USB Webcam problems

[hksoftware]

Here's my problem...
My Logitech Quickcam Express doesn't respond.
The Logitech app now says the cam is in use by another application, which it never did before.

I have a virus checked, and I don't think I have a trojan that is using it.
I've cancelled all running applications I can.
Tried re-installing win98SE
tried re-installing cam software.
Tried re-installing cam (It is autodetected when plugging it in.

My new digital cam can't be detected either, Although win recognises it when it is plugged in.

Thanks for any help.
-Hayden

 

[krale]

>Here's my problem...
>My Logitech Quickcam Express doesn't respond.
The Logitech app now says the cam is in use by another
>application, which it never did before.

Can't you find out what's using /dev/video0 and kill -9 the
process?

>I have a virus checked, and I don't think I have a trojan
>that is using it.

Are you sure about that? Scanners only take care of finding
old _known_ trojans.

>I've cancelled all running applications I can.

If you're running windows, zero and then clean reinstall.
There's soo much cruft in Windows that just runs, you cant
be sure of anything.

>My new digital cam can't be detected either, Although win
>recognises it when it is plugged in.

When nobody knows exactly how MSWindows is put together, how
can you determine where errors are? I figure the devices are
on USB. Can you see an error transfer log of if the device
can even be found at the USB chipset? When you load a
driver, does it detect errors on erranous devices?

The point I'm, trying to make.. Is this a HARDWARE problem,
or is it just MSWindows acting up yet again?

If anything, you should download the Knoppix Linux boot-cd
and try scanning your hardware to make sure it works (the
devices are phyiscally found by the USB chip). If it isn't,
you probably have a fried USB chip. Please let Tek-Tips members know if their posts were helpful.

 

[hksoftware]

Thanks for your response Krale.

I'm virtually definite this is a SOFTWARE problem.
Formatting C: and re-installing win will probably sort it, but that is an absolute last resort. (I recently did this and I the migrane still hasn't stopped, due to the amount of software/hardware I have.

Any more Ideas?...

 

[hksoftware]

Thanks for your response Krale.

I'm virtually definite this is a SOFTWARE problem.
Both USB Ports work fine.
Formatting C: and re-installing win will probably sort it, but that is an absolute last resort. (I recently did this and I the migrane still hasn't stopped, due to the amount of software/hardware I have.

Any more Ideas?...

 

[krale]

I've had to deal with windows way more than I should ever have to. I've had the Win9x installer GPF on me occaisionally, the Win2k kernel on the boot-cd "STOP screened" on a somewhat flakey motherboard every time I loaded it up.

Then comes to actually using Windows. You've got to use drivers for each independant chipset only cause the standard ones are buggy and slow. Oops, your graphics driver went pooft? Go boot into console mode and edit the text file.. Wait. There is NO such mode for that.

Oh, you have WInXP. Chances your hal.dll has fried multiple times.

And the last.. what about checking hardware for anomolies? Windows just dies on slightly "different" hardware. Linux and like will alert you of the error, in the deepness you want. You can even go to the source and figure it out.

Your ONLY option is to blast away the install partition and totally re-install Windows. And that'll only work if you have NO hardware problems. Please let Tek-Tips members know if their posts were helpful.