VGN-CR190 Camera will not work

I have a new VGN-CR190. From the first time it was used, when I try and use the camera with MSN Messenger or the onboard camera utility, it will not work. I get a camera in use by another program error, or, there is another camera installed on this machine. I have called Sony a couple of times. They will have me reinstall the camera drivers and it WILL work for that use. When I turn the computer off againan and want to ue it later, I have to go through the same ordeal. Otherwise, I like the computer, but this camera issue is killing me. The computer was purchased to keep in touch with people and the camera was integral to that decision. Any ideas for how to fix this?

 

I only had this problem once. While trying to get the camera to function with Skype, it said that the camera was in use by another program. I didnt have any other programs using it so I just restarted my computer and the problem was gone.

 

My issue is similar but recurring. Any time you desire to use the camera it is questionable at best. The only solution is to restart the computer any number of times, sometmes 10 in a row. I have reloded drivers several times now as well. Same result. I did not mention it before as I had said it was a new laptop, but it is a Vista machine.

On my SZ, I have never had a problem. But this CR camera cannot be relied upon and that is the reason I purchased it.

 

Click the Start button, click All Programs and then click Windows Defender.
In the Windows Defender window, click the Tools button.
In the Tools section, click Software Explorer.
Next to Category:, click to select Startup Programs and then click the Show for all users button.
NOTE: If prompted for an administrator password or a User Account Control prompt is displayed, type the appropriate password or click Continue.

Click to select the program that you want to prevent from running and then
DISABLE THE VAIO CAMERA CAPTURE UTILITY
click the Disable button.
NOTE: If the Disable button is grayed out, the program has already been disabled or is not a configurable startup program.

In the Windows Defender window, click the Yes button to confirm that you want to stop that program from running.
Repeat steps 5 and 6 for every program that you want to keep from running automatically.

 

So if I do this, the Camera will only turn on when I use a program which I specifically ask for it. Thereby eliminating the "camera is already in use" issue. I'll give it a shot. Thank you.

 

Any other ideas? I am trying to get the CR Vaio camera to work with MSN messenger. It does not even work with the utility most of the time. It simply says another camera is already in use. Any thoughts?

 

Hi! All, I have exactly the same problem like this. The motion web cam has never worked since I bought this laptop from Sony. It never worked probably with Windows Live Messenger v8, and it just doesn't work when you start the video call from Windows Live Messenger. You don't get any error message when you have this problem, you just dont' see the image at all. Like this other people said, you have to reboot, reboot and reboot many times in order to make this work, I would say 1 out of 10 times you will see this work. Also, I sometimes see the error saying the camera is in use by other problem when you start Sony Capture Utility, but there isn't any problem is running by using this camera at all. I have called Sony Support many times, and they can not help at all, and I am REALLY upset of what I got from Sony. Sony support just keep saying re-install the camera driver or restore the whole image. But, this is the brand new camera I just bought without installing anything execpt just one Windows Live Messenger. I always think if this laptop has ever been test before they release. Also support is very bad because Sony only support this laptop for Vista and they don't provide any drivers for XP or other OS etc. So far, I can telll there is either a bad design of the hardware or the driver problelm for this camera. As I was told to uninstall and reinstall the camera driver, restore the whole machien with the restore disc, they are all not working at all. I did even do a clean install of Windows Vista OS by myself without installing anything but just Motion WebCamm drivers and Windows Live Messenger, then do a test for a week, it is same thing. It doesn't work well at all. I am trully believe Sony should address this issues/problem and provide a patch or whatever solution to slove this probelm. hey.., the reason I purchased this laptop, is really a built-in webcam... Sony even refuse to exchange other same identical laptop for me even they can not slove this Webcam problems. I am just too tired to try things out in order to slove this problem because i have been doing a lot of testing since I got it at the first day.

 

If that will not work try this camera update if looking for a specific model used this before you install the driver .