Cannot get webcam recognised

  • Thread starter Thread starter Terry Pinnell
  • Start date Start date
T

Terry Pinnell

I'm in a catch 22 loop here! My Logitech Pro 5000 webcam is suddenly not
being recognised. Yet when I try to re-install what is claimed as the
latest software/drivers (qc1110.exe) from the Logitech website, the
installation fails and tells me I have LATER software installed and must
uninstall it first. But there is no trace of it in Add/Remove, so I can't
uninstall it.

However, at one stage, when I added the USB cable to its port after
re-booting this XP Pro PC, I DID get apparently get it to re-install the
software, by pointing it at C:\windows\inf.

From the Start menu I can get 'Logitech Webcam Software' to load its
window. But if I click the Quick Capture button I get "A webcam was not
found or is not working properly".

So I'm now baffled. That software obviously is installed. It is version
12.10.1113, so it is indeed newer than the version 1110 that I downloaded.

I'm guessing I somehow need to find that version and re-install it, hoping
that it won't object. But where to get it if not the Logitech site?

All very confusing! Hope someone can help please?
 
Terry Pinnell said:
I'm in a catch 22 loop here! My Logitech Pro 5000 webcam is suddenly not
being recognised. Yet when I try to re-install what is claimed as the
latest software/drivers (qc1110.exe) from the Logitech website, the
installation fails and tells me I have LATER software installed and must
uninstall it first. But there is no trace of it in Add/Remove, so I can't
uninstall it.

However, at one stage, when I added the USB cable to its port after
re-booting this XP Pro PC, I DID get apparently get it to re-install the
software, by pointing it at C:\windows\inf.

From the Start menu I can get 'Logitech Webcam Software' to load its
window. But if I click the Quick Capture button I get "A webcam was not
found or is not working properly".

So I'm now baffled. That software obviously is installed. It is version
12.10.1113, so it is indeed newer than the version 1110 that I downloaded.

I'm guessing I somehow need to find that version and re-install it, hoping
that it won't object. But where to get it if not the Logitech site?

All very confusing! Hope someone can help please?
Click to expand...


It looks like the webcam has simply failed...(or possibly a problem with
your USB port)
if so , it's not a software problem.

Try a different port...or try the camera on another machine
 
Terry said:
I'm in a catch 22 loop here! My Logitech Pro 5000 webcam is suddenly not
being recognised. Yet when I try to re-install what is claimed as the
latest software/drivers (qc1110.exe) from the Logitech website, the
installation fails and tells me I have LATER software installed and must
uninstall it first. But there is no trace of it in Add/Remove, so I can't
uninstall it.

However, at one stage, when I added the USB cable to its port after
re-booting this XP Pro PC, I DID get apparently get it to re-install the
software, by pointing it at C:\windows\inf.

From the Start menu I can get 'Logitech Webcam Software' to load its
window. But if I click the Quick Capture button I get "A webcam was not
found or is not working properly".

So I'm now baffled. That software obviously is installed. It is version
12.10.1113, so it is indeed newer than the version 1110 that I downloaded.

I'm guessing I somehow need to find that version and re-install it, hoping
that it won't object. But where to get it if not the Logitech site?

All very confusing! Hope someone can help please?
Click to expand...

At least for my Logitech camera (a different model than yours), the
software is available in two versions. A "driver only" package.
And a "full" (bloatware) package. (I checked my Windows 7 laptop,
to collect some information on how it works.)

It's possible, if you uninstall the "full" package, it uninstalls
both the bloatware, as well as the driver.

Now, the driver seems to be easy enough to find, in that the file
responsible is "LWS_uninstall" or similar. I found something like
that, in a "Common" directory section. Do a file search, using LWS
as a search term, and you should be able to find the uninstaller
if it is still around.

To find out how the main package is controlled, I used regedit.
By searching for "LWS_uninstall" or the like, or even just for
"LWS", you may be able to navigate to the section of the registy
that records installation details. There will be two entries
in the registry, one for the entire bloatware package, and one
for the driver section. Searching for LWS will plunk you on top
of the driver uninstaller, and a few keys away from that,
an anonymous looking msiexec entry, would correspond to some part
of the main package. That section of registry is what "Add/Remove"
would be consulting.

