How To Fix Webcam Problems

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1,576 Responses

  1. Pattu says:

    Hey guys, this is my problem: I have an HP Mini 110-1190LA (Windows 7 Starter Edition) and my integrated webcam (HP webcam 50) worked properly until maybe a month ago.
    The image is blurry, so I went to the software, ArcSoft WebCam Companion 3, but there is no way it will let me modify the focus option, since the camera has no focus ring. I restored the default options and it was the same.
    I tried unistalling the device and restarting the computer, but when I go and check the device manager again, the webcam is installed and “working”.
    Then I tried updating the driver, but it seems to be up-to-date.
    I also checked my Java, Flash and DirectX and they’re all OK.
    While I was writing this, there appeared a software update, but it still doesn’t work…
    Please, help me! :'(

  2. Sarah says:

    @Kyle – A friend suggested trying out my webcam in windows movie maker, and even that didn’t work, nor did Camstudio, so from as far as i can tell, it’s not working with anything ;;;

    My computer’s version is Windows XP, which supports the webcam I’m trying to use…and I’ve updated DirectX and Flash, but it still isn’t working.

  3. Nicole says:

    I have a bulit in webcam and mic on my laptop (I have nothing plugged into my usb ports) and when I use it on yahoo messenger it works fine with no problems.

    When i turn the same cam on using skype, it turns on fine and I can seee myself and the other caller can see me. My problem is, the cam refreshes itself, basically turns black, then turns back on, usually darker, like less light is getting through. this repeats over and over and over during the calls. I never have this problem using any other program, only skype.

  4. Kyle says:

    @Leon – Weird problem you are facing. Considering what you started with, maybe it is a power management issue. All devices, including USB devices like a webcam can have power control, so they can be switched off when the laptop goes into power saving mode. You can check the USB Root Hub devices in the Device Manager and see if any of them has the option for power management enabled. In that case try disabling them.

    @Sarah – Have you tried using different programs with your webcam? Try SplitCam or Manycam as they work with a lot of different webcams. It also could be a DirectX issue, but what is your Windows version?

  5. Sarah says:

    Hey Kyle,

    I’ve recently been trying webcams on my computer- skype verified, a recently bought Zipp VGA CMOS webcam, and even the eyetoy camera.

    I know from past experience that the skype cam and the eyetoy cam work on my brother’s computer, but none work on mine. In any program which supports webcams, all I get is either a grey box or a forever loading sign. Even AmCap and the software I got with my latest webcam can’t seem to run them!

    I really need help, it’s frustrating me to no end. With my most recent camera (the Zipp VGA CMOS ) there was an installation CD included, I’ve tried uninstalling and reinstalling it multiple times to no avail. What on earth is going on?? Please help!

  6. Leon says:

    Kyle — We’ve tried installing updates from HP’s website, but the webcam still won’t work. She went to try restoring drivers from the bootup menu (pressing F11), but for some reason it won’t show up when she presses it. Any other suggestions we could try?

  7. Juan says:

    Well when i put the cam on,,, the light that turns on when it is on, turns on, and it says that is working correctly but i cant see myself, either my gf….and sometimes just work idk the reason

  8. Kyle says:

    @Leon – The moment you click Uninstall in the popup menu of the webcam device, you should see a messagebox to confirm, which includes a checkbox that says “Delete the driver software for this device”. If it is not there, that means the system is using a Windows driver and not an external driver.
    In that case, you might still need to look at installing the right drivers from HP for the webcam.

    @Lucy Nolla – You can use any chat program (YM, Skype, MSN), but it is better to try Splitcam, or Debut Video Capture first.

  9. Lucy Nolla says:

    @Kyle – i don’t think i have. what programs would u recommend?

  10. Leon says:

    Kyle,

    She has tried to uninstall the driver from Device Manager, but there is no option to also remove the files…where is this option? When we uninstall it nothing else shows up other than the ‘uninstall’ button.

