HP EliteBook Folio 1040 G3 — Integrated Camera Completely Missing from Device Manager After BIOS Update

Mich 20 Reputation points
2026-03-05T21:54:08.86+00:00

Device Information

Model: HP EliteBook Folio 1040 G3

Operating System: Windows 11 Pro

BIOS Version: Updated to May 13, 2024 version

Camera Hardware ID: USB\VID_05C8&PID_03B2 (Chicony Electronics - HP Integrated Webcam)

 

Background — What Was Working Before

Before the BIOS update, the integrated webcam on this HP EliteBook Folio 1040 G3 was working normally. The camera was visible in Device Manager under Imaging Devices as HP HD Camera and functioned correctly with the Camera app on Windows 11 Pro.

What Happened — Timeline of the Issue

Step 1 — BIOS Update: The BIOS was updated to the May 13, 2024 version. After the update, the camera was not immediately checked.

Step 2 — Camera Error Discovered: When the camera was eventually checked, it was showing a Code 45 error in Device Manager (meaning: 'Currently, this hardware device is not connected to the computer'). The camera was listed under Imaging Devices as HP HD Camera.

Step 3 — Accidental Uninstall: In an attempt to resolve the Code 45 error, the device was uninstalled from Device Manager. This caused the camera to disappear completely from Device Manager - it no longer shows under Cameras, Imaging Devices, or any other category, even with Show Hidden Devices enabled.

 

Everything That Has Been Tried

1. Device Manager — Show Hidden Devices: Enabled Show Hidden Devices and scrolled through every category. No camera appears anywhere.

2. Scan for Hardware Changes: Ran Action > Scan for hardware changes multiple times. No camera was detected.

3. HP Official Driver (SP107638): Downloaded and installed the official HP Universal Camera Driver (SP107638 / SP82001) from HP's support website. Extracted files to C:\SWSetup\SP107638 containing Realtek, Sonix, and Sunplus driver folders.

4. Manual Driver Install via Device Manager: Attempted to manually install drivers using Have Disk and browsing to the extracted Realtek and Sunplus .inf files. Both returned the error: 'The folder you specified doesn't contain a compatible software driver for your device.'

5. BIOS Check: Checked BIOS settings thoroughly. There is no option to enable or disable the camera in the BIOS on this device.

6. PnPUtil Driver Commands: Used pnputil /enum-drivers to confirm all camera drivers are present in the driver store (Realtek oem2.inf, oem10.inf, oem13.inf; Sonix oem78.inf; SunplusIT oem79.inf through oem102.inf). All drivers show as 'Not In Use'.

7. PnPUtil Enum Devices: Ran pnputil /enum-devices /class Camera - result was 'No devices were found on the system.' Also ran /enum-devices /problem - same result.

8. Disconnected Devices Scan: Ran pnputil /enum-devices /disconnected and found the camera hardware at Instance ID: USB\VID_05C8&PID_03B2, listed as 'USB Composite Device' with Status: Disconnected. VID_05C8 is confirmed as Chicony Electronics, the manufacturer of HP integrated webcams.

9. Enable Device Command: Attempted pnputil /enable-device on the camera's Instance ID. Response: 'Failed to enable device - The device is not connected.'

10. Force Driver Add: Ran pnputil /add-driver with the Realtek rtchhp.inf from the driver store. Result: 'Driver package added successfully (Already exists in the system)' - but the camera still does not appear in Device Manager.

 

Current Status

The camera hardware (USB\VID_05C8&PID_03B2) is completely invisible in Device Manager even with hidden devices shown. All the correct drivers are installed and ready in the driver store. Windows itself reports the device as 'not connected' when attempting to enable it via command line. The Camera app shows an error and cannot access any camera.

 

My Question

Given everything above, I would like to ask:

1. Is it possible that the BIOS update from May 2024 caused the camera to become disabled or unrecognized at a hardware/firmware level on the HP EliteBook Folio 1040 G3?

2. Since the camera was working perfectly before the BIOS update and the only thing that changed was the BIOS version, is this a known issue with this laptop model on Windows 11?

3. Based on all the troubleshooting done above, is this likely a physical hardware failure (loose ribbon cable) or could it still be a software/firmware issue that can be fixed without opening the laptop?

Any help or guidance would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.

Windows for business | Windows Client for IT Pros | Devices and deployment | Set up upgrades and drivers
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Answer accepted by question author
Ivy Bui (WICLOUD CORPORATION) 510 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator
2026-03-06T05:37:04.37+00:00

Hi Mich,

Thank you for your detailed information and for walking through extensive troubleshooting. Based on everything checked so far, it tells us that the issue is not related to Windows settings, privacy permissions, or drivers.

This is our answers to your questions:

1. Could the BIOS update have caused this issue?

Yes, indirectly. A BIOS update resets how the system initializes internal hardware. On this model, the webcam is an internal USB device, and if the camera module or its cable was already weakened over time, the BIOS re‑initialization can cause the device to stop being detected.