The main package uses an entry with "msiexec" in the command,
followed by a GUID that presumably points to a cache of the
package. I wasn't as lucky tracing down, where that might be.
I did a search, based on the GUID string, and that got me
pointed to C:\WINDOWS\install . There were quite a few .msi
packages in there, but none were as big as the original
Logitech download. I expect the original installer, spewed
a bunch of different .msi files in there, the sum total of
which, gives the "bloatware". Something maps from GUID
to file name, and it's probably in the registry. But I
wasn't 100% certain that I was looking at enough stuff
to manage to uninstall it all.

You could try running the "msiexec ... <GUID value>" type of
command, and see if it can run or not. You might try that
in a cmd.exe (MSDOS) window. The driver would be uninstalled,
by double clicking the LWS_uninstall thing, if you can find it.

There is a tool called Revo Uninstaller. But I wouldn't use
this, unless I'd exhausted all other possibilities. In a
sense, this is partially a registry cleaner. And before using
it, you'd want to back up the registry. Options there, might
be to set a System Restore point, or if you're as paranoid as
I am, just back up the entire C:, so you have an easy way to
put things back.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Revo_Uninstaller

You might run that, after what you thought was a successful
run of the msiexec uninstaller. I'd feel less confident,
if Add/Remove no longer shows your Logitech entry, that
Revo could make sense of what is left.

Paul
 
Paul said:
At least for my Logitech camera (a different model than yours), the
software is available in two versions. A "driver only" package.
And a "full" (bloatware) package. (I checked my Windows 7 laptop,
to collect some information on how it works.)

It's possible, if you uninstall the "full" package, it uninstalls
both the bloatware, as well as the driver.

Now, the driver seems to be easy enough to find, in that the file
responsible is "LWS_uninstall" or similar. I found something like
that, in a "Common" directory section. Do a file search, using LWS
as a search term, and you should be able to find the uninstaller
if it is still around.

To find out how the main package is controlled, I used regedit.
By searching for "LWS_uninstall" or the like, or even just for
"LWS", you may be able to navigate to the section of the registy
that records installation details. There will be two entries
in the registry, one for the entire bloatware package, and one
for the driver section. Searching for LWS will plunk you on top
of the driver uninstaller, and a few keys away from that,
an anonymous looking msiexec entry, would correspond to some part
of the main package. That section of registry is what "Add/Remove"
would be consulting.

The main package uses an entry with "msiexec" in the command,
followed by a GUID that presumably points to a cache of the
package. I wasn't as lucky tracing down, where that might be.
I did a search, based on the GUID string, and that got me
pointed to C:\WINDOWS\install . There were quite a few .msi
packages in there, but none were as big as the original
Logitech download. I expect the original installer, spewed
a bunch of different .msi files in there, the sum total of
which, gives the "bloatware". Something maps from GUID
to file name, and it's probably in the registry. But I
wasn't 100% certain that I was looking at enough stuff
to manage to uninstall it all.

You could try running the "msiexec ... <GUID value>" type of
command, and see if it can run or not. You might try that
in a cmd.exe (MSDOS) window. The driver would be uninstalled,
by double clicking the LWS_uninstall thing, if you can find it.

There is a tool called Revo Uninstaller. But I wouldn't use
this, unless I'd exhausted all other possibilities. In a
sense, this is partially a registry cleaner. And before using
it, you'd want to back up the registry. Options there, might
be to set a System Restore point, or if you're as paranoid as
I am, just back up the entire C:, so you have an easy way to
put things back.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Revo_Uninstaller

You might run that, after what you thought was a successful
run of the msiexec uninstaller. I'd feel less confident,
if Add/Remove no longer shows your Logitech entry, that
Revo could make sense of what is left.
Click to expand...

Many thanks, Paul, really appreciate that detailed reply. I'll get back on
the case after breakfast and report back maybe later today.

Since posting, my further research indicated that this was all more
complex than I'd thought initially. As you say, with at least two
components to uninstall/reinstall.

Any thoughts on the version puzzle (v11 versus v12)?

I am going to buy a new webcam, philo, but need to use the existing one
meanwhile and I'm also worried that a replacement won't install properly
until I get this mess sorted.
 
Terry Pinnell said:
Many thanks, Paul, really appreciate that detailed reply. I'll get back on
the case after breakfast and report back maybe later today.
Click to expand...

