Vostro 1400/Win 7 - Webcam no longer connects

I have been using Win 7 RC for the last few months and my Webcam was working fine in all apps, MSN/Skpe, Gmail Video chat etc.

I received my Win 7 DVD, did a fresh install and it detected my webcam. However my webcam no longer works in either skype or MSN.

Skype reports the error 'cannot capture video, camera may already be in use' MSN returns the error 'cannot connect to webcam. Close any programs that may be using your webcam and chose setup audio/video'

The only thing I can see 'blocking' these apps is the Dell Webcam Console. I can't see any way to uninstall just the console, I think it comes bundled with the default windows 7 driver. I can see the path is

C:\Windows\SysWOW64\rundll32.exe OEM02Cvw.dll,ctCVWConsoleRunDLL32EP

I have changed the setting 'automatically launch webcam console when video is played' but still no joy. Tried uninstalling and installing old drivers but no luck either.

Funny thing is that I check my log, I can see that I was using the same driver under Windows 7 RC - Creative Technology 1.4.1.1011.

Even more strange is that webcam does actually work now, but only when I use video chat inside Gmail ! The key difference is that video chat works inside browser whereas the rest are applications.

Can anyone please help, as it’s driving me crazy

 

It gets 'worse'.

On a VM machine (Windows 2008 server) hosted through on current Win 7, the webcam works in 2008! Must be something 'blocking' webcam on Win 7. Tried installing splitcam, and even that came up with error of not being able to install driver

 

Try to go to dell.com and download the relevant driver for the Dell Webcam Console, and install it over the one you have now.

They might not have it listed if you choose your OS as 7 32 or 64 bit, so instead, choose vista 32 or 64 bit (whatever you have).

 

Got the same thing with my E6500.... neither the integrated web cam or the one in my external monitor work - no bangs, just always "in use"

Love to know how to fix it without rebuilding my machine.

 

As a last resort, try uninstalling any Dell software related to the camera, then in the Device Manager, right-click on the webcam and choose 'Properties' > 'Uninstall', then reboot and see what happens.

My M4400's built-in webcam works perfectly with Windows 7 without any third-party drivers or software, so hopefully Windows 7 will redetect your webcam and install the generic driver.

 

I eventually found out what this is.. its Kaspersky. It installs some shim under the webcam driver and leaves it there even after you uninstall it.

http://social.technet.microsoft.com...e/thread/79f6fefb-64f3-4d41-8a49-4de68797a098

NOTE: I've substituted CurrentControlSet for ControlSet001 above, as its the correct one to change... 001 might work, if it happens to be current, but it may not be.