2. Is this a known Windows 11 issue with this model?

No. This behavior is not specific to Windows 11. When Windows reports that a device is “not connected,” it means the operating system is no longer receiving a hardware signal from the camera. In similar cases on this model, the root cause has been hardware‑related rather than software‑related.

3. Is this more likely hardware or software at this point?

Based on the current evidence, this is most likely a hardware issue - commonly a loose or failed camera ribbon cable or camera module. Once the camera no longer enumerates as a connected device, software fixes are unfortunately no longer effective.

There are only a few remaining steps worth trying, mainly to confirm the hardware status:

1) Run HP UEFI Hardware Diagnostics

  • Restart the system
  • Press Esc, then F2
  • Run Component Tests → Webcam
  • If the webcam test is missing or fails, this confirms the system firmware cannot see the camera hardware.

2) (Optional) BIOS Rollback

  • If HP provides an older BIOS version for this model, rolling back may restore detection in rare cases.
  • However, success is not guaranteed.

If the camera does not appear in HP hardware diagnostics, the resolution would be one of the following:

  • Reseating or replacing the internal camera cable
  • Replacing the camera module
  • Using an external USB webcam as an alternative

These repairs require opening the display assembly.

We understand this is frustrating, especially since the camera was working previously. Based on all available evidence, the issue appears to be hardware‑related and not caused by anything you did in Windows.

Hope you found something helpful here. Please let me know if you need further assistance.

If this answer could solve the issue, it's appreciated to accept the answer.

Thank you again for your patience and support!

Ivy Bui

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  1. AI answer

    2026-03-05T21:54:38.8433333+00:00
    1. The context confirms that if Windows and Device Manager report a device as “disconnected” and it does not appear even after scans for hardware changes, driver reinstall, and Windows Update, the operating system is not seeing an active hardware device on the bus. The provided documentation focuses on driver and OS‑level fixes (update, roll back, uninstall/reinstall, switch to in‑box UVC driver, etc.), and when those fail it directs to the device or camera manufacturer. This aligns with a scenario where firmware/BIOS or hardware prevents the camera from enumerating at all. In this case, the camera previously worked, then after a BIOS update:
      • It first appeared with Code 45 (device not connected).
      • After uninstalling, it no longer enumerates as a camera at all.
      • pnputil only sees it as a disconnected USB composite device.
      That pattern is consistent with either:
      • Firmware/BIOS no longer powering or exposing the device to the OS, or
      • A hardware issue that occurred around the same time (for example, power rail or ribbon connection).
      The context does not list HP‑specific BIOS issues, but it does explicitly state that when Windows cannot detect the camera even after driver and Windows Update troubleshooting, the next step is to seek help from the camera or device manufacturer. That is the appropriate escalation here because the OS cannot bind any of the available drivers to an active device.
    2. The context does not document any known, model‑specific issue for HP EliteBook Folio 1040 G3 cameras on Windows 11 after a 2024 BIOS update. The generic guidance is:
      • Update or roll back camera drivers.
      • Use the in‑box UVC driver (USB Video Device).
      • Check for Windows updates and optional driver updates.
      • If the camera still does not work or is not detected, contact the camera or device manufacturer.
      Since all OS‑level steps have already been performed (driver presence confirmed in the driver store, no device enumerated under the Camera class, and pnputil /enum-devices /class Camera returns no devices), this falls into the “still doesn’t work” category where vendor support is required.
    3. The context provides several key points relevant to distinguishing software vs. hardware/firmware:
      • When a camera shows black screen or error codes, the recommended steps are driver update, Windows Update, and testing in different apps. If that fails, the guidance is to look for help on the camera manufacturer’s website.
      • When a device or driver is removed and Windows cannot find any matching device on scan, the OS cannot re‑attach a driver until the hardware enumerates again.
      • pnputil guidance notes that if there are no other driver packages that match a device, the device will have no driver and will not function. In this case, the inverse is true: there are drivers, but no active device for them to attach to.
      Given:
      • The camera no longer appears in Device Manager under Cameras/Imaging Devices, even with hidden devices shown.
      • pnputil /enum-devices /class Camera finds no devices.
      • pnputil /enum-devices /disconnected shows the instance as disconnected and pnputil /enable-device fails with “device is not connected.”
      • All relevant drivers are present in the driver store and can be added without error.
      From the perspective of the provided documentation, this is beyond what software/driver troubleshooting can fix. The OS is behaving as if the hardware is not present on the bus. That can be due to:
      • Firmware/BIOS no longer exposing the device, or
      • A physical failure (power, ribbon, or camera module).
      Because the context does not describe any additional Windows‑side remediation once the device is not enumerating at all, the next steps consistent with the documentation are:
      • Verify all Windows updates and optional driver updates are installed.
      • If the camera still does not appear, contact the device manufacturer (HP) for BIOS/firmware guidance or hardware inspection.
      So based on the context:
      • It is entirely possible that a firmware/BIOS change is involved, but this cannot be confirmed or corrected from Windows alone.
      • No known HP‑specific issue is documented here.
      • With all OS‑level steps exhausted and the device not enumerating, the situation aligns with a hardware or firmware problem that requires vendor support or physical inspection rather than further Windows configuration.

    References:

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