Depending on the model, HP provides different webcam applications: HP Webcam, Quick Play, You Can, Quick Web, Media Smart Webcam, and Arc Soft Webcam. Before you can use any of these webcam software applications, the correct webcam driver must be installed and recognized in the Device Manager, and the application must be configured to use the driver. Since there is no way to determine what hardware driver and software application changes will be made when installing a new operating system, the table below contains a list of webcam drivers and webcam applications that have been provided with HP and Compaq notebook computers in the past. The drivers and software applications in the following table will work on most models; however, they may not be compatible with the installed hardware components or operating system on some models. Original Program Operating System Supported Link to Software AIM Instant Messenger XP - Vista - Windows 7 Yahoo Messenger XP - Vista - Windows 7 Skype XP - Vista - Windows 7 Quick Play - Specific models only XP version 1.x and 2.x not available on web for download. Vista version 3.x discontinued, not available for download, replaced with Cyberlink You Cam. No download available. You Cam No XP version available. Vista - Windows 7 Media Smart No XP version available. For Vista and Windows 7, Media Smart Smart Menu must be installed before Media Smart Webcam Software. Vista - HP Media Smart Webcam Software Vista - HP Media Smart Smart Menu Windows 7 - HP Media Smart Webcam Software Windows 7 - HP Media Smart Smart Menu Arc Soft Webcam Sharing Manager XP - Vista - Windows 7 Install HP Universal Camera Driver before installing this application. Microsoft USB Video Device ( Driver) The Microsoft webcam (usbvideo.sys) is the preferred webcam driver for most HP integrated webcams. C:\ Windows\system 32\drivers\usbvideo.sys may display as HP Webcam or Microsoft USB Video.
If you are providing a driver for a webcam or a digital camcorder, consider using the system-supplied universal serial bus ( USB) Video Class driver, Usbvideo.sys. The USB Video Class ( UVC) driver is a Microsoft-provided AVStream minidriver that provides driver support for USB Video Class devices. When your device uses UVC, you do not need to supply your own driver. Instead, the device works automatically with the system-supplied driver. In the USB Video Class model, vendors do not write drivers; instead, vendors implement video streaming hardware according to the guidelines in the Universal Serial Bus Device Class Definition for Video Devices Specification. The UVC driver queries the hardware directly to obtain its capabilities and then drives the device, with no proprietary driver required. You can optionally extend UVC driver functionality to add vendor-specific processing. The following table shows support for UVC in different versions of Windows: UVC Version Windows Vista/ XPWindows 7 Windows 8 USB Video Class 1.5 ( H.264 video codec) Not supported Not supported Supported USB Video Class 1.1 Not supported Supported Supported USB Video Class 1.0 Supported Supported Supported Beginning with Windows 8, the H.264 video codec (encoder/decoder) is supported. H.264 is an open standard that allows efficient video compression techniques for reducing the use of network bandwith and storage space. This leads to a higher video quality for a given bit rate. For more information, see USB H.264 Video Cameras Support. Also refer to the Microsoft Proposed Extensions to the USB Video Class for H.264. The following list shows some advantages to using the Usbvideo.sys driver: No CD required for installation No driver writing cost No maintenance cost Opportunity for vendors to add functionality Easier debugging with public symbols Works with Driver Verifier Works with checked OS builds Compliant.
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