M/S LifeCam VX-3000 WebCam

[2harts4ever]

Hi,

For the record I am using a Compaq Presario AMD Athlon 64 Processor 3300+, 2411MHz/1.93 GBs RAM, running Windows Xp Home, SP3., with IE8 and I use Avast as my anti-virus and Comodo as my firewall along with several other on-demand spyware programs.

I just installed the Microsoft LifeCam VX-3000 WebCam and everything seems to be working except I can't capture a still photograph with it. When I try too all I get is a screen filled with multicolored dots. Here is what I see when I click on effects and when I click on Capture photo it looks similar to the effect on the left screen. I have my resolution set at 640 x 480 for both photo and video.

On the other hand I can capture a video just fine with it as well as an audio recording.

The program also seems to be working okay when I am using it with Skype. Right now the only thing I really can't do is capture a photograph with it.

Here is how my Properties are set:

I have searched high and low on the web but can't find any thing close to what I am experiencing. I have also posted this on another forum (without the thumbnails) but so far I haven't received any responses.

Any and all suggestions would be appreciated.

Thanks and regards,

2harts4ever

[DigeratiPrime]

I notice your having problems with more than just the video in that screenshot. The icons and controls are artifacting, my guess is a problem with the video card / drivers. What video card and drivers are installed? Check with dxdiag.

[2harts4ever]

Hi DigeratiPrime,

I appreciate your response. I installed the dxdiag but I am afraid that is all over my head. If you could tell me what I am looking for in it and where to find it I would give it a shot.

In my device manager unde Display Adapters it shows: SiS 760, driver version 6.14.10.3900 dated 6-5-2009. Is that the video card?

Going through dxdiag page by page 'no problems' were reported.

Also, as I said in my original post I am able to take video with this WebCam but not 'still' photographs.

Thanks and regards,

2harts4ever

[DigeratiPrime]

DirectX Diagnostics is accessible via:

StartMenu > Run > dxdiag

or

Winkey+r > dxdiag

However you did find what matters, the device and driver version.

SiS chipsets IMHO are garbage. Do you notice problems with video playback in other apps?

There is a driver update for that you may want to try

http://www.sis.com/download/agreement.php?url=/download/

SiS UniVGA3 graphics driver

File Name R391_logo.zip

Version v 3.91

Release Date 2010-01-21

Support Products

SiS661FX , SiS661GX , SiS662 , SiS671 , SiS671FX , SiS672 , SiS672FX , SiS760 , SiS760GX , SiS761GL , SiS761GX , SiSM661FX , SiSM661GX , SiSM661MX , SiSM662 , SiSM662MX , SiSM671 , SiSM671MX , SiSM672 , SiSM672MX ,

File Size 17,684KB

Support OS Windows 2000 , Windows ME , Windows XP , Windows Server 2003 , Windows 98 SE , Windows 98 ,

Edited February 28, 2010 by DigeratiPrime
fixed link

[2harts4ever]

Hi again DigeratiPrime,

Thanks for the additional information.

I have always been leery of installing drivers on my own so I decided to go to Device Manager and try updating the display driver from there.

Well, to make a long story short, when I updated the driver it did just that, BUT, it gave me a SiS 760 driver from 9-30-2004 (Version #6.14.0010.3630). Regardless, I tried my WebCam and it works perfectly now. I can capture stills, moving videos and my effects are the way they are supposed to be.

I tested my picture files, movie files and Power Point files and they all work correctly.

Then the Microsoft Update site told me I had an update to my SiS760 (the one I previously had when my webcam wouldn't work correctly). I decided to update it and then I tried using my WebCam again. Sure enough the problems reappeared. So I rolled back the driver to the older one (9-30-2004) and all is well with my WebCam again.

Now Microsoft Update is telling me I have an update again for my SiS760, which is once again the same one that my WebCam wouldn't work with.

Since everything seems to be working okay with the older driver do you think it is okay to stick with it?

Thanks and regards,

2harts4ever

Edited February 28, 2010 by 2harts4ever

[Sp0iLedBrAt]

Unfortunately, the link that DigeratiPrime put up won't work because you have to accept a License Agreement.

But, if you go to THIS PAGE, look at the category LATEST DRIVERS (bottom of the page)

and click the SIS UniVGA3 graphics driver (v3.91), you can download the latest driver. If it doesn't work, you can always go back to previous versions.

Edited February 28, 2010 by Sp0iLedBrAt

[2harts4ever]

Hi DigeratiPrime and Sp0iLedBrAt,

I see the link you both gave me is a zipped file and my problem is I wouldn't know where to extract it to after downloading it.

So for the time being I think I will just let well-enough alone. As long as the older driver solves my webcam problems and everything else seems to be working I will just stick to what I have right now.

But, out of curiosity, where would I extract the new driver too if I ever get up the nerve to download and try to install it?

Thanks and regards,

2harts4ever

[Sp0iLedBrAt]

Anywhere you like , as long as it is in a separate folder which you can delete later without a lot of fuss.