The Playstation EyeToy is an interesting addition to your Playstation gaming console. But, the interesting fact about this Playstation accessory is that with a little bit of tinkering, this little gadget transforms into a PC compatible high quality camera. You can hook it up to your computer via a USB port and try its quality image streaming for a fraction of the price of high-end and more expensive webcams.
Using Playstation EyeToy on Your PC
The first step you should take in order to use your EyeToy as a PC camera is to identify what type of device it is and install the necessary drivers. First, plug your EyeToy to your PC using a USB port. It will be detected initially as a USB device and you will see a window pop up on your screen. You’ll be prompted that a new hardware has been detected. The window will also tell you that there are no appropriate drivers installed to run this new hardware.
Identifying Your Hardware
There are a couple of ways for you to identify the kind of EyeToy that you possess. First, you can look at the bottom of your camera to determine its version. You can then search the Internet for the appropriate device driver using the code you see on the camera’s underside.
The second way to identify your EyeToy is to keep it plugged into your computer and launch the Device Manager. In the Device Manager window, look for it in the list of devices under ‘Imaging Devices’. It will have an exclamation point beside it. Alongside that you’ll see the name of the manufacturer, which is either Namtai or Logitech.
After figuring out your EyeToy’s exact type, the next step is to download the device drivers for it. You either download the Logitech EyeToy drivers or the Namtai EyeToy drivers depending on which device you have. You’ll have to unzip the drivers to a specific folder that you can easily recall.
Install Drivers
Once you have the drivers downloaded, it’s now time to install your Playstation EyeToy. Unplug and then plug your EyeToy again to launch the Found New Hardware wizard. Navigate to the folder where you unzipped the drivers you just downloaded. From here the drivers will get installed as you follow the prompts. Remember to just click on ‘OK’ or ‘Continue’ or any of the affirmative options when you are prompted to make a choice.
Note: When asked about your country’s power frequency setting, be sure to click on the appropriate option for the frequency in your country.
That’s all it takes to install drivers for your Playstation EyeToy to make it compatible with your PC.
Using Your EyeToy
You can now use your Playstation EyeToy as a webcam when you go instant messaging. You may also install webcam software to further utilize this high quality camera.
