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Question

Driver (webcam) disk image for old iMac G4 laptop won't open

Apr 20, 2011 2:26AM PDT

My mother was lent an old but perfectly functioning G4 iMac laptop running OS 10.4.11, and she would like to Skype with it. I bought the only compatible webcam I could find, a Macally IceCam (not IceCam 2, which wouldn't work). I was able to install the software on the CD, just fine, but the driver is too old, so I got in touch with the manufacturer, which sent me a link to a .zip file for a newer driver (for OS 4 to 5). The file opened without a hitch, but the resulting disk image (.dmg) file, which contains the updated driver, only flashes when I try to open it.

I have received three messages, so far, from Macally, and none of them seems to understand where the problem is, even though I spelled it out in very simple terms. It seems that the tech support people are not native speakers of English, and that they may never have encountered the problem before, because they keep saying the same thing (unrelated to the problem), over and over.

We were able to Skype successfully, in the sense that my mother could see the person she was talking with, but because the webcam isn't up-to-date (or so I suppose to be the reason), that person cannot see her. Quite a number in the family, and friends, too, are far away. My mother is very old but loves being able to be in touch this way, but those of us who are on the other end would love to see her, too.

The last message from Macally kept blaming Skype, the webcam itself (it seems to be connected, and the old driver seems to have brought up everything, including the WebCam Monitor - which shows nothing), everything but the software. They sent me links to the driver, updated several years ago, and to the Website (with the same driver version). They also suggested that I try opening the link on my computer, which I already had done, with the same result: .zip opens; .dmg doesn't. They also suggested buying a different webcam (is there one that will work?) or returning the IceCam to the store where I bought it. Apart from the fact that the store is closed until next Tuesday for Passover, that it will have been at least two weeks since the webcam was bought, that it is open, and there is no indication that the hardware is at fault, I don't know what to do next.

Any ideas? Especially, about how to open the .dmg file? I've tried all the things I can think of, both on the computer at my mother's (it belongs to one of my sisters) and on mine. By the way, my laptop is a MacBook running OS 10.5.8

I just had an inspiration and clicked on "Get Info" for the .dmg file. It offered me a chance to change how I open the file, and I chose "Disk Utility." I really don't want to install the driver on my computer, but I clicked on the file after changing that and was brought to a screen that asked what I wanted to open, the file or my hard drive. I clicked on the file and was told that it had been downloaded from the Internet and did I want to open it? It also asked whether I wanted to repair the file.

That is as far as I've gone. I shall continue this saga after I get to my mother's and try opening the .dmg file differently. I'll report back when I know what happens, but if you have any thoughts about this, I'd welcome them. It would appear that I have only my own, rather meager fund of information and you lovely people to rely on. Macally tech support is hopeless.

Thanks for much for your patience and any suggestions you might have. (Or you can wait until I find out whether everything goes well when I try repairing the driver at my mother's.)

Jenny

Discussion is locked

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Clarification Request
Just wondering.
Apr 20, 2011 12:05PM PDT
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Answer
One more thing
Apr 23, 2011 3:29AM PDT

I'm not sure whether the computer at my mother's (my sister still claims ownership) has Firewire - though I think it does - but the webcam is meant to be plugged into a USB port. That's why I believe I cannot use the links about Firewire that you gave me. I am also not really interested in getting an expensive webcam (the link to iSight said it cost over $100), because my mother wants it only for Skype. Anything more would be a waste for her. She is very old and will need help even with Skype.

Thank you again, though. I feel, somehow, that this will get worked out.

Jenny

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Which is why I noted the iSight.
Apr 23, 2011 11:00AM PDT

If you can't get the Icecam working, I see refurbs at amazon for 80. That camera was really great. Plug in and it just works. No fussing with drivers.

As to support, you may find support for the G3,4,5 CPU based machines to be very hard to find.
Bob