HP 5210 HD webcam turns on automatically

[myk9sniper]

I have the HP 5210 HD webcam.  Whenever I put the HPE h8qe in sleep mode and leave the room for a moment I'll return to find the camera on.  Is this a problem with the setting for the 5210 or Skype?

[David_H]

I wanted to clarify, is the whole PC waking up, or is just the LED on the HD-5210 turning on?

Is there some webcam software running at the time when the PC goes to sleep (if so, what software)?

Thanks!

Dave

[myk9sniper]

The computer is awake and the webcam is on.  The monitor is on and I see myself walking into the room.

[David_H]

Thanks for the extra information!  What software is running/accessing the webcam when it wakes up?  Is it Skype or some other video chat software?  Or is it a software component of the Arcsoft suite that comes with the HD-5210?

Thanks,

Dave

[myk9sniper]

It appears to be the Arcsoft, because the camera view (window) I see when I walk into the room is the same as  the HP Webcam Control Center (Webcam Companion-Capture).  

[David_H]

This is not a problem I've heard of before.  The "Webcam Companion" application is part of the Arcsoft software bundle.  I am not sure why it is starting up by itself when the PC is in sleep mode though?

There are some buttons on the top of the HD-5210 webcam.  From my recollection, the first and third buttons are to invoke video or photo capturing, both of which will start the Webcam Companion application.

I wonder if there is something causing your system to think that one of the buttons has been pressed, and that it should wake up your PC?

Can you try a couple of things:

1) If your PC is in sleep mode (manually put it in sleep mode) and you press the first button on the webcam (the one with the "video" icon), does that wake up the PC?

2) If you temporarily exit the "HP Button Manager" (right click on the button manager system tray icon in the lower right corner, and then select "exit"), then put the PC to sleep, does it stay in that mode, or does it still wake up on its own?  Note: Don't worry, this just temporarily exits the button manager, the next time you reboot, the button manager will start up again.

Thanks,

Dave

[myk9sniper]

1)  After putting PC in the sleep mode and trying the video button in the 5210, the PC did not wake up.

2)  I exit using the HP Button manager, put the PC in sleep mode, walked away for 10 minutes, returned and PC was asleep, webcam not on. 

So what does this mean and what is the HP button manager?

[David_H]

Hi, thanks for the information.  The "HP Button Manager" is a software application that runs in the background, and detects when you press one of the buttons on the HD-5210 webcam (and launches the appropriate software).

If you don't use the buttons on your webcam, let me know.  I can send instructions on how to use the "msconfig" tool so that it does not startup on reboot.

Thanks,

Dave

[myk9sniper]

I am not planning on using the features for the buttons.  Please sent it with instructions.  Thank you !

[David_H]

To stop the HP Button Manager from starting when Windows reboots, you can do the following:

1) Click the Windows start button (lower left of desktop).

2) For Windows 7, in the search box type "msconfig" (for XP click on "run", then type in "msconfig").

3) When msconfig runs it will bring up a dialog titled "System Configuration", select the "Startup" tab.

4) You should see a startup item titled "HP Button Manager" clear the checkbox next to that entry and click "ok".

5) msconfig will want to restart Windows, and once you do that, the button manager will no longer start.

To re-enable the button manager, perform the same steps, and check the box next to "HP Button Manager".

Thanks!

Dave