How to Use the PlayStation EyeToy on Windows

The PlayStation EyeToy USB camera offers two great functions for the price of one. The EyeToy is marketed to allow gamers to communicate with up to 6 users while gaming, but can also be installed and used as a quality Webcam on Windows computers. The EyeToy will work with Windows XP or higher and is compatible with MSN messenger, Skype and other Web camera applications. The following instructions uses a PlayStation 3 EyeToy and Windows XP; following this guide for installation is entirely at your own risk.

You will need

  • Playstation EyeToy
  • PC or laptop with Window XP or higher

Instructions

Identify the EyeToy and get the correct drivers

  1. Open Device Manager by going to Start Menu ? Control Panel ? System ? Hardware ? Device Manager.
  2. Plug EyeToy into your computer’s USB port; if a “Found New Hardware” popup appears, cancel it and continue installing via Device Manager. The EyeToy should appear in the Device Manager list under “Imaging Devices” and should have a big yellow exclamation alert next to it; it will also tell you the EyeToy’s model–Logitech or Namtai.

Download appropriate drivers

  1. Still in Device Manager, right click on your EyeToy and select “Update Driver.”

Update driver

  1. In the first dialogue window In the “Hardware Update Wizard” select “No, not this time.”
  2. Click Next to continue.
  3. Select “Install from a list or specific location (Advanced).”
  4. Click Next to continue.
  5. Browse to the folder where the drivers where extracted.
  6. Click Next to continue.
  7. A dialogue box will appear with a warning about the EyeToy’s compatibility with Windows XP; click ‘Continue Anyway.’ This warning simply means that Microsoft does not recognise the drivers and has not given them the “Microsoft Stamp of Approval.”
  8. After the next dialogue box appears, labelled ‘sel3110” click ‘OK.’
  9. Read the prompt, and choose ‘Yes’ or ‘No’ accordingly.

Test the EyeToy

  1. To test the EyeToy as a webcam, use VIDCAP32.exe, which is included with the drivers. This is a webcam preview application that tests if Windows successfully installed the EyeToy as a webcam.
  2. Open it and click on Preview.

Do

  • Ensure no other programs are running on your computer while you install the EyeToy.

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