Undetected webcam, required for exams at home

[Centinor]

Good day to you all, 

 

I had a test exam today to see if our hardware/software is working. When the software attempted to connect to my webcam, it didn't find any.

It seems that updating from windows 8.1 to windows 10 has made my webcam not be detected at all. Even in device manager. 

 

Here is the list of things i've tried:

 

1. Bios Update

2. Checking microphone (part of same logic board to my knowledge)  works fine

3. Dell Updater, updated all of dell's required junk

4. Running Diagnostics by mashing F12 at startup (nothing relative to the webcam was found)

5. Installing archaic software that fixed the issue for people with XPS 15's

6. Show hidden devices in device manager. (nothing to be found)

 

This is quite an issue for me, i have 2 weeks till my first exams.

I'm really out of idea's. I need this to work. 

 

The Laptop is a Inspiron 15 5558 and i've used the webcam in the past so don't doubt that it has worked. 

Thanks in advance. 

 

(Edit: So far i've had great help, had a look in the bios and the camera is indeed enabled which rules that out.

I've also checked all the function keys, none have a webcam indicator on it and i've manually tested every single one without result)

[Master Disaster]

Is there a physical switch to disable it? A software switch/function key? Is it disabled in BIOS?

[bellabichon]

I remember I had a similar problem like this a while back, where it was actually disabled at the hardware level through a function command (I think it was like Function + F6 or something). I know Dell likes sticking extra controls on their laptop keyboards, so is there anything like this on yours?

[Robchil]

[Master Disaster]

Did a quick Google, seems to be an issue for others too.

 

The fix is to strip the laptop down, unplug the webcam from the board then reconnect it. Not exactly ideal.

[TekSupport]

or buy a cheap webcam, unless there is a minimum requirements for the exam.

Probs like £30 for a webcam.

Better than opening your laptop, and risking

 

Or get windows 8 on an external drive and connect it and boot to that and if it fixes it downgrade to windows 8.1

Make sure to backup data before you try to downgrade. (by downgrade i mean installing windows 8, which will wipe any data you have on the drive)

[Centinor]

everywhere seems out of stock when it comes to purchasing one. Stripping down the laptop isn't ideal, but i've done it before. It's just a bit stressful to do it, always that stress of making a mistake. I'll have a look in the bios menu, hopefully it's that simple. 

 

When it comes to booting into windows 8.1, i'll have a go, i thing when i upgraded to an ssd i just swapped out the old hd and popped it in an enclosure, perhaps it'll still run. 

 

Thanks alot for the help, i'll keep you posted on progress!