcam pings when plugged in, there is no other indication that it exists!

I've seen that exact scenario when trying to use an old webcam that I couldn't find a driver for.

 

The only thing close (PAC7302) after a short search is a win 7 64-bit driver for a Japanese device.

Google can translate.
https://www.horic.co.jp/64inst.html

YMMV

I downloaded/installed that file to my laptop.
Then I found where the problematic camera was in Device Manager (grab1)


then tried Update Driver from there, without sucess :-( (grab2)[


My mileage is getting very high now.
This may have to be a ....
Possible Fail

unless anyone has any more ideas.

All help to date really appreciated.
Thanks