Miscellaneous laptop discussions forum: Trouble with Chicony webcam on Toshiba Notebook

Okay, I don't have XP on my notebook, it's vista home premium, so I don't know if that has something to do with it. Also, I updated the driver to version 6.2.208.424, driver date of 4/24/07. This brought the cam to a quasi-working state. The only way I know of accessing the cam is via IM applications. On Yahoo IM, the cam turns on and then the picture goes black; the brightness levels drop out. Upon going into the webcam settings the brightness is still set to 50/100 and I have to adjust the antiflicker from 50hz to 60hz and the picture comes back, but i have to do this everytime I use the cam via Yahoo IM. On MSN IM the cam doesn't come on at all. I know this isn't normal behaviour for the cam but I'm unsure of what do next as I hadn't installed anything between the moments it was working and wasn't.
You requested the manual. Where can I get a link to that??

I looked around and could only find this link.

http://www.generalmanual.com/download.php?open=1&link=aHR0cDovL2NkZ2VucDAxLmNzZC50b3NoaWJhLmNvbS9jb250ZW50L3Byb2R1Y3QvcGRmX2ZpbGVzL2RldGFpbGVkX3NwZWNzL3NhdGVsbGl0ZV9YMjA1LVM5MzQ5LnBkZg%3D%3D

A true user's manual isn't out for this notebook yet on the net as far as I know. Outside of that, have you ever heard of this kind of behaviour from a webcam on a notebook? I'm puzzled as to why it would just decide to not peform properly out of the blue. Thanks for any help.

I solved this using my answers above.

I have done a system restore, downloaded SP1 and SP2, removed the camera from the device manager, turned it off and back on, rebooted. Nothing has worked so far. I even checked for the most updated driver. Watch me buy another Toshiba!

That could be the problem. When I re-install the OS on Toshiba's around here I use the Toshiba Restore media. I do know that you won't find good or any support if you install some other OS no matter what the maker today.

Tell a little more. And do try the factory supplied OS. If that fails then you have a warranty issue.
Bob

And a forum issue. Your replies can't be answered since the forum limits the depth of replies.

But now we know you did not format the machine. You "restored" the machine. Some may think it does not matter but in this case it does. The details matter big time.

"I used my restore disk that I had to make. Nothing came with my computer. A question....if the built-in camera won't turn on, isn't that "hardware" and not software????

Also...I read an earlier post, who wrote:

"What i realised is that im working with a laptop .. ie.. lots and lots of power settings to conserve power. what i found was the power setting i was on had "suspend USB when not in use" setting was enabled. IE.. i would turn the laptop on ..camera not in use .. so it suspends it that is to say like turns it off. Now the camera cant be turned on manually in my case so this left the camera useless. I have since disabled this setting well to be honest i changed my power setting to HIGH PERFORMANCE and customised it to make sure everything was turned on!! or enabled or made it so that nothing turned off"

I've changed it to high performance....but where do I change the "suspend USB when not in use" setting????? Hoping this might work??"

If the BIOS is set to factory defaults and you restored using their destructive full restore to factory mode and Toshiba's web cam software does not work then you have a warranty issue.

-> If you did ANYTHING such as registry cleaning, uninstall or install other applications then you have given them reasons to tell you it's not a hardware issue.
Bob

It's a forum limitation.

You wrote "Ok...thanks. To clarify...if I do the restore disk again and web still does not work, then I should be able to take it back in under warranty, as then all the other applications will be gone?"

In my mind, yes. It's now STOCK and you are showing it as configured by the maker. Make a COPY of those RESTORE CD/DVDs and when you return it for service supply that COPY so they can do the restore if they want. BE CIVIL, NICE as you possible can. Never lose your cool, make your point then listen (be quiet and let them talk.) Now if they won't accept it, try NICELY one more time that the laptop has the restore media and this feature seems to be dead. Try saying "Can you try it?" Above all keep cool, calm and more. If they refuse, ask for a contact to discuss the warranty with. Don't lose your cool if they refuse since we can go back home and call up their main office and find out later.

" I hardly use this laptop, so not much on it but Word, Adobe, Skype, AVG virus protection. So should I delete all that stuff and/or do the restore disk again.....or should I be safe to take in as is?"

My advice is the full destructive restore from the factory media. Don't give them any reason to think it's something you installed or changed.

"Sorry....probably dumb questions...but I'm not a computer expert. Thanks so much for your help."

No, the dumb question is the one not asked. I am not the person you have to deal with but want you to be in the best possible position. Be sure to KEEP COOL and never make any threats.

In parting if they do take the machine, get some receipt for the laptop, with what you left with them. Serial number, power brick, cords, etc. Since the media is a copy, ignore that on the list. It will likely always be lost. Accept that. Said receipt should be on something official looking with the store name, etc.

Hope this helps,
Bob

Same thing here. Tried everything suggested and got nothing. The only step that made any difference was to download the most current driver, but that only changed the message to "no preview".

I'm having the same problem. It seems like a lot of people are. I've looked all over and am havin little luck fixing it. Dear Toshiba, help, Love, Us.

...but thank for the suggestion. Toshiba is telling me to reinstall the operating system (after several failed attempts to get the darned thing to work. I don't mind since I've only got 2 months worth of junk on here and have backed everything up to an external HD, but it's still a drag. I'll see if it works.

To disable your onboard webcam, go into device manager and then to imaging devices and click on the chicony webcam drive. Then click 'disable'. This is what I did to my webcam when it went south on me. I use my Creative Webcam and the quality is far superior. The rest of the laptop works great.

I got this directly from the Toshiba Website and it worked for my webcam! Hope this helps!

Issue


This Support Bulletin is applicable to Toshiba portable computers that have a built-in Chicony webcam and are running a 32-bit version of Windows Vista Home, Vista Home Premium, Vista Business, or Vista Ultimate.

The built-in webcam enters its own sleep state when not in use. Applications that use the camera should be able to wake the camera from its sleep state, but may not be able to do so after the computer is awakened from the Windows Vista Sleep state.

The following error messages indicate that the camera can not be awakened from its sleep state:

"The webcam is not connected" -- in Yahoo Messenger, after clicking My webcam and selecting the Chicony USB 2.0 Camera as the Camera Source.

"Locked by another application" -- when clicking the Start Camera button on the Camera Assistant software's Web Camera tool bar (when there is not another application using the webcam).

Resolution


Install the Hotfix for Microsoft Windows (KB931812).
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/931812

1. Review the background information in Microsoft Knowledgebase Article 938315.

2. Review Microsoft Knowledgebase Article 931812 and fill out the Web Submission Form for the Hotfix.

Microsoft will send an e-mail message with a download link for the Hotfix.

3. Click the link in the message to download and install the Hotfix.

The built-in webcam should now respond correctly to requests from applications.