Can ffmpeg be used to test my NB505 laptop's webcam from its core?

[Chemist116]

Howdy. I am using a Toshiba NB505 Laptop which has a built in webcam. However I can't make it work, in other words it doesn't display any image but instead a dark screen. I did followed the usual troubleshooting procedures from reinstalling the driver from Toshiba's site to reinstalling using Windows Device manager (I'm using Windows 7 Starter) and using Toshiba's own Diagnostic tool which doesn't include any test for the webcam.

But the application which came with the laptop doesn't diplay any image at all. As well other apps such as skype and others. Even Chrome doesn't seem to detect any image coming from the webcam. Since I am at the point where I'm left without any ideas, I thought that ffmpeg could be used to test the webcam. In terms of the condition of the webcan the device doesn't has any sign of wear and is in good condition so I don't think it has any sort of circuitry damage.

I've already checked my current directx version and I'm using direct 11.0 which is the last version that is supported by Windows 7. Does ffmpeg has a generic driver which can understand all sorts of webcams so I could use it to test my webcam?. Does it exist a command for this? and to display it on vlc?. I've already used vlc to capture from the source of my webcam but it doesn't show any image. Maybe ffmpeg can get the image. Can someone help me with this?.

[sum_guy]

I don't think ffmpeg is the right tool, try OBS Studio, sounds like you might have an issue in device manager as well, take a look in there to see if the cam is active, good luck

[Chemist116]

I don't think ffmpeg is the right tool, try OBS Studio, sounds like you might have an issue in device manager as well, take a look in there to see if the cam is active, good luck

I did installed OBS Studio but I got an error which indicates that it cannot initialize the video and says that my GPU is not supported. What else can I do?. I'm using the latest drivers for the webcam and for the laptop's screen. It seems at this point I cannot use OBS Studio. What other options do I have?.

[sum_guy]

See this link

https://streamshark.io/obs-guide/adding-webcam

[Chemist116]

See this link

https://streamshark.io/obs-guide/adding-webcam

At this moment this will not apply because OBS Studio does not work in my computer because of the reasons indicated above. As it says the program cannot initialize the video because my GPU is not supported. What can I do? Help please!

[sum_guy]

Try this, it's an online webcam and mic test

if your webcam doesn't display, it's a hardware problem and it's dead.

http://webcammictest.com

[poisondeathray]

Does ffmpeg list it as a directshow device ? (can it "see" the webcam ?)

ffmpeg -list_devices true -f dshow -i dummy

[Cornucopia]

That "laptop" uses an atom processor. I think that is the root of your problems, or certainly one of the major ones.

Scott