Spectre x360 built-in webcam disconnected

[madamepigbottom]

Hello! Two days ago, the built-in webcam on my HP Spectre x360 began displaying the image entirely in shades of pink. This was completely random and happened between two video calls -- I hung up once and when I picked back up later it was pink. Then since yesterday, it has been impossible to open the camera at all and the default camera app gives two errors: first <NoCamerasAreAttached> and then it immediately switches to <ActiveCameraUnplugged>. The camera and indicator light used to flash on between these messages, but not anymore. The kill switch on the side of the laptop is still responsive, and I can see the devices appear and re-appear in Device Manager and I switch it.

No suggestions I have found online have worked, and my laptop is currently in a factory reset state. Has anyone, ever, been able to even temporarily solve this? I began online uni classes today and I am desperate for a quick solution other than completely replacing it or sending it away for weeks because I do not have a replacement.

[KrazyToad]

@madamepigbottom

Welcome to HP Community

I have gone through your Post and would like to help

I suggest you download and run the HP Support Assistant from this Link: https://www8.hp.com/us/en/campaigns/hpsupportassistant/hpsupport.html?jumpid=va_r602_us/en/any/psg/p...

HPSA will automatically search for all the latest drivers for your Notebook

1. Click My devices in the top menu, and then click Updates in the My PC or My notebook pane.

   

2. Click Check for updates and messages to scan for new updates.

   

3. Review the list of updates. Updates with a yellow information icon are recommended. Updates with a blue information icon are optional.

4. Click the update name for a description, version number, and file size.

5. Select the box next to any updates you want to install, and then click Download and install.

Also ensure Windows is up to date.

Select the Start  button, and then go to Settings  > Update & security  > Windows Update , and select Check for updates. If Windows Update says your device is up to date, you have all the updates that are currently available

Keep me posted how it goes

Thank you and have a wonderful day 😊

If the information I've provided was helpful, give us some reinforcement by clicking the "Solution Accepted" on this Post and it will also help other community members with similar issue.

[madamepigbottom]

@KrazyToad Hello! Thank you for the suggestions. I have run the HP Support Assistant and Windows Update several times and unfortunately it did not resolve the issue. I ended up doing a factory reset and a complete reinstallation of Windows 10 and the issue was still present. 

The situation has evolved and I have come to notice that the camera works decently well ONLY when my computer is unplugged and running on battery, but I am still subject to frequent random disconnects (every 30-ish minutes for a few seconds at a time). When I plug in the computer, one of two things happens: 

1. if the webcam is not on already, I can't turn it on, OR

2. If the webcam is already in use, the image gradually becomes saturated in a bright pink colour until it is 100% solid pink, and disconnects become more and more frequent (like every couple of seconds) until then the webcam entirely disconnects; this whole process takes about five minutes. As soon as the power is disconnected, the webcam reconnects and will gradually go back to normal.

This is creating a giant problem while I am attending online classes and need both constant webcam access and a near-constant power source for up to seven continuous hours a day.

[Riddle_Decipher]

@madamepigbottom Check the anti-virus program settings & ensure it isn't blocking the camera and the same should resolve the issue, if this doesn't help, try the below steps:

here's a few steps to resolve the issue, start with checking for the webcam kill switch (if available on your model, if not: click here & follow the steps) and ensure its turned on,

That said, If your webcam has stopped working after installing a new update, you should uninstall the update and roll back to the older version. You will have to open Device Manager > right-click on the device > select Properties > switch to Driver tab > click on Roll Back Driver button > select Yes on the next window. After that, you need to restart your PC to check whether it is working.

If that doesn't work or there were no updates before the issue occurred, you might need to uninstall the webcam driver.

To do this, open Device Manager > right-click on the device > select Properties > switch to Driver tab > click on Uninstall Device button.

Restart your computer and then open Device Manager again and click on Action > Scan for hardware changes. (this would automatically reinstall the best drivers for it)

Once done, I suggest you install all the latest pending Windows updates as below and check if it helps.

1. Go to “settings” and click on “update and security”.
2. Under tab “Windows update”, click on the icon “check for updates”.
3. Then once you find the pending updates install it and check.

FOR DETAILS & FURTHER INSTRUCTIONS, USE THIS LINK: CLICK HERE

(By the end of this article all the issues should be resolved)

Keep us posted,

If you would like to thank us for our efforts to help you, 

Give us a virtual high-five by clicking the 'Thumbs Up' icon below, followed by clicking on the "Accept as solution" on this post, 

Have a great day!

[madamepigbottom]

@Riddle_Decipher Thanks for the thorough suggestions. However, none of them work for me.

The problem had seemed to resolve itself following a third factory reset, but it actually would happen again as soon as I plugged my laptop in, and then would stop when I unplugged it. As of waking up for a presentation this morning, I am back to where I was last month with it completely not working, at all, ever. The only feedback I get is the camera app flashing between <NoCamerasAreAttached> and <ActiveCameraUnplugged>.

At this point I'm ready to toss the whole thing and get a new one.

[Riddle_Decipher]

@madamepigbottom I suggest you perform the steps mentioned in this related post to resolve this concern: click here to view,

And if that doesn't help, we may need to perform a hardware test as mentioned below to identify this issue:

Install the latest version of the HP Hardware diagnostics (UEFI) on your device using this link: Click here for details

• Hold the power button for at least five seconds to turn off the computer.
• Turn on the computer and immediately press Esc repeatedly, about once every second. When the menu appears, press the F2 key.
• On the HP PC Hardware Diagnostics (UEFI) main menu, click System Tests.
• Click Extensive Test.
• Click Run once, or Loop until error.
• While the test is running, the time remaining and test result for each component display on the screen.

If a component fails a test, write down the failure ID (24-digit code) for when you respond back to us.

[madamepigbottom]

@Riddle_Decipher I went through the other thread (still running on a clean boot) and the problem is still there. The extensive test runs fine and all components pass, but I tried to run the 1-minute webcam component test and the test doesn't run at all then the system freezes (can't leave the test or see cursor) and I have to shut down.

[TEJ1602]

@madamepigbottom

Thanks for replying!

I'd further suggest you a System Reset. Refer to the document https://support.hp.com/in-en/document/c04742289 for help.

Keep us posted.

[madamepigbottom]

@TEJ1602 System reset went fine but did not change anything. Camera app still flashes the same two errors, the physical switch works and is recognized in Windows, and it is listed in Device Manager with the correct, up-to-date drivers but as soon as I try to turn it on nothing works.

[madamepigbottom]

A few reboots later and the webcam light has started flashing between the erro messages in the camera app, but only once n the discord video test.