Prompted by your comment about registry entries I decided to first run
Glary Utilities Pro and did a registry clean. I haven't yet re-booted but
on trying Quick Capture it now at last recognises that I do have a webcam.
However, it sees only 'generic' software:

http://dl.dropbox.com/u/4019461/Webcam-00.jpg

But, as described earlier, following up on that results in a setup file
qc1110.exe for version 11.10.

http://dl.dropbox.com/u/4019461/Webcam-01.jpg

However, installation gives the same frustrating result as before:

http://dl.dropbox.com/u/4019461/Webcam-02.jpg


The two issues with that are:

1. I don't have *any* Logitech version installed, according to the
previous warning. Presumably that's because the registry still contains
spurious remnants. I'll tackle it along the lines you suggested with
regedit as my next step.

2. The site is meant to provide the *latest* version! (Yet I have
previously seen references to version 12, so I'm sure that's what I had.
Although I don't remember how I installed it! The webcam was a cast-off
from my son a year ago, but I don't recall getting a CD too.)
 
Searching my HD for 'LWS_*' I found only one entry, for
C:\Program Files\Common Files\LogiShrd\LWSDiag\LWS_Diagnostic.exe
I ran that and paste below an extract in case it helps diagnose the
problem:

--- Start paste ---
General system information
Camera Marketing Name =<!b> Unknown
USB VID Pid =<!b> Unknown
Software Version =<!b> Logitech Webcam Software / Version: 12.10.1113.0
CPU (x4) =<!b> Intel Pentium III Xeon processor
RAM =<!b> 0.00 MB
O.S. =<!b> Microsoft Windows XP Professional : 5.1.2600
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Microsoft Windows XP Professional - PROCESSOR_ARCHITECTURE_INTEL
Win32_OperatingSystem
{
BuildNumber:2600
etc
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Logitech Software information
---
Logitech Webcam Software / Version: 12.10.1113.0
Searching folder: C:\WINDOWS\Temp\
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Device information plus firmware
---
No Logitech camera is attached to the computer.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
VFX information (VFX must be running)
---
Service: LVPrcSrv is SERVICE_RUNNING
Service: LvPr2Mon is SERVICE_RUNNING
Internal Error: GetLoadedModuleList() - failed to find pid for process
LWS.exe
Logitech Software not currently running
 
Terry said:
Searching my HD for 'LWS_*' I found only one entry, for
C:\Program Files\Common Files\LogiShrd\LWSDiag\LWS_Diagnostic.exe
I ran that and paste below an extract in case it helps diagnose the
problem:

--- Start paste ---
General system information
Camera Marketing Name =<!b> Unknown
USB VID Pid =<!b> Unknown
Software Version =<!b> Logitech Webcam Software / Version: 12.10.1113.0
CPU (x4) =<!b> Intel Pentium III Xeon processor
RAM =<!b> 0.00 MB
O.S. =<!b> Microsoft Windows XP Professional : 5.1.2600
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Microsoft Windows XP Professional - PROCESSOR_ARCHITECTURE_INTEL
Win32_OperatingSystem
{
BuildNumber:2600
etc
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Logitech Software information
---
Logitech Webcam Software / Version: 12.10.1113.0
Searching folder: C:\WINDOWS\Temp\
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Device information plus firmware
---
No Logitech camera is attached to the computer.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
VFX information (VFX must be running)
---
Service: LVPrcSrv is SERVICE_RUNNING
Service: LvPr2Mon is SERVICE_RUNNING
Internal Error: GetLoadedModuleList() - failed to find pid for process
LWS.exe
Logitech Software not currently running
Click to expand...

I don't think the versions of software we're using, share much in common.

I don't have an LWS_Diagnostic, anywhere on C: for example.

What I did find in mine, is in a temp directory of Windows 7, the
entire installer was sitting there. That is the set of files, that
are unzipped from the large download. Important things in there, seemed
to be "msetup.exe" and "setup.ini". The "setup.ini" references 20 or
so sub-packages, contained in the installer folders in that temp
directory.

See if you can find msetup.exe, and an accompanying setup.ini . That
might give you some idea what is installed. Either the msetup.exe or
an uninstall executable in the same folder, could be the key to uninstalling.

I can find two copies of msetup.exe on the C: drive. One is in the original
temp folder, used to do the installation (last installed Dec.15). There
is a second msetup.exe, in a Logitech folder, as part of Programs. Even
if the copy in your temp is long gone, it's possible the msetup.exe is
still in some Logitech folder.

