Skype update 5.9 stops my webcam operating

[RexJ]

Having just updated to the latest version of Skype 5.9 my webcam is unable to display an image in Skype.  Operating system is Windows 7.  Have tried uninstalling and re-installing Skype but the fault is still the same. Webcam appears in the dropdown list.  The webcam is working properly but Skype is not recognising it.  No problem with the previous version of Skype, just this new version.  What has changed?

[g4pilut]

What type webcam?

When you say the webcam appears in the dropdown list, do you mean the list in the Select webcam box if you click on Tools > Options > Video settings?

[RexJ]

The Webcam is a Philips SPZ2000 and is plugged into one of the USB ports of my Dell XPS. When the computer first comes on and I select  'Tools: Options:Video Settings' in Skype, video from the camera appears OK. After I close the 'Video Settings' window and check again only the rotating loading arrow appears. This is the only time the video appears.  No matter what I do after this I get the rotating loading arrow until I switch the computer off and on again.  It is consistent.  The camera is clearly working but this has only happend since the last update.  Have I missed something?  Thank you for your prompt response.  Please advise.  Rex

[g4pilut · Accepted solution]

I suspect the problem is your webcam is not on Skype's list of approved cams.  But since I think I understood you to say that it was working with a previous version of Skype, you might try resetting your Skype configuration files with this procedeure:

Quit Skype.  Hold the Windows key and type r.  In the box that comes up type %appdata% <enter>.  Scroll down to find the \Skype folder and rename it something like \Skype_old.  Restart Skype.

Note:  Renaming the Skype folder will move IM and call history to the renamed folder.  They can be recovered with a few extra steps.

If the problem persists, what you can try as a work around is ManyCam, a free utility that will take your webcam feed and be recognized by Skype.

You can get ManyCam at www.manycam.com

[RexJ]

Thank you.  Renaming the Skype folder had no effect on my problem.  However, installing the 'ManyCam' utility as you suggested appears to have solved the problem.  Thank you for your time.

[g4pilut]

[martinysteen]

Skype 5.10 shows same problem. I use a HP Compaq 2710p which has a Sunix webcam.

On a freshly booted machine and freshly started Skype 5.10.0.114 you can go to options>video settings and find that the webcam is fine. But after one or two video calls my webcam is dead.

Going back to pre-5.9 is a dead end. I will try the ManyCam-solution even though I am less that happy to be forced into such trick. Microsoft/Skype: Why do you let this happen?

[adlee61]

Same here with Logitec C110.  I finally resolved the issue like this.  Do a system restore to a time when it was working.  Before it updates, quickly go into the options, advanced settings and turn OFF automatic updates.  You should then be running on a version of Skype that does work.

I learned this the hard way by restoring my hard-drive with an image from about 6 months ago which caused me to have hours of windows updates etc, .  But essentially the webcam worked.  However today, the **bleep** program updated and I lost the webcam again.  Did a quick system restore and turned of the automatic updates and I'm back on cam again.  

Come on Skype - no-one wants to HAVE to buy another webcam just to make it work!  Otherwise you're going to have people leaving in droves.