Question

Black screen on Webcam

Asked by: duz

I have a new Hue HD Webcam that after an apparently successful installation produces a black screen in Skype (see attached picture) but the inbuilt mic works OK.  Same result on all USB ports.

I installed it on a different PC but using the same version of windows XP and it works perfectly, mic and video.

Where could the problem be?

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Asked On
2009-04-11 at 10:01:29ID24314700
Topics

Computer Web Cameras

,

Peripherals

Participating Experts
1
Points
250
Comments
14

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Answers

 

by: top_rungPosted on 2009-04-11 at 15:56:48ID: 24123942

In trying to research this for you, I found several different possibilities/fixes.  The easiest for some was changing the PCs desktop settings to use 32-bit colors.  Can you check that first (Right-click desktop>properties>settings tab - color quality setting)?

Next, it for others it seemed to be a Skype version specific issue.  Some reported newer builds having problems while older ones (v3.0) worked.  Is there a difference from the versions on the two computers you have tested it on?



 

by: duzPosted on 2009-04-12 at 00:24:40ID: 24124802

@top_rung Thx for your research...

Color quality was/is set at 32-bit.

It does not appear to be Skype specific.  I tried for example the Google Talk gadget, clicked on my Google Talk picture, and selected the "Take Photo" option. The image from my webcam is black (see attached picture) even though the webcam camera LED comes on and goes off at the start and end of the attempt.

 

by: top_rungPosted on 2009-04-13 at 20:21:08ID: 24134747

Hmmm, so it works on another PC ?  I assume you have manually installed the up-to-date drivers for the camera on the problem machine.  If you let windows autodetect, then I would uninstall and install them from the manufacturers site.

Aside from that, my feeling is that there is some video codec missing/mismatch.  You can compare the installed codecs  on each PC by going to ...

Device Manager>Sound, video and game controllers>Video Codecs>Properties

Next, make sure that you using the latest video drivers and that directx versions match and are updated.  

 

by: duzPosted on 2009-04-14 at 03:23:02ID: 24136497

@top_rung

>I assume you have manually installed the up-to-date drivers for the camera on the problem machine.

Yes. The webcam came with an installation disc and this was used on both machines and the installations appeard identical.

>Aside from that, my feeling is that there is some video codec missing/mismatch.

Please see attached pictures. Anything you can see that gives a clue to the problem?


 

by: duzPosted on 2009-04-14 at 03:34:47ID: 24136568

@top_rung

Second picture.

 

by: top_rungPosted on 2009-04-14 at 22:18:33ID: 24144869

Try the webcam drivers from their site- most likely more up-to-date.

http://www.huehd.com/drivers.html


For the codecs, I am not sure if any listed would solve it.   But you might try installing ffdshow first and check the results (google it).  The indeo codec - did you pay for it and do you have the installer on the other PC?  Try it if possible.

Good luck.

 

by: duzPosted on 2009-04-14 at 22:52:02ID: 24145009

@top_rung

>Try the webcam drivers from their site- most likely more up-to-date.

No, same version as on the CD Ver. 5.7.19.121

>But you might try installing ffdshow

I made a standard ffdshow installation and the problem still remains.

>The indeo codec - did you pay for it and do you have the installer on the other PC?  Try it if possible.

I have not paid for a Codec unless it came with something else perhaps.

>and do you have the installer on the other PC?  Try it if possible.

Not sure what you would like me to try here? Please step by step explanation...

Thanks for sticking with this top_rung :)

 

by: top_rungPosted on 2009-04-15 at 11:19:21ID: 24150986

Hi Duz,

Just trying to help.  When referring to Indeo, I was thinking that if you have purchased it in the past, you might have had the installer (setup file) on that PC somewhere.  On their site they charge $14.95 for it, but I am not convinced that it would even help.   If you do locate what application may have installed it, you can  install it on the other machine.  Again, I am not sure how much that is going to make a difference, but seeing is that there is a clear difference in the codecs, it would be something I would look into.

I am really out of ideas at this point and just stabbing in the dark.  Have you tried uninstalling and reinstalling on a different USB port?  Are the XP patching levels the same on both PCs?  How about the actual video drivers on the problem machine?


 

by: duzPosted on 2009-04-16 at 12:45:55ID: 24161775

I found an identical version of the indeo codec and it warns me during installation that ir32_32.dll is a later version. So rather than install it on the non-working webcam PC I just deleated it from the working webcam PC. Result = no change in the problem.

Yes I have tried different USB ports and also removing all other devices on USB ports.

@top_rung do you know of an expert on EE who you think may be able to solve this problem?

 

by: top_rungPosted on 2009-04-16 at 19:07:23ID: 24164446

duz,

Sorry, I don't know anyone specific to solve it - any experts can view the question and will answer it or provide suggestions at their discretion.  

With that, HUE, upon installation has a utility of some sort to configure the camera right - AMCap is it?   Do you see video within their utility?  
 
On their site, they have the following listed, but I assume you have verified it...
--
The webcam works in AMCap but in other programs the screen is blank:
Please make sure that AMCap is completely closed before starting up any other webcam chat programs.
--

Last resort, have you tried contacting Hue?

 

by: duzPosted on 2009-04-20 at 05:39:50ID: 24183949

Hue support think that "...something else may be putting the webcam 'in use' in the background..."

I am going to leave the question open for a while in case anyone else has a bright idea for diagnosing this problem.

 

by: top_rungPosted on 2009-04-23 at 19:47:04ID: 24221369

Yeah, that is what all my research has turned up as well.  Some other application interfering with it.   Verify that you have nothing running - look down at the task bar for any other applications, look in task manager, etc.  Did Hue support try to walk you through finding out what might be interfering?





 

by: duzPosted on 2009-04-25 at 08:53:41ID: 24232513

I'm swapping emails with them and I have just asked them how (or if) I can enable the webcam from safe mode.

 

 

by: duzPosted on 2009-05-17 at 03:00:09ID: 24405613

No resolution so far and I do not want to spend any more time on trying to solve this problem.

Thank you for your help and if I ever find out what the answer is I will post it!!

- duz

20120131-EE-VQP-002

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