HOW CAN I TELL IF I HAVE INTEGRATIVE CAMERA FUNCTIONS?

[Ladywiz]

Hi, I have a Thinkpad T61 by Lenovo that I bought off of Amazon. I can see there's a little camera icon on the laptop top of the screen, but I can't find how to turn it on or if I need some extra software. I'm on XP and happy to report there's never been an issue with it at all.

How can I check to see if there's any webcam or integrative camera on the T61? Do I need to buy an extra webcam?

Thank you for any input out there.

[RealBlackStuff]

There is no camera/webcam on any T61.
What you see is the Thinklight, which you can switch on with Fn/PgUp.
So you'll need an external webcam.
IMHO one of the best is the Logitech Quickcam Pro 9000, which you can find on e.g. eBay.

[Ladywiz]

Thank you for answering so soon. I didn't think there was anything installed on the T61, but since it has a little icon, I thought that might be it. Thanks once again.

[RealBlackStuff]

A friend just told me that on the T61 14.1" widescreen models there was a webcam option.
Never seen one of those, but check in your Device Manager under Imaging Devices, if yours has a webcam.

[Ladywiz]

My T61 doesn't even have an "Imaging Devices" under the "Device Manager." Although there seems to be a camera icon on the top of the screen's lid, there isn't any lens or anything that I can see...just the icon and no mention of a software anywhere under "programs" or otherwise. Thanks for your help people, just the same. I appreciate it.

I guess I'll have to get a webcam ...

[rkawakami]

Looking through the PSREF that covers the T61 systems, there were several widescreen models that did come with the integrated webcam. The best way to check to see if the system originally came with a camera is to enter the 7-characters model type into the link named MTM at the top of this page. If it reports that the system did have a webcam and Windows is not finding one, I can only assume that the camera is either defective or has been removed by a previous owner for some reason.

[Ladywiz]

Thank you, rkawakami, I'll try it as soon as I can. Thank you for the info about MTM.

I just ran it, but it only says, "ThinkPad T61 Configure-To-Order system." Whatever that means.

[ajkula66]

There's a sticker on the bottom side of the laptop that shows the serial number (no need to post that), production date AND a 7-character model number, shown in the form of TYPE 7655-12U.

What are these 7 characters on your machine?

[TPFanatic]

Does your laptop have a parallelogram shaped indentation at the top of the lid bezel?
Shaped like this: \___0_\
Or like this picture: (hi-res 1600x1359 jpg) https://www.laptops4all.nl/media/catalo ... tebook.jpg

The parallelogram suggests a webcam. Otherwise you may be looking at the Thinklight keyboard lamp activated by pressing Fn+PgUp.

[rkawakami]

I just ran it, but it only says, "ThinkPad T61 Configure-To-Order system." Whatever that means.

That means that the configuration of the system, what software and hardware it had installed directly from the factory, was a special order version. The MTM link cannot determine exactly how those systems were set up. In the past, the only way to determine a CTO configuration was to input the serial number of the system at the online IBM Parts Lookup web page. However, I believe that a T61 is too old to be in the database.

[excal32]

Does your laptop have a parallelogram shaped indentation at the top of the lid bezel?
Shaped like this: \___0_\
Or like this picture: (hi-res 1600x1359 jpg) https://www.laptops4all.nl/media/catalo ... tebook.jpg

The parallelogram suggests a webcam. Otherwise you may be looking at the Thinklight keyboard lamp activated by pressing Fn+PgUp.

I used to have a T61 that did actually have a built in webcam. It eventually died, but I still have the screen somewhere.

Can confirm this is what a webcam T61 would look like. Otherwise it would be flat black plastic across the top.

[Ladywiz]

TPFanatic and excal32:

I do know about the Thinklight, so that's not the issue. It's just that my T61 has a camera icon, but no integrative camera listed anywhere, either on the control panel or anywhere else.

I'm trying to get out of spending on a webcam if I already have one in the laptop.

Does your laptop have a parallelogram shaped indentation at the top of the lid bezel?
Shaped like this: \___0_\
Or like this picture: (hi-res 1600x1359 jpg) https://www.laptops4all.nl/media/catalo ... tebook.jpg

The parallelogram suggests a webcam. Otherwise you may be looking at the Thinklight keyboard lamp activated by pressing Fn+PgUp.

Can confirm this is what a webcam T61 would look like. Otherwise it would be flat black plastic across the top.

Can you recommend a good, inexpensive webcam if I don't have one in the laptop? Thank you.
P.S. What is a bezel? Pardon my ignorance.

[RealBlackStuff]

Since you have no Imaging Devices in your Device Manager, there are a few options:
it is either disconnected, broken or missing altogether.
You'll need to remove the LCD-bezel (the rectangular front-plastic around the screen), to check.
To do so, get the HMM for instructions:
if 14.1" widescreen: http://www.thinkpads.com/support/hmm/hm ... 547_05.pdf
if 15.4" widescreen: http://www.thinkpads.com/support/hmm/hm ... 546_04.pdf

If disconnected, reconnect it to see if still OK.
If broken or missing or not OK, buy a webcam such as I suggested earlier.

[Ladywiz]

Thanks, RBS15000 it's actually RealBlackStuff

I'd get it, but in reading some of the reviews, they said the clip device, as designed, only works on flat screen bezels and not the T61 slanted-edge lid.

Maybe I'm reading it all wrong, but it was a common complaint or warnings the reviews had, about the clip on device. They said if you used it on an T61, it would leave the camera pointed downwards at the keyboard and not in your face. The only option would be to use masking tape or something like that.

I guess I better keep looking as, my bezel, I think that's what you call it, is not flat, but raised and slanted. Thank you for your help once again.

[RealBlackStuff]

Well, they got it all wrong!
If you position the folding "leg" correctly it's perfect.
That Logi webcam fits snug and tight on any laptop-lid you care to try.

[Ladywiz]

Thanks, I think I'll follow your advice. I can also return it via Prime Amazon I guess. Thanks once again.