Korean Job Discussion Forums

[ben_and_bree]

Hi there,

I own a 2 month old Toshiba Satellite A200 notebook with an inbuilt webcam.

In the last few days, the webcam has refused to work, claiming that it was locked by another program. I tried disabling and enabling it, then updating the drivers. Finally, I uninstalled the driver, and downloaded it again from the company website. However, now it tells me that I need to turn the webcam on, or restart the computer, even though it is, like I said, built-in.

Does anyone have any ideas?

Thanks,

Ben

[spliff]

Sounds like you need to restart. Also, don't open it up w/ multiple webcam programs running...like camfrog and skype. And, don't click more then neccessary to open an application you can end up opening 2 or 3 camfrogs at a time. I had some issues w/ my microsoft webcam but now they're sorted...had to uninstall nero but I didn't use it that often.

[ben_and_bree]

Hi Spiff,

Thanks for the tips. I actually got it running before I went to bed last night. I had to completely remove all of the 'Camera Assit Software' and drivers, and then reinstall it from downloads from their website and Toshiba's website. However I have just come home now, turned on the computer, given it a try, and it says again that it is locked by another program. The only other program that I have on this computer is MSN Messenger, and I am not using the camera in that program at the moment. So I don't understand what the problem is. I don't have Skype or anything else on here that would use the camera that I am aware of. It is not a public computer, so I know all the programs that are on here.

If I were in Australia, I would call the Toshiba help line, but I am not. Maybe I should download Skype and get an account so I can call them anyway! hahaha But that would probably only make my problem worse...

If anybody has any ideas as to what might be going on, I would greatly appreciate your suggestions. I can play the guitar like noone's business, but unfortunately the workings of a humble PC have me stumped...

Ben

[ben_and_bree]

I meant to say that MSN Messenger is the only other program I have on this computer that I know uses the webcam. There are of course, many other programs on my computer.

[spliff]

Windows live messenger might be the problem, I had it but then uninstalled it when I was first trouble shooting my webcam as I don't use it...that might be your problem.

[ben_and_bree]

Seriously, thanks for taking the time to try and help me.

Unfortunately, I can't use the cam in windows live messenger either. It tells me that the camera is switched off or in use by another program.

It is really starting to give me the $%^#$

Cheers,

Ben

[spliff]

Try doing a search on Google for "your web-cam name & troubleshooting/ problems" you might find a tech forum where people have already had and fixed the problem you're experiencing. I did for mine and found an updated driver that fixed the problem I had w/ mine..much like your problem if not the same. BTW, do you have NERO burn on your com?

[ben_and_bree]

No, I don't have Nero, but thanks for the idea. I will let you know how it goes if I have to time to try it tomorrow. It is bed time now though... these split shifts with 5am starts are killing me!

Ben