Webcam woes

  • Thread starter Thread starter malcolmcelyn
  • Start date Start date
M

malcolmcelyn

I have tried installing a webcam on my daughters laptop (Win XP Home, SP2)
but get the following error message - Cannot instantiate the filtergraph. I
tried a Trust webcam initially, followed by a Mikomi but get the same error
message with both. I used the supplied drivers and tried downloading them
from the manufacturers websites. Googling the problem doesn't give much
except to update Flash player and Direct x, which I've done. Needless to say,
both cameras worked on my laptop, so I bought a third webcam which uses
Microsoft's generic driver, rather than it's own. It seems to install
correctly, doesn't show any problems in hardware manager, but still refuses
to work in MSN, Win Live Messenger or Skype. I get either 'webcam in use by
another program' (it's not!) or 'unknown error' (really helpful!). Any
suggestions as to what to check/try next? Thanks.
 
Mark L. Ferguson said:
Uninstall Skype. It controls your camera.
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Mark L. Ferguson
..
Click to expand...

Sorry for the delay in replying. Uninstalled Skype, but made no difference. Thinking along similar lines, I uninstalled AIM too, but despite cleaning registry and rebooting, the problem remains. (message reads : either your camera is not plugged in or you are using it in a video call or with another program). Any other suggestions to try? Cheers, Malcolm.
 
Mark L. Ferguson said:
Uninstall Skype. It controls your camera.
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Mark L. Ferguson
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Click to expand...

Sorry for the delay in replying. Uninstalled Skype, but made no difference.
Thinking along similar lines, I uninstalled AIM too, but despite cleaning
registry and rebooting, the problem remains. (message reads : either your
camera is not plugged in or you are using it in a video call or with another
program). Any other suggestions to try? Cheers, Malcolm.
 
If it is not Skype, then you know it's the DirectX software. The 'filter
graph' message comes from that. I suggest running the command "DXDIAG" to
see what tests fail, and what you might do to reinstall DirectX.

Download details: DirectX Redist (June 2007) :
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/...67-D926-463B-99E8-27199D6626B5&displaylang=en
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Mark L. Ferguson
..
 
Mark L. Ferguson said:
If it is not Skype, then you know it's the DirectX software. The 'filter
graph' message comes from that. I suggest running the command "DXDIAG" to
see what tests fail, and what you might do to reinstall DirectX.

Download details: DirectX Redist (June 2007) :
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/...67-D926-463B-99E8-27199D6626B5&displaylang=en
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Was this helpful? Then click the Ratings button. Voting helps the web
interface.
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Mark L. Ferguson
.
Click to expand...

I ran DXDIAG as suggested. Quartz.dll was missing. Re-installed it and all
cameras now work! Thanks for your help Mark. My youngster has now forgiven
me! Cheers!
 
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