HP Inbuilt Webcam Not Working

In windows vista there are many services which disable the webcam to work. Some times due to windows update also this issue occurs. To resolve this issue, we need to perform some series of troubleshooting steps. These steps will definitely resolve the issue. However, you need to be have some patience to perform these troubleshooting steps.

Here are the possible troubleshooting steps.

Step 1: Here are three procedures to know about How to use the Webcam in Vista Notebook.

Using HP webcam in Quickplay software:

1. Click on Start button, select All programs and click on Quickplay.
2. Within the Quickplay application, click the Video icon (Icon resembles, camera, music, and film).
3. Double click on "HP Web cam" or “USB Video device” in the Source column.
4. Now you could see your self on the screen.

Using HP webcam on Muvee Autoprocucer software:

1. Click on start, Select all programs and click on Muvee Autoproducer.
2. It will open Muvee Auto Producer. (Click on Trial version if it prompts.)
3. Click on Tools the top and select the Get Video from Camcorder.
4. You would see your self on the screen.

HP Notebook PCs - HP Notebook PCs - Testing a Webcam in Vista with YouCam

If the webcam does not show the picture you need to perform the below steps. If the webcam works, you need not to perform the below steps. Please ignore the below steps.

To resolve this issue First we need to uninstall the existing webcam from device manager. Then restart the notebook and install the latest driver to resolve this issue.

Step 2 : Steps Uninstall the Webcam drivers from the device manager.

1. Click on start and click on Control panel.
2. Click on "the Classic View" on the top left side of the control panel.
3. Double click on the "Device Manager" icon in the list.
4. Click on + next to the Imaging devices. Now you would see one HP Pavilion webcam or more then one web cam listings under the Imaging devices.
5. Right click on each HP Pavilion web cam and click on uninstall. And confirm un installation if it prompts. (Click on Yes.)
6. Now the Imaging devices option should not appear on the device manager.

Note: If the imaging device category not listed in the device manager then we need to reset the bios. After resetting the bios, imaging category listed in the device manager. If it not listed after resetting the BIOS also then it is a hardware issue. After resetting the bios, perform the first step to test the webcam.

Step 3: BIOS Reset and Bios update.

Here are the steps to Resetting system BIOS:

1. Turn on the computer.
2. At the HP Logo Press the F10 key.
3. When the BIOS boots up, press F9 to set up defaults.
4. Make sure the 'Yes' is highlighted and hit enter.
5. Press F10 to save the changes.
6. Make sure the 'Yes' is highlighted and hit enter.
7. The computer should then shut down and reboot. This will reset the BIOS to its default settings.

Download the latest BIOS update and install on your notebook.



Step 4: Restart the notebook.

Step 5: Click on the below link and then click on Save button of the download window. Click on brows and then click on desktop then click on Save.

*we need to download the file to the desktop.

ftp://ftp.hp.com/pub/softpaq/sp34501-35000/sp34746.exe

Step 6: Installing downloaded web cam driver (sp34746).

1. Double click on the downloaded file (sp34746) and follow the on screen instructions to install the file.

Step 7: Once the installation prompts you that the installation has been successfully completed. Now you need to restart the notebook.

And download and install the below two files. These are essential updates for Vista which enables the webcam in vista.

ftp://ftp.hp.com/pub/softpaq/sp36001-36500/sp36128.exe

ftp://ftp.hp.com/pub/softpaq/sp36501-37000/sp36935.exe


Step 8: Cumulative update rollup for USB core components in Windows Vista:

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/941600

Now check the webcam input in Quickplay software using the steps provided on the step no. 1. The webcam should work, if the webcam does not work please verify the below steps.

Step 9: Enable the Imaging services on the notebook.

1. Tap Window key(flag key on the keyboard) and R key on the keyboard, at once.
2. You would see the Run window on the screen.
3. Type SERVICES.MSC and hit enter.
4. You would see the services window on the screen.
5. Double click the "Windows Image Acquisition (WIA)" service, and under the startup type select Automatic.
6. Click on "Start" button if it is stopped under Service status
7. Click on Apply and Ok.


Step 10: Now check the webcam in quickplay or Muvee software. verify the step 1 to know about how to use the webcam in quickplay or muvee.

If the still issue persists, Please check webcam name in device manager. If you see USB 2 Video device under the Imaging devices the webcam works properly (it means latest drivers have been loaded successfully). If you see the HP Pavilion webcam under the imaging devices, it means still the notebook is using old webcam drivers and you need to repeat the steps from Step 2:

This will resolve the issue of webcam with the Quick Play, after it, if you see that the webcam is not working with the Messanger please perform below steps:

Optional steps:

Step 11: Disable Windows Defender.

Let me explain the reason behind this issue.

Vista is one of the highly secured operating System. It has several restrictions to send or receive the Information from the Computer. Defender, Windows Firewall and User access control. And Norton Internet Security which has power full firewall on it.

So with all these security features, Vista will not allow the Computer user to transmit or use the webcam device on Few Messengers or all Messengers. (Yahoo, MSN, AIM and all other Messengers).

Let us disable the Windows Defender and verify the webcam in Yahoo or AIM:

Here are the steps to disable the windows Defender.

1. Open Windows Defender by clicking the Start button, clicking All Programs, and then clicking Windows Defender.
2. Click Tools, and then click Options.
3. Under Administrator options, clear the Use Windows Defender check box, and then click Save. If you are prompted for an administrator password or confirmation, type the password or provide confirmation.

Note: Please scroll the Scrollbar which is on the right side of the Defender window. If you do not see the Scrollbar, tap the Page down key on the keyboard, until you see the Administrator options.

Now close all the webcam applications like Quickplay and Muvee. Also logout from the Yahoo, AIM and all other messengers. (But not from chat tool). Now login to the Messenger that you want to open the webcam. And open the webcam in that messenger.

Now the webcam should work in the Messenger.

If the issue persists, please perform below steps:

We need to disable the Norton personal Firewall to resolve this issue:

1. Right click on the Norton Icon on the bottom right side of the screen (on task bar). And click on Open Norton internet security.
2. Click on Norton Internet Security Tab
3. Click on ON button of Personal Firewall
4. Click on Turn off Button.
5. Click on triangle button and select the "Permanently" option. And click on Ok.

Now the webcam should work in any Messenger.