How To: Get iSight Working With Windows XP Using Parallels 3 : Divide By Zero

At work I use an iMac which I actually do like even though I am primarily a Windows user.

I have Parallels at work so that I can test different OS browsers during development and I sometimes use Skype. I wanted to see if I can get iSight working with Windows XP under Parallels and you indeed can, originally found via StevieNova. I’ve added screenshots and a walkthrough!

Right-click Parallels
Go to Devices –> USB –> Built in iSight
Make sure it’s checked
Windows XP should detect it but just hold on
Download these XP iSight drivers
Extract them to a folder you’ll remember, probably your desktop is best.
Click the option saying you don’t want to check Windows Update and click Next in the XP Hardware wizard (these screens might appear a bit differently on your computer because I installed the drivers already).
Click “Install from a list or specific location�? and click Next.
Click “Don’t search. I will choose the driver to install.�? Click Next.
Click “Have Disk�? then “Browse…�? and then go to the folder you extracted the iSight drivers to.
Click the iSight INF file and click Open then OK. Click Next to install the drivers.

Voila, you should now have it working! To make sure, go to My Computer and click the Apple iSight icon.

Now you should see yourself!

Happy iSighting!

P.S. You can delete those driver folders now.

Comments

Wow! Thanks for the detailed instructions. Cheers!

Posted by: Cashflow420
On July 2, 2008 1:08 AM

Copied exactly what you have posted. Comes up with "The specified location does not contain information about your hardware". Although the camera works via the My Computer route and did do before. Still got a big question mark on the iSight icon in Devices Manager and doesn't work in IM software and constantly asking for the driver....

Posted by: Cj
On August 21, 2008 6:41 AM

Weird, I don't know what to tell you, it seems to work for most people...

Posted by: Kamran
On August 21, 2008 7:14 AM

I get the exact same message "The specified location does not contain information about your hardware", and as above, the Device manager is showing a ?, but the again, as above, the camera is working when double clicked in My computer...

Posted by: Phil
On September 25, 2008 11:32 PM

This worked like a charm for me! thank you so much.

i'm testing out a free video conferencing program (oovoo), so very happy to see it's possible.

Posted by: dimple
On October 9, 2008 12:09 AM

That was a great tutorial. Do you happen to have one for doing the same thing with FusionVM?

Posted by: Bruce Wise
On December 14, 2008 9:39 AM

Please, I copy the last person.... HELP with Fusion VM? I am such a Windows person, hardly ever use my .mac. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Posted by: Tracie
On December 25, 2008 12:20 AM

I'm getting the same error that "...does not contain information about your hardware". I peeked into the iSight.inf file and compared the "iSight.DeviceDesc" lines with the output of Apple's System Profiler utility.

I think the clue is that while my MacBook Pro has an iSight with device ID 0x8502, the Windows drivers from Apple for the iSight only lists 0x8500, 0x8501, 0x8503.

My hunch is that this mismatch is what is causing our problem. I haven't taken the time yet to investigate further...

Posted by: bill burns
On April 30, 2009 10:52 AM

For me the same what ever I try, it will not find the driver. Sorry but now I will buy a webcam only to work under windows XP????

Posted by: Manja
On June 24, 2009 3:03 AM

I also get the following message:
the specified location does not contain information about your hardware

Posted by: amk
On September 5, 2009 5:20 PM

Thanks!!!!

Posted by: Blanca
On September 21, 2009 9:22 PM

Thanks!
Summer 2009 17" MacBook Pro
I had to add the line

%iSight.DeviceDesc%=iSight,USB\VID_05AC&PID;_8502&MI;_02

to the iSight.inf - under the [Apple] section.

Got a wierd error in the Devicemanager - it appears to have created d a Cam called "USB Video Device #2" and put a exclamation point by the Apple Built-in iSight.. but otherwise it works great.

Thanks!

Posted by: Brian
On October 9, 2009 1:24 AM

works great...

had to add the line

just beneath the [Apple] section. Comes up as a 'USB Video Device #2' and a problem - with Apple Built-in iSight.. .. but the device still works great

Thanks

Posted by: brian
On October 9, 2009 1:28 AM

It works great... Thanks

Posted by: Felipe Calderon
On October 25, 2009 8:12 PM

I tried the fix that was recommended on 10/9/2009. It did create a USB Video Device #2. However the iSight camera screen is black.

OS: Mac OSX 10.5.8
Virtualbox: 3.0.10 r54097
VirtualOS: WinXP SP3

Please help.

Posted by: Rich Phillips
On November 6, 2009 12:41 PM

Not working, Isight.inf contains no information about the driver

Posted by: nathan Berg
On April 3, 2010 7:39 AM

Added the line into .inf file and it works great! Thanks!

Posted by: Lisa
On April 7, 2010 1:50 PM

Adding

%iSightUpdate.DeviceDesc%=iSightUpdate,USB\VID_05AC&PID_8507&MI_02\6&26FA8038&0&0002

lets me load the driver, but XP complains that it cannot start the device, leaving the video window black.

Thanks though,

Posted by: TH
On June 23, 2010 3:18 PM

Running latest Snow Leopard and VirtualBox 3.2.4, I had to add

to ensure the driver was accepted. It refused to start the hardware however, leaving the video window black.

Thanks,

Posted by: TH
On June 23, 2010 3:21 PM

Thanks, Kamran. I think this tutorial provides valuable insight into where the future is headed.

I just have a question: I use Skype all the time, but I haven't used the video conferencing capabilities with more than 1 person at a time. I don't know if it's possible.

Have you successfully tried using Skype for more than 1 person on a video call?

I'd really appreciate some info on that - if you know about how to do it.

Thanks again.

Best regards,
Som.

Posted by: Som, The GVO Conference Software Guy
On September 19, 2010 6:25 AM