Vista Service Pack 2 kills my HP TouchSmart webcam.

[PinkSodaPop]

When I installed SP2 for Vista Home Premium on my HP TouchSmart IQ506 ... it kills my webcam entirely ... it grays out the option to click the 'webcam' button inside of the touchsmart video area.


Any solutions would be greatly appreciated.

When I restore back to before the update it works again...but I would like to be able to have the best of both worlds.


Thanks so much in advance for your time and help.

Happy Computing! - PinkSodaPop

[easyskanker]

Hi

you can try doing the following,although this worked for me when vista sp1 screwed up my webcam dont know if it will work for sp2 (or your touchsmart model) but it's worth a try.

This worked for me,go to device manager and  expand "universal serial bus controllers" if you see a driver called "Sonix  T50500 WEBCAM" (or somethiong like that,I can't remember what it was called exactly) right click on it and select "update driver software"  then select "browse my computer for driver software" then select "let me pick from a list of device drivers on my computer"  then select the "USB Composite Device" and click next.I hope this helps.

HP also released an update to fix this problem but again it is for VISTA SP1 so I dont know if it will work for you,but hey.......nothing ventured nothing gained !! here's the link :

http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/genericSoftwareDownloadIndex?cc=us&dlc=en&lc=en&softwareitem=pv-5...

[PinkSodaPop]

I had already investigated doing a driver update, but this doesn't correct the issue.

The only correction is to restore back to remove the SP2 update from the system.

I also tried using the registry to 'side step' the issue to no avail.

HP needs to create a fix for this issue, that's the only solution that I can foresee.

Thanks anyways for your suggestion.

[PinkSodaPop]

Any experts have any idea when there might be a fix for this? ---- I can only go so long without my VISTA security updates that are included in SP2 --- and I have no work around for the webcam at all.... SP2 for Vista completely render my webcam/camcorder/video deader than a doornail.


Your help is much appreciated in advance.

[easyskanker]

Hi again,here's a link that might help you  http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/document?docname=c01560721&lc=en&dlc=en&cc=us&product=3316440  

I know it refers to laptops but touchsmarts use laptop components.If you scroll down on that link you will see:

Install a new webcam driver in Vista with Service Pack 2

HP recommends that you download and install Windows Vista Service Pack 2 to fully utilize the updated software and drivers that it provides. You should also install the latest BIOS from HP.

Microsoft provides an automated Windows update function that examines your computer and installs the appropriate drivers and programs for Service Pack 2. One of the updated drivers, Microsoft USB Video driver , is required for proper operation of the webcam on your HP or Compaq notebook PC.

• If you have not updated to SP2, take the time to do it now. You can visit the http://www.microsoft.com web site for complete information.
• If you updated to SP2 by manually downloading the entire softpaq and bypassing the automated Windows update function, you should run the automated update before attempting to resolve any webcam or other hardware issues.
• If you have updated to SP2 but the webcam is not working, see HP Notebook PCs - Webcam Does Not Work with Vista or After Upgrading to Vista , for detailed instructions on manually installing the latest webcam driver (usbvideo.sys) from Microsoft.(below you can see the contents of that link)

NOTE: Manually install the updated driver. Do not use the automatic update function.

1. Click Start and enter device manager in the search field and select Device Manager from the list.
2. In Device Manager, click the plus sign (+ ) beside to expand the Imaging Devices option.
3. If multiple imaging device drivers are listed, right-click on a driver and select Uninstall . When only one (1) webcam driver is displayed, continue to next step.
4. When only one webcam driver is displayed, right-click and select Update Driver Software .
   
5. On the Update Driver Software window, select Browse my computer for driver software .
   
6. When prompted, select the Let me pick from a list of device drivers on my computer option.
   
7. When prompted to select the device driver for this hardware, do all of the following actions in sequence:
   
   1. Deselect the Show compatible hardware option to display a list of Manufacturers and device Models.
   2. Select Microsoft under the Manufacturer list.
   3. Select the USB Video Device under the Model list.
      NOTE: If the USB Video Driver is not listed, there was a problem with the update of the Service Pack 2. Go to the Microsoft web site and search for support documents on SP2 update errors .
8. Click Next to start the update process.
9. When the update is complete, click Close to accept the change and close the window.

Test the webcam to verify that it is working properly.

HOPE IT HELPS!!

Message Edited by easyskanker on 10-25-2009 12:40 PM

Message Edited by easyskanker on 10-25-2009 12:41 PM

[PC_Tester]

Do you have Windows Live Messenger installed on the system?

If so, try going into the Windows Live Messenger, Tools, Options, Sign In, and uncheck

[ ] Automatically run Windows Live when I log on to Windows

Reboot the system and try again

Post to the forum if it works

[touchsmartfailu]

My thouchsmart is having the same problem, i could not uninstall the service pack 2 in any of the 5 ways one is supposed to do it and after calling HP costumer service i was so angry that i will probably never buy another PC. I just paid 1800$ not a year ago. After 10 years with PCs i'm gona have to check out a Mac... customer service is very important and having an update ruin my webcam is unacceptable.

[PinkSodaPop]

Nothing suggested has worked.

This issue still persists.

I'll not be purchasing another HP product since they care so little about the ones they already have out in the world that wreak havoc upon unsuspecting customers...especially over the simplest of REQUIRED updates...

Shoddy customer service +Crappy Products +Lame Software = No repeat customers.

Good luck with that approach HP.

[PinkSodaPop]

Wow... it's going on 10 months and STILL no fix for this.

Shame on you HP...don't you care about customer service?

This is a problem directly with your operating system.

Please PLEASE give me a fix for this.

I would appreciate contact back.

Seems like nobody cares.  The suggested fixes by others DO not work for this issue.

Something is wrong with the TouchSmart program that needs a work around. 

Please help! - I'm losing faith in HP's products and customer service.

[PinkSodaPop]

Still no fix for this.  Hoping that tomorrow one of your experts can finally solve this problem for me.