And that might not cover the driver. The driver, after all, has a separate
entry in Add/Remove. For that, the LWS_Uninstall might be the answer.
I would try cleaning up the driver remnants, after you attempt to
kill the master setup (msetup.exe), and not before.

If you could dig up the *same* version which claims to be on the computer
now, maybe you could reinstall it, then remove it.

Paul
 
Paul said:
I don't think the versions of software we're using, share much in common.

I don't have an LWS_Diagnostic, anywhere on C: for example.

What I did find in mine, is in a temp directory of Windows 7, the
entire installer was sitting there. That is the set of files, that
are unzipped from the large download. Important things in there, seemed
to be "msetup.exe" and "setup.ini". The "setup.ini" references 20 or
so sub-packages, contained in the installer folders in that temp
directory.

See if you can find msetup.exe, and an accompanying setup.ini . That
might give you some idea what is installed. Either the msetup.exe or
an uninstall executable in the same folder, could be the key to uninstalling.

I can find two copies of msetup.exe on the C: drive. One is in the original
temp folder, used to do the installation (last installed Dec.15). There
is a second msetup.exe, in a Logitech folder, as part of Programs. Even
if the copy in your temp is long gone, it's possible the msetup.exe is
still in some Logitech folder.
Click to expand...

Thanks Paul. No trace of msetup.exe anywhere on any HD I'm afraid.
And that might not cover the driver. The driver, after all, has a separate
entry in Add/Remove. For that, the LWS_Uninstall might be the answer.
I would try cleaning up the driver remnants, after you attempt to
kill the master setup (msetup.exe), and not before.
Click to expand...

If only I could find any obvious remnants! The only (many) registry
entries I've found are for the 'webcam software' which presumably displays
the Quick Capture and other controls. That is working, FWIW, so I don't
want to risk damaging it.
If you could dig up the *same* version which claims to be on the computer
now, maybe you could reinstall it, then remove it.
Click to expand...

Exactly, but where on earth can it be!?

In two of my three 'Add/Remove' apps there's no entry at all for Logitech.
(Yet it can be run OK!) In the third, the built-in Control Panel app,
there's this:

http://dl.dropbox.com/u/4019461/Webcam-06.jpg

But there are no buttons to remove or repair it.

I emailed Logitech Support yesterday but so far no reply.
 
Terry said:
Thanks Paul. No trace of msetup.exe anywhere on any HD I'm afraid.


If only I could find any obvious remnants! The only (many) registry
entries I've found are for the 'webcam software' which presumably displays
the Quick Capture and other controls. That is working, FWIW, so I don't
want to risk damaging it.


Exactly, but where on earth can it be!?

In two of my three 'Add/Remove' apps there's no entry at all for Logitech.
(Yet it can be run OK!) In the third, the built-in Control Panel app,
there's this:

http://dl.dropbox.com/u/4019461/Webcam-06.jpg

But there are no buttons to remove or repair it.

I emailed Logitech Support yesterday but so far no reply.
Click to expand...

You can probably find older versions on some driver site.

http://drivers.softpedia.com/get/SC...LOGITECH/Logitech-QuickCam-Pro-5000-950.shtml

You'll need to dig through the stuff you've got on hand, to
better identify the possible version. For example, the package
I've got, is around 100MB. The thing listed in your control
panel is 44.30MB, but it's hard to say if that is the installer
as originally delivered, or a measure of the files actually
written to disk.

You can try this page, for some older drivers. Or even
check the version info on your installer CD.

http://logitech-en-amr.custhelp.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/3428

Paul
 
Paul said:
You can probably find older versions on some driver site.

http://drivers.softpedia.com/get/SC...LOGITECH/Logitech-QuickCam-Pro-5000-950.shtml

You'll need to dig through the stuff you've got on hand, to
better identify the possible version. For example, the package
I've got, is around 100MB. The thing listed in your control
panel is 44.30MB, but it's hard to say if that is the installer
as originally delivered, or a measure of the files actually
written to disk.

You can try this page, for some older drivers. Or even
check the version info on your installer CD.

http://logitech-en-amr.custhelp.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/3428
Click to expand...

