Photo Learning Questions

Q. Is it possible to take snapshots and record video using your laptop with integrated camera as if it were a camera?

DELL-Chris B — Fri, 07 Aug 2009 15:05:52 GMT

Hello:

Quick answer is yes. If you are using a Dell laptop, you can simply use the Dell Webcam Manager software to record video and take pictures. Bear in mind however, that the image quality may not be as great as if you were using a regular digital camera. Check your users manual for more information on the specifications of your integrated camera.

Good Luck!

Q. Which USB port do I use for my memory stick and how do I transfer photos to it?

DELL-Chris B — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 18:14:05 GMT

Hello:

You can use whichever USB port is empty and available for your USB memory stick. However if none are available, you will need to either unplug another device or possibly get a USB hub to allow for more devices to be connected to your computer.

If you are using Windows XP or Vista, when you connect your USB stick to your computer, windows will automatically detect the hardware and install the necessary software. Once the software has been installed, you will now see the USB stick listed as an extra drive letter when your explore the contents of your C: drive. It will most likely have the default name of Kingston, Lexicon or whichever brand of memory stick you purchased.

At this point, you treat the memory stick just as if it was another folder on your computer. Simply cut and paste, or copy photos from your C: drive to your USB memory stick drive name. When you are done, select the eject hardware icon in your taskbar, and remove the memory stick when you are told it is safe to do so.

Q: How can I transfer old picture slides to my home computer?

DELL-Chris B — Tue, 03 Mar 2009 18:17:09 GMT

Great question!

The process is really quite simple, most scanners sold these days, have accessories available for just this. Look for this information in the specifications when shopping. If you have just a few slides to transfer, you may want to take them to a local photo development store. However if you have many slides to transfer, investing in a scanner may be more effective for this purpose.

Q: Can I schedule and backup my photos using Windows Vista to an external drive?

DELL-Chris B — Tue, 03 Mar 2009 18:09:38 GMT

Yes, and Windows Vista makes this process easier than ever when using the Backup and Restore Center.

Refer to the following Microsoft website for instructions and a walk through of the process:

MS Vista Backup and Restore