Resolve compatibility issues between LifeCam and other programs

Article ID: 953692 - View products that this article applies to.
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Symptoms

This article describes the known issues that you may experience when you use a Microsoft LifeCam together with certain programs.

When you try to start the LifeCam, you may notice the following problems:
  • LifeCam may stop responding (hangs).
  • The camera window may become blank.
  • The computer CPU usage may increase to 100%.
Additionally, you may receive the following error message:
LifeCam.exe has stopped working. A problem caused the program to stop working correctly. Windows will close the program and notify you if a solution is available.
These issues may occur if you use one of the following programs together with LifeCam:
  • EarthLink TotalAccess
  • Venturi VClient
  • Nero
  • Pinnacle System's Studio 9 software
  • F-secure Internet security
  • Web Cyber Coach Dell
  • AOL or Yahoo toolbar
  • Fix it Utilities
Note Newer versions of the programs above may not exhibit this same behavior. Other programs not on the list may also interfere.
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Workaround

To work around these issues, follow these steps:
  1. Temporarily disable any program that is listed in the "Symptoms" section.
  2. Download and then install the latest version of the program that you temporarily disabled.
  3. Uninstall the earlier version of the program.
Note Contact the manufacturer of the specific program to obtain help on how to temporarily disable the program, how to install the latest version, and how to uninstall the older version.

Workarounds for specific programs

EarthLink TotalAccess

Uninstall EarthLink TotalAccess. To uninstall EarthLink TotalAccess, use the following EarthLink Support Web site to contact their support personnel for assistance: 
http://support.earthlink.net/contact/contact.php
(http://support.earthlink.net/contact/contact.php)

Note If you use EarthLink TotalAccess to send and receive e-mail messages, you have to back up your mailbox before you remove EarthLink TotalAccess.

Venturi VClient

To resolve this issue, use one of the following methods:
Method 1: Turn off Venturi VClient
  1. In the notification area, look for the Venturi V icon.
  2. Right-click the V icon, and then click Exit.
  3. Start LifeCam.
Method 2: Uninstall Venturi VClient
If the workaround in "Method 1" does not resolve the issue, you must uninstall the Venturi VClient software. To do this, follow these steps:
  1. Click Start, point to All Programs, point to Venturi Client, and then click Uninstall. Follow the instructions to uninstall the software.
  2. Download and run the "Completely Uninstall Venturi Client" tool from the following Web site: 
    http://www.evdoinfo.com/content/view/267/63/
    (http://www.evdoinfo.com/content/view/267/63/)
    Microsoft provides third-party contact information to help you find technical support. This contact information may change without notice. Microsoft does not guarantee the accuracy of this third-party contact information.
  3. Verify that you can connect to the Internet and that other applications work correctly.
  4. Start LifeCam.

    Note For more information about Venturi VClient, visit the following Venturi Wireless Support Center Web site:
    http://www.venturiwireless.com/support
    (http://www.venturiwireless.com/support)
    Microsoft provides third-party contact information to help you find technical support. This contact information may change without notice. Microsoft does not guarantee the accuracy of this third-party contact information.
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Resolution

To resolve this issue, follow these steps.

Step 1: Download and install the latest software

To download the most recent version of the LifeCam software, follow these steps:
  1. Visit the following Microsoft Hardware Web site:
    http://www.microsoft.com/hardware/downloads/default.mspx
    (http://www.microsoft.com/hardware/downloads/default.mspx)
  2. Click Software for webcam and headset products.
  3. In the Select type of product box, select Webcams.
  4. In the Select your product box, select your LifeCam product.
  5. In the Select your operating system box, select your Windows version.
  6. In the Select your operating system language box, select your Windows language.
  7. Click Go.
  8. Click the link to download the most recent version of the LifeCam software.

Step 2: Clean boot procedure

When you start a Windows operating system, some programs, such as the antivirus software and system utility programs, start automatically. These programs run in the background and may interfere with LifeCam. When you perform a clean boot, you prevent these programs from starting automatically. You must be logged on as an administrator or as a member of the Administrators group to perform a clean boot procedure. If your computer is connected to a network, network policy settings may also prevent you from completing this procedure.

Clean boot procedure on Windows Vista

To perform clean boot procedure on Windows Vista, follow these steps:
Step 1: Start the System Configuration Utility
To start the System Configuration Utility in Windows Vista or Windows 7, click Start
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Start button
, type msconfig in the Start Search box, and then press ENTER.

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User Account Control permission
If you are prompted for an administrator password or for a confirmation, type the password, or click Continue.
Step 2: Turn off programs and services
To do this, follow these steps:
  1. On the General tab, click Selective Startup, and then click OK.
  2. Under Selective Startup, click to clear the Load Startup Items check box.
  3. Click the Services tab, click to select the Hide All Microsoft Services check box, and then click Disable All.
  4. Click OK, and then click Restart.

Clean boot procedure on Windows XP

To perform a clean boot procedure on Windows XP, follow these steps:

Warning You may temporarily lose functionality of some services when you follow these steps. When you restore the settings, the services are restored. However, when you restore the functionality, the original error message or behavior may return.
Step 1: Start the System Configuration Utility
To start the System Configuration Utility in Windows XP, click Start, type msconfig in the Start box, and then press ENTER.
Step 2: Turn off programs and services
To do this, follow these steps:
  1. On the General tab, click Selective Startup, and then click OK.
  2. Under Selective Startup, click to clear the following check boxes:
    • Process SYSTEM.INI File
    • Process WIN.INI File
    • Load Startup Items
  3. Click the Services tab, click to select the Hide All Microsoft Services check box, and then click Disable All.
  4. Click OK, and then click Restart.

Step 3: Download and install the latest Windows service pack

  1. Check the service pack version that is installed on the computer. To do this, click Start or click the Vista icon, right-click My Computer or Computer, and then select Properties. On the General tab, view the System section, where the service pack version number is displayed.
  2. Download the latest Windows service pack. For information, visit the following Microsoft Web site:
    http://support.microsoft.com/sp
    (http://support.microsoft.com/sp)
    Click your version of Windows, and you will be directed to a Microsoft Knowledge Base article about the latest Windows service pack. The "Obtain the latest Windows service pack from the Microsoft Download Center" section of the article contains a link to download the update.
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More information

The third-party products that this article discusses are manufactured by companies that are independent of Microsoft. Microsoft makes no warranty, implied or otherwise, about the performance or reliability of these products.

Microsoft provides third-party contact information to help you find technical support. This contact information may change without notice. Microsoft does not guarantee the accuracy of this third-party contact information.
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References

For more information about how to perform a clean boot procedure, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:
331796
(http://support.microsoft.com/kb/331796/ )
How to perform a clean boot procedure to prevent background programs from interfering with a game or a program that you currently use
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Properties

Article ID: 953692 - Last Review: July 18, 2012 - Revision: 8.0
Applies to
  • Microsoft LifeCam VX-1000
  • Microsoft LifeCam NX-3000
  • Microsoft LifeCam VX-3000
  • Microsoft LifeCam VX-5000
  • Microsoft LifeCam NX-6000
  • Microsoft LifeCam VX-6000
  • Microsoft LifeCam VX-7000
  • Lifecam Cinema
  • Microsoft LifeCam Show
  • Microsoft LifeCam VX-5500
Keywords: 
dftsdahomeportal kbstartprogram kbtshoot kbexpertisebeginner kbprb KB953692
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