  11. Kyle says:

    @Leon – Seems to be a driver issue indeed. Have you/she tried to uninstall the webcam (or unknown) device in the Device Manager and then select the option to also remove the driver files? That is the best way to get rid of any old or incorrect device related files.
    Then try reinstalling the drivers.
    If you are using Vista drivers (I don’t think HP has drivers for Windows 7, right?), make sure you run the driver installed in Vista compatibility mode.

    Anyway, that would be my first advice.

  12. Stef says:

    I have the same problem as Leon said. If anyone can help I will really be happy :)

  13. Leon says:

    Whoops, forgot to add this part:

    Also when her comp loads up it says ‘unknown device driver not successfully installed’ and when she uninstalls it from DM and checks for updates, in the DM it successfully installs ‘unknown device’.

    Or when she uninstalls it and then plugs in her wifi card, it says ‘USB device not recognized’ (referring to the cam, not the wifi).

  14. Leon says:

    Hi Kyle.
    My girlfriend seems to be having an issue with her integrated webcam software not showing up in device manager. She has an HP Pavilion tx1000 running on Windows 7 (recently upgraded). The webcam was under device manager and worked fine the other day up until she shut off the computer to go do something, then once she rebooted, the webcam wasn’t working. It’s not there still and shows it as “Unknown device.” She’s tried troubleshooting it/uninstalling the unknown device and reinstalling the driver, but it always says “Code 43? with “Drivers not installed correctly.”

    This has been going on for a few months now…she already tried taking it to this computer shop, but they didn’t even fix it. She has also tried a System Restore, and booting up the computer without anything plugged in (thinking maybe it was a USB problem), but that didn’t help either. I mean, the webcam DOES work…but only when it wants to, which is unexpectedly. Any ideas on what could be wrong or what she can do to maybe get it to work all the time? Thanks.

    Leon

  15. Kyle says:

    @pichayanut – You’ll need to provide more detail than that.

    @Jamesha – Blurry webcam images are often the problems of focus or light conditions. If it is an external webcam, it might have a focus ring that you can turn to get it sharper. And for the light just try to maximize the light on the webcam subject and see if that helps.

  16. Jamesha says:

    my webcam works but its blurry. you can only see motion and faint colors? i tried restarting my computer and reconnecting the device in differents usb but it doesnt work its still blurry

  17. pichayanut says:

    my computer wabcam no work

  18. Kyle says:

    @jordan – In most cases upside down webcam images are the result of driver problems. Try reinstalling the webcam driver first to see if that fixes it.

    @yuzez – If you can see yourself, then the webcam is working fine, and the problem is related to the network. Either your firewall or security software is blocking the webcam video stream or it is being blocked on the side of your chat partner. If this happens with different chat partners it will be on your end.
    Try a different chat program, or add your chat program as an exception to your firewall.

  19. yuzez says:

    when i am having video chat,i can see other but either me or other cant see me.what to do?
    p.s. initially my web cam was working properly.

  20. jordan says:

    my webcam is built into my computer and whenever i use my webcam i show up upside down on the screen how can i fix this?

  21. Kyle says:

    @cameron – Try disconnecting all other USB devices and see if that makes a difference. And did it ever work okay in the past?

    @Kerry Rae – Check your firewall settings. In most cases this means the webcam video stream is blocked. Define your chat application as an exception in the firewall or open the ports (which ones depend on the chat application, we have ports listed in earlier comments).

    @Angelica – First check the Device Manager to see if the webcam is listed under Imaging devices. If not, then you’ll need to install the webcam driver. If there is an error, you should also try reinstalling the driver for it.
    If that is all okay and you have the same problem, try SplitCam or ManyCam.

  22. Angelica says:

    my webcam is a built in one that isnt working idk how i should fix it. it just shows a black screen or sais camera not found. what do i do?

  23. Kerry Rae says:

    when i use my webcam for a video chat, i can see myself but the other person cant see me…
    how do i fix this?

  24. peter says:

    my webcam is no more functional

  25. cameron says:

    my built in web cam on my laptop keeps shutting on and off and ive set everything back to default and still doesnt work

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