Please help!

[Tambourine]

Sorry for the new topic but this is driving me mad.
The other day I decided to uninstall webcam max. Thing is that since I did this, I cant get my webcams to work, neither the logitech or the built-in. SUCKS!
Whatever the software I try to use my cams with I get an error message saying "The camera is used by another program". I've tried everything I could come up with and I can't fix this, and since I cant even get the cams to turn on I can't go on MFC.
First off I tried reinstalling webcam max and others softwares like it but it didnt work. I also tried uninstalling and reinstalling my cam drivers and still no luck.
Maybe some of you guys have any idea on how to help me I'd really appreciate it.

 

[GreatDane]

Did you set a restore point when you un-installed the original program? could be as simple as reverting it to the prior working setting. if that's not it, would need to know what type of system is being used and the operating system.

 

[Tambourine]

Did you set a restore point when you un-installed the original program? could be as simple as reverting it to the prior working setting. if that's not it, would need to know what type of system is being used and the operating system.

I did try restoring but my computer didnt find any restoring point, which is strange because I had restored my configs in the past and never had that problem. I'm on an asus laptop with windows 7

 

[Zoomer]

Did you set a restore point when you un-installed the original program? could be as simple as reverting it to the prior working setting. if that's not it, would need to know what type of system is being used and the operating system.

I did try restoring but my computer didnt find any restoring point, which is strange because I had restored my configs in the past and never had that problem. I'm on an asus laptop with windows 7

If there had been no restore point set previously, there hasn't been one. However, a "manufacturer" bought Laptop probably has their own disc that came with the laptop, which as a last resort would restore the laptop to the "Factory settings".

However, I'd advise downloading something like CCleaner. Install it, run it - let it clean your system, and check that the program is un-installed correctly. Then utilise it to clean the registry - just let it backup the registry first! http://www.piriform.com/CCLEANER

You said you tried to uninstall the cam drivers, do you mean the cam software? Or the drivers? Go to control panel, Administrative Tools, Computer Management, Device Manager -> Expand imaging devices, you can click on properties to update driver, uninstall the driver etc. Try that (unplug webcam first) - then reboot, plug in webcam and let windows do it's thang to find it's drivers (it may prompt for disc).

Erm, other than that, not really much thought to be honest. Does it work for things like msn, skype etc? Or do they say it is already in use too?

 

[Tambourine]

Did you set a restore point when you un-installed the original program? could be as simple as reverting it to the prior working setting. if that's not it, would need to know what type of system is being used and the operating system.

I did try restoring but my computer didnt find any restoring point, which is strange because I had restored my configs in the past and never had that problem. I'm on an asus laptop with windows 7

If there had been no restore point set previously, there hasn't been one. However, a "manufacturer" bought Laptop probably has their own disc that came with the laptop, which as a last resort would restore the laptop to the "Factory settings".

However, I'd advise downloading something like CCleaner. Install it, run it - let it clean your system, and check that the program is un-installed correctly. Then utilise it to clean the registry - just let it backup the registry first! http://www.piriform.com/CCLEANER

You said you tried to uninstall the cam drivers, do you mean the cam software? Or the drivers? Go to control panel, Administrative Tools, Computer Management, Device Manager -> Expand imaging devices, you can click on properties to update driver, uninstall the driver etc. Try that (unplug webcam first) - then reboot, plug in webcam and let windows do it's thang to find it's drivers (it may prompt for disc).

Erm, other than that, not really much thought to be honest. Does it work for things like msn, skype etc? Or do they say it is already in use too?

First of all, thank you for the help,
Second, when I said I reinstalled the drivers i meant the drivers yes, no the software. Did just as you said. About your last question, I get this error in all softwares, from capture devices, to IM, to the logitech cam control software. In most of them I get this "Camera is use" sign, in others I just get a black screen where the cam image should be.
I'll give CCleaner a try, let you know how it goes. Hopefully it'll be the solution, since as you I dont know what else to try.

 

[Tambourine]

CCleaner didn't work.
This is driving me mad, cant fix it.

 

[harry]

...First off I tried reinstalling webcam max and others softwares like it but it didnt work. I also tried uninstalling and reinstalling my cam drivers and still no luck.
Maybe some of you guys have any idea on how to help me I'd really appreciate it.

I had a look at webcam max once and got rid of it. I can't remember if it was much trouble, but a look around suggests it's a very persistent program, and may require a specialist uninstaller:

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index ... 517AA2eE5x

That recommends Revo, which I also have, so maybe it was to get rid of webcam max.

