Please help with Webcam Black Screen.....

Egyptian · 27-11-2010 8:16pm #1

This is driving me insane.

I had a webcam on my Windows XP PC. Installedit, and it worked fine.... up until it was misplaced.

Now that I need a webcam again, I went out and bought another one. Installed fine, lights up when connected, but shows a black screen. Hmm, I then uninstalled all webcam drivers, and anything to do with previous webcams, and try again. It installs fine, and lights up when connected. The Microphone on it works, but alas... still a black screen. I played around with all the lighting settings, and nothing changes, so it's nothing to do with being too dark in the room.

I decided to return the webcam, and try a different model. I now have the Microsoft LiveCam VX-2000. It installed, and again lights up when connected. The microphone works fine, but yet again the screen is black!! I've tried opening it in it's own software, Skype, Windows Live Messenger.... all show black screen.

What could be the problem???

CreepingDeath · 27-11-2010 10:49pm

Did you take the webcam lens cap off ?

If I ever have any such problems with USB devices I go to the device manager, and remove EVERYTHING from the Universal Serial Bus Controller section.

That may invalidate any mouse or usb keyboard you're using, but when you reboot, you're it should redetect any device attached.

Worth a go as a last resort.

Egyptian · 29-11-2010 12:41am

Thanks for the reply, I'll have a go at this.

Basically go to Device Manager -> UniversalSerial Bus Controllers ->

then right click and -> Uninstall.

Egyptian · 05-12-2010 2:47pm

BUMP,

Unfortunately the suggestion above didn't work... It still shows a black screen.

I don't get it, it says "Your device is installed and ready to use", and the microphone on it works fine, but there's no video input.......

_

Capt'n Midnight · 05-12-2010 3:16pm

what program are you using to watch the video

what options does it give you for video source

Egyptian · 05-12-2010 4:32pm

I'm using both Windows Live Messenger and Skype

For WLM, it gives the option of :-

1) Default
2) Video Device
3) Disable

Default gives no preview, and Video Device gives a black preview. The microphone on the webcam works fine though.

For Skype :-

It doesn't give the option to select a source, it automatically recognises the webcam is connected, and the microphone works, but gives a black screen as the video feed.

(Just to confirm, this has happened to 3 webcams now. All of which work fine on other PC's with both XP and Windows 7)

Please help with Webcam Black Screen.....

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