Good news! I registered on the Logitech Community Forum at
http://forums.logitech.com/
and in the forum
http://forums.logitech.com/t5/Webcams/bd-p/quickcam_software
I clicked the link to
'Finding Camera Software and Drivers'
which took me to
http://forums.logitech.com/t5/Webcams/Finding-Camera-Software-and-Drivers/td-p/92056
then to
http://logitech-en-amr.custhelp.com/cgi-bin/logitech_en_amr.cfg/php/enduser/std_adp.php?p_faqid=3428

There, the two separate elements were identified. (And that, BTW, IMO is
at the root of the issues I've been having. Why should users have to
manage the software in TWO chunks? Both are essential components of what
I'd call 'My Logitech Webcam software'. I don't have to do this with other
apps.) Anyway, I worked my way through to this link in the matrix at the
bottom
http://www.logitech.com/pub/techsupport/quickcam/lws110.exe
for the 'Logitech Webcam Software (LWS) 1.1 with Vid'
and after installing the resultant download, happily I seem to have a
working Webcam program again.

The entries in my Add/Remove app now look like this - totally obscure to
me. In fact, I'm forming the impression that this Logitech stuff is far
too complex and convoluted for mere mortals!
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/4019461/Webcam-07.jpg

That all seems at odds with the previous 'automatic' updating I described
in previous posts!

Flights and road conditions permitting, my wife and I are off to Germany
at 0700 in the morning. Unless I can find a web forum version of this
Usenet newsgroup I'll check back on 27th Dec. Meanwhile, thanks again for
sticking with me on this!
 
Terry said:
Good news! I registered on the Logitech Community Forum at
http://forums.logitech.com/
and in the forum
http://forums.logitech.com/t5/Webcams/bd-p/quickcam_software
I clicked the link to
'Finding Camera Software and Drivers'
which took me to
http://forums.logitech.com/t5/Webcams/Finding-Camera-Software-and-Drivers/td-p/92056
then to
http://logitech-en-amr.custhelp.com/cgi-bin/logitech_en_amr.cfg/php/enduser/std_adp.php?p_faqid=3428

There, the two separate elements were identified. (And that, BTW, IMO is
at the root of the issues I've been having. Why should users have to
manage the software in TWO chunks? Both are essential components of what
I'd call 'My Logitech Webcam software'. I don't have to do this with other
apps.) Anyway, I worked my way through to this link in the matrix at the
bottom
http://www.logitech.com/pub/techsupport/quickcam/lws110.exe
for the 'Logitech Webcam Software (LWS) 1.1 with Vid'
and after installing the resultant download, happily I seem to have a
working Webcam program again.

The entries in my Add/Remove app now look like this - totally obscure to
me. In fact, I'm forming the impression that this Logitech stuff is far
too complex and convoluted for mere mortals!
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/4019461/Webcam-07.jpg

That all seems at odds with the previous 'automatic' updating I described
in previous posts!

Flights and road conditions permitting, my wife and I are off to Germany
at 0700 in the morning. Unless I can find a web forum version of this
Usenet newsgroup I'll check back on 27th Dec. Meanwhile, thanks again for
sticking with me on this!
Click to expand...

Well, there is more hiding under there, than meets the eye.

One entry is for the driver. And the reason that one is separate, is
you can download just the driver if you want. Then, you can use a copy
of Microsoft AMCap to take a picture.

But the larger package, includes both essential and non-essential stuff.
The essential, is being able to access resolution settings, higher than
the ones UVC supports. For example, if I want to take a snapshot at
1280x1024 with my Logitech (native resolution), I need the bloated package
to do it. If I want to capture at around 960 x ???, then I can use
just the driver to do that.

The resolution on those cameras is deceiving. Web cams are "low light limited",
meaning there is never enough light for decent results. My Logitech software,
adjusts the frame rate according to light level. The frame rate drops to
5 FPS, if the lighting is bad. And that is useless for any "quality" work.

For all the high resolution claims of my camera, it boils down to
being a 640 x 480 @ 30Hz camera under realistic conditions. That
is all I can really count on with mine.

If you run those cameras under Linux (using even a LiveCD), the
real truth comes out. In Linux, the camera application provides
a table of what the config space of the camera claims. At 640x480,
it runs up to 30Hz, and the frame rate drops to lower values, if
the light is bad. But mine will only do 1280x1024 @ 5 Hz , even with
infinite lighting. The frame rate doesn't speed up. It would drop
even lower than 5 Hz, if the lighting is bad and I'm using full
resolution.

What the webcams really need, is better glass on the front. Something
with more light gathering power.

Paul
 
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