Webcam not working for HP Pavilion dv9000 after two years of working fine

[jessasaurusmess]

I've had my HP Pavillion dv9000 since 2008 and have used the HP webcam often (Cyberlink Youcam was installed with the computer and that was the program I was using). However, recently, the webcam completely refused to work and wouldn't even turn on when I opened Youcam. I've gone through a bazillion messages in this forum and have found nothing helpful.

When I go to device manager, I can't find Imaging Devices and I have NO options under "Action" in the top bar. I uninstalled Cyberlink Youcam thinking that might have been the problem, but when I attempted to reinstall it, I received an error message that the webcam couldn't be found.

I'm just very frustrated with this, especially given it worked so well for so long! Anyone know of anything that can help?

Thank you!

[kamat_hp]

IF you cant find Imaging Devices in Device Manager, then its a hardware issue and looks like your webcam has stopped working. 

I would suggest you to use a external webcam which would be very cheap or see if HP can fix it for you for a charge by calling them. 

[bratstatus]

hope this helps. highlight the name of the computer when in device manager then click action. you should then see options of  scan for hardware changes or add legacy hardware. go ahead and scan first to see if webcam hardware shows up. if not restart computer and the choose option add legacy hardware, choose imaging and then select webcam and hopefully it will be listed there and can be installed. If not, go to start-programs-recovery manager and open that and click on advanced options. click on hardware reinstall and then it will give a list of drivers. you may see hpwebcam there.  good luck and please let me know if this worked.

[jessasaurusmess]

This worked so far as the computer actually recognizing the camera is concerned....but even though the camera goes on, i can't see myself or anything I'm looking to take a picture of. Any idea how I could fix that?

PS thank you SO much for your response - very, very helpful!

[bratstatus]

glad to be of some assistance to someone else.   Wish I had the same luck.  I still can't even get my computer to recognize webcam. Too bad you can't send me the install files.  hehehe....I'll just keep trying.

anyway not sure what to do about not getting any picture when the webcam starts. Which program are u using it with?

[jmmas]

Hello Bratstatus,

I have completely followed your detailed approach regarding configuring image devices in device manager & also tried reinstalling Cyberlink YouCam through recovery manager but still my webcam cannot be recognised for some reason.

it was working few days back and all of a sudden, nothing at all.

Any other thoughts on this matter would be very much appreciated. HP advised me to recover the PC back to its orginal state but I am trying to workaround it since I've spent days adding and transfering files, programs etc...so am not really in the mood in doing it again even better still i may lose everything and yet the recovery may not resolve the issue.

any ideas please.

Thanks

[pccrashr]

i got an answer for you pal, its been my problem for quite a while and it really is frustrating finding answers for that, even hp seem not to find a solution. But i know they know what the problem is and hiding it will keep them from a huge product recall that will save them billions. The culprit..... cable....  that simple but its hard for us to fix and the part needed is not that easy to acquire not just some cable that you can buy at radioshack. That wire is subject to a lot of stress from closing the lcd lid and as i discover mine its routed in a very tight hole and w/ bad bends. I tried soldering them back but it wont hold that long and really needs a repacement, hp guys just can't accept some flaw in their design. I use to love that dv5 but w/ some flaw that comes w/ it turned me off and decided to just buy a different brand.

[jayfuel]

were your other ports working? none of the ports or camera work on my dv9000, and everything I've seen has hinted to a video problem but none as extensive as the problem I am having. I too will not buy an HP again nor recommend them to anyone I know.

[sweetbabe1971]

What if its not listed?

[AttackofZaq]

Hello sweetbabe1971.  I understand that your webcam is not showing up in Device Manager.  Is this correct?

This usually indicates a hardware issue such as a dead webcam or a loosen cable.  However, there is a possibility that it is a software issue.  I recently made a thread covering the various solutions to the "webcam not detected" problem.  You can view it here.  If none of the solutions listed there help then you will need to have the notebook repaired.

To contact HP Support and inquire about a repair you can give them a call at 1-800-474-6836 if you're in the US/Canada.  If you're in another part of the world you'll need to visit HP Support Worldwide to get your region's contact information.

If you have any questions please feel free to ask.  I hope you have a great day!