At your own risk etc, but good luck.

 

[Tambourine]

...First off I tried reinstalling webcam max and others softwares like it but it didnt work. I also tried uninstalling and reinstalling my cam drivers and still no luck.
Maybe some of you guys have any idea on how to help me I'd really appreciate it.

I had a look at webcam max once and got rid of it. I can't remember if it was much trouble, but a look around suggests it's a very persistent program, and may require a specialist uninstaller:

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index ... 517AA2eE5x

That recommends Revo, which I also have, so maybe it was to get rid of webcam max.

At your own risk etc, but good luck.

Thanks for the info harry, but still did no difference. I've been working on this since Thursday and I'm not sure of what to try next, I've run out of ideas. Of all things, my webcam had to died, sucks! There has to be a solution right?

 

[harry]

There has to be a solution right? Usually there is, but it's only found after eliminating all the other possible solutions. The yahoo answer suggested re-installing to uninstall with Revo. It might have been a messy uninstall (especially if the computer wasn't restarted to get rid of some residual files/registry entries).

There's an alternative to CCleaner, AdvancedSystemCare which cleans registry (and does other maintenance), if the problem is in registry that might just do something more for you.

Other than that, all I can imagine is a long day uninstalling any conceivably conflicting software, restarting and reinstalling to see what changes. Good luck, but I hope it doesn't come to that.

 

[Dazza235]

While I don't have any experience with cam problems, if it's an external USB camera I might have a fix for you.

I had a similar problem with an external drive, tried uninstalling the software and the drivers to no avail. After exhaustive searching, I found a solution in a forum which might work;

1. Uninstall the software in the Control Panel->Programs
2. Uninstall the drivers (I'm still new to Windows 7 so I'd follow Zoomer's trick EXCEPT I'd recommend NOT unplugging the camera.
3. Restart - Windows will find new hardware, ask for drivers etc and then you point it to the disc you have or let it search the net.

Leaving it plugged in while uninstalling the drivers and shutting down was the key point that helped me though. It ran against everything I thought I knew about reinstalling drivers but it did the trick.

(Final possible tip, can't remember if this was mentioned or not; try looking on the Asus or Logitech sites for driver updates for your specific model -usually under a "support" link, feel free to PM me either here on MFC (same name) if this step causes you grief.)

Good luck, I hope you get things sorted without the dreaded factory default restore. It's a very, very last resort as you will lose everything since you got the computer and there's always something you forget to back up.

Fingers crossed for you

 

[Zoomer]

If you can, try to borrow a webcam just to see if that works. Maybe it was an issue with the webcam itself (seeing as it is now dead).

You could (if it persists with another cam) start the task manager and then slowly work through all the processes running. Google the exe names if unfamiliar - and end task those which are related to programs which could utilise the cam and may be running silently in the background.

 

[Tambourine]

During the last few days I've uninstalled all camera-related softwares and both my cameras drivers (the built-in and the external logitech one), then reinstalled all updated drivers, and only the essencial softwares, even did a clean boot install of the drivers, and still no change. I'm gonna see if someone has a cam I can lend to see if it will work and my guess is that it will.
From all things I've tried and taking into account what started the issue, I figure out that the problem is that webcamax did some strange configuration of my cams that has unabled them to work, and I can't revert it. Since my pc recognizes the cams when pugled in, I'm guessing they do work from a eletrical/technical point of view, I just can get them to capture.
Thank you all for your input, I will try again all things suggested and keep looking online for other solutions. I feel kinda helpess though at this point, ja.

 

[Zoomer]

Quick google brought up this:

Uninstall the driver via normal means, then before you reboot, go into C:\Windows\System32\DriverStore and delete the driver files there. It's C:\Windows\System32\DriverStore\FileRepository for Windows 7. Btw, watch out what you delete there. You can remove the WHOLE FOLDER without breaking Windows, but next time you plug in a new device it'll be a lot of fun getting it recognized.

But honestly it may be some form of registry issue. Apparently the registry entry is something akin to this:
WebcamMaxAutoRun - C:\Program Files\WebcamMax\WebcamMax.exe

indicating that it automatically runs on the computer start up.

