Can't use camera or PC speaker!

[Eireann]

Just as the title says. The camera and speaker conked out last night, and I have no idea what to do. Evidently, I need to activate Windows (though I don't know if that's related), and I don't have the key for it because I bought this PC second-hand. What should I try?

[RealUnimportant]

Assuming the camera and speaker connect via USB, if they go through the same hub then try removing it from the chain of devices to see if either or both work when plugged in directly.

1. If both work this way, replace the hub.
2. If only one works this way, leave the one that didn't work unplugged and try the good one through the hub again, and if that works the problem's the broken device.
3. If it still doesn't work, the problem is the hub and a possible cause or casualty is the other device.
4. If neither work when connected directly, the problem may the computer. If you have another USB socket you can try on it, repeat from start, and if nothing still works it's definitely the computer in some way.

I don't know if Windows decides to ignore USB devices or not when it considers itself unactivated. It should offer you a link to follow that will talk you through the activation service.

[Eireann]

The speaker is the one that is integrated in the PC. There are no ports. The camera plugs into a USB port - I unplugged it, then plugged it in again. The PC still can't find it.

[Eireann]

Okay, I've worked out the problem with the speaker. The computer still doesn't recognize the camera, though. Maybe I need a new one.

[Eireann]

I bought a new camera and plugged it in. I turned off the computer. I turned it on today, and the camera doesn't show up on the list of devices. I tried plugging it into another port, and nothing happened. The computer simply doesn't recognize it. I'm trying the "Add a Device" option in Settings, and it's still working on it.

[RealUnimportant]

Sounds like the computer can't see the USB ports. That's a bigger issue. Did you get Windows activated properly yet, so we can rule that out as an issue? Also, you mentioned getting this computer secondhand; was that recently enough that you can take it back to them as faulty, because if it's having these kinds of issues already it's not fit for purpose.

[Eireann]

I've had the computer for some time. The place where I bought it is very reliable. The new camera doesn't show up at all; the old camera shows up when I look for hidden devices in Device Manager. Clearly, several of the USB ports are active, because I can use the keyboard, mouse, and external drive. I don't get it.

[csquared]

Do you have a friend that can test the cameras?
Try shifting port around. Could be one or two ports are bad.