I also found

To remove WebcamMax 5.5.0.6 completely, you need to uninstall the WebcamMax 5.5.0.6 related files firstly. To do this, you can open up My Computer, browse to C:/Program Files/ and then delete them. This will permanently get rid of the program files for WebcamMax 5.5.0.6 , preventing it from running in the future. Secondly, you need to remove all the registry keys that link this program into Windows. Then open REGEDIT.EXE (which is found in the C:/Windows folder) and press CTRL+F to search for the program, after that delete all these keys when finding them.

So check that the folders really are removed, and then search the registry to see if there's any mention. Shooting in the dark at this point as you may have tried everything and simply be re-treading the old ground :icon-cry:

 

[SexPistol76]

Try Winpatrol free version from BillP Studios. It will allow you to disable any startup programs, hidden files and any processes that are running. It's much easier than looking for processes that the makers of certain programmes keep hidden, mainly so that you just give up trying to uninstall their software.

Install it, close all WebCamMax processes and disable it's startup entry, reboot then run uninstall again for WebCamMax through control panel. Then use CCleaner, make sure you don't forget to click on the second tab labelled Registry and just follow the instructions. If this doesn't help, you will need to be brave and go play with your registry

It is probably another case of a Vista uninstaller not being converted to Windows 7 properly, some companies can be quite slack about it once they have got it to install and run ok on Win7 they tend to not bother going further, I can see why they do it but it's still a nuisance. Although in this case I think it is just an oversight, unlike AVG Free which does it's very best to prevent full uninstall so that you give in and buy the product.

On an unrelated note, I like to leave Winpatrol on patrol, mainly because it makes a note of all new program installs and makes it easier to disable or uninstall in future.

 

[Zoomer]

I should have said, CCleaner includes the ability to disable startup programs

 

[Tambourine]

I've looked up all misterious processes but nothing look like it could be causing trouble. I'm gonna reinstall and remove webcam max once again and also all camera related software just in case, same as the drivers, then clean all registry and files that could be conflicting... I wanna fix this so bad.
Thank you all

 

[Zoomer]

Quick thought - what sort of security software (antivirus/firewall) are you running?
Could it potentially be that something like your firewall has HIPS and prevents the webcam from running? The device is blocked, which means other applications trying to use it can't - and throw an error saying it's already in use?

Utter shot in the dark.

 

[Tambourine]

Ok, well, I've tried all of your suggestions. And still no luck, but thank you all anyway.
I experimented with driver folders, and messed around with the registry, did all kinds of creative stuff haha but I cant get this fixed. All I have left is to either try my cam in another computer and see what happens, or the opposite, try another cam in my computer. I'm guessing my cam will work in both options but that doesnt do much to help me since I dont have any money to buy a cam and I dont think reinstalling windows to get the laptop "back to brandnew" is a good idea.
Also contacted people at logitech support and all they did was ask me over and over for my product warranty.
Technology doesnt seem to like me.

 

[Traditio]

Don't know the camera you use and i hope you don't mind asking me but have you tried the logitech help-sites?
e.g. for the 9000
http://logitech-en-amr.custhelp.com/app ... /a_id/9177

I assume you have - i ask just in case...

 

[Tambourine]

Also contacted people at logitech support and all they did was ask me over and over for my product warranty.

I have a logitech C510 and I have contacted logitech support but they havent been that very helpfull..

 

[Traditio]

if i read this site correctly http://logitech-en-amr.custhelp.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/17635
then the logitech cam software should give you a hint what program is using your cam (the lower red rectangle in the example picture).
does that shows anything at all?

 

[Tambourine]

if i read this site correctly http://logitech-en-amr.custhelp.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/17635
then the logitech cam software should give you a hint what program is using your cam (the lower red rectangle in the example picture).
does that shows anything at all?

The problem is this that the "camera in use by another program" only appeared when tried to use cam with the asus cam software called lifeframe. With the logitech cam software I just get a black screen, instead of what's showing on that cap. Confusing, right?

 

[Traditio]

if i read this site correctly http://logitech-en-amr.custhelp.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/17635
then the logitech cam software should give you a hint what program is using your cam (the lower red rectangle in the example picture).
does that shows anything at all?

The problem is this that the "camera in use by another program" only appeared when tried to use cam with the asus cam software called lifeframe. With the logitech cam software I just get a black screen, instead of what's showing on that cap. Confusing, right?

yeah - i see only 2 ways.
1) you have a nerd friend that will take a look at the thing (thats what nerds live for - helping a beautiful girl)
2) you reinstall windows - as you have no recovery points there is already somthing wrong and reinstalling is sometimes much less effort than to try to fix something you don't have even hints for whats wrong.

hope you get the problem solved soon....