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Creative WebCams Essential Troubleshooting
Creative WebCams - Essential Troubleshooting
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It is very important that you check through each troubleshooting
step.
Note:
- Before proceeding with the troubleshooting, try the Webcam in a different
PC if possible to confirm functionality.
- Please be aware that Anti Virus software can interfere with the running
of messaging software programs.
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Here are some steps to check with USB.
- Try connecting to different USB ports including front and back ports.
- Use a self-powered USB hub. A self powered hub is a hub
that takes its power from an external power supply unit and can therefore
provide full power to every port.
For more information on USB, consult following article SID 2490
USB - General Information and Essential Troubleshooting.
- Ensure that any previous imaging devices are removed from Device
Manager before proceeding. This is done by disconnecting the USB device
from the PC.
- See the example below where a Visioneer 4800 USB has been installed.
- Check that your Webcam is appearing in Device Manager.
- If it is not appearing in Device Manager, try installing the
driver from Device Manager. Check how do this for Windows XP and
Windows 2000 below.
- Right-click My Computer and select properties, open
Device Manager, right-click the question/exclamation mark representing
the new USB device, select Properties, Driver tab and click Update driver.
- Follow the instructions on screen to complete the installation. You may be asked, after the drivers have been successfully installed, if you want to restart your computer. Select No until all the applications are installed.
- Restart your computer after all the applications have been installed.
- Right-click My Computer and select properties, open
Device Manager, right-click the question/exclamation mark representing
the new USB device, select Properties, Driver tab and click Update driver.
- Follow the instructions on the screen to complete the installation. You may be asked, after the drivers have been successfully installed, if you want to restart your computer. Select No until all the applications are installed.
- Restart your computer after all the applications have been installed.
For more information on Device Manager consult this article
SID 2404 General Device Manager Information.
- Insert the Installation CD into your CD-ROM drive. Your CD should start
automatically. If it does not, follow the steps below:
- Double-click the My Computer icon. Alternatively, click Start
> My Computer .
- Right-click the CD-ROM/DVD-ROM drive icon, and then click
AutoPlay.
- Select the region you are in and then click the Next button.
- Select a language and then click the Next button.
- Click the options for installing drivers and applications, and then
click the Install button.
- When prompted, connect your Live! Cam's USB cable to an available USB
port on your computer, Windows automatically detects the device.
Note:
If you have lost your installation CD, there are software and drivers available
on our website.
You can start Creative Webcam Center in any of the following ways:
- Click Start - Programs - Creative - Creative
Webcam - Creative Webcam Center.
- On launch the Webcam should be automatically initialized and video will
appear under the "Capture" tab.
- Right-click the Creative Cam Detector icon
in your taskbar, and select Launch Creative Webcam Center. This
icon appears if, during installation, you clicked the option for Creative
Cam Detector to load automatically at Windows startup.
Taking a Photo
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In the Creative Webcam Center window, click the Capture
tab.
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Click the Photo Resolution box and select the resolution that
you want.
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Click the Snap photo button
to capture an image. Images are saved as files in the default media
folder. The path to your default media folder is found on the top right
hand side of Webcam Center.

- To view the photos in the image viewer, double-click the image files
in the Thumbnails/Details pane.
Recording a Video
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In the Creative Webcam Center window, click the Capture tab.
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Click the Video Resolution box and select the resolution that you
want.
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Click the Record button to start and stop video recording.
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Videos are saved as files in the default media folder when you stop recording.
- To view the videos in the video viewer, double-click the video files in
the Thumbnails/Details pane.
Note: If your Webcam has a focus option, try it in different positions to ensure the best quality image.

- Launch the Skype application and in Skype click on Tools>Options>Video
- In the video dialog box, ensure that the "Enable Skype video"
box is ticked.
- If you are still encountering problems with Skype, select your Webcam
directly from the dropdown menu, and the Test Webcam button to test your
Webcam.
All sorts of programs run in the background on your PC. Closing unessential
ones can sometimes help keep software installations trouble-free.
The System Configuration Utility (Msconfig.exe) allows you to temporarily change
the way Windows XP starts by disabling startup programs and services individually
or several at a time.
To disable programs from automatically loading:
If you are uncertain which startup programs are causing you problems try un-checking
all items and then slowly recheck each items until you determine the source
of your problem.
To disable non Microsoft services on start-up, follow the instructions above,
but select the Services tab instead of Startup. In order to get an overview
of services that can be safely disabled tick the box called Hide All Microsoft
Services.
If you are uncertain which services are causing your problems try un-checking
all items and then slowly recheck each items until you determine the source
of your problem.
Creative Webcam Live! Ultra, Webcam Live! Ultra for notebooks and Live!
Motion may be incompatible with some ATI southbridge SB400 and SB450 products.
To see if you have an ATI chipset, look at your PC documentation or talk
to your PC manufacturer.
All the listed Creative products are USB-IF certified. To learn more about USB-IF
certification, please visit: http://www.usb.org/developers/compliance/
A PC System Configuration that has ATI southbridge SB400 and SB450 may have
connection issues with the 3 models from Creative.
If you believe you are experiencing connection problems, we recommend:
- Check with your PC motherboard manufacturer for a BIOS upgrade. or
- If one is not available or does not resolve the issue, use a PCI to USB 2.0 or PCMCIA to USB 2.0 card.
If these steps do not address your problem, we would suggest returning your
product to your retailer to exchange for a Creative Live! Cam Voice,
Webcam Live!, or Webcam Live! Effects camera or alternatively
a refund. Please contact
for further assistance.
When using an online messenger application for example Windows Live Messenger
you may notice different effects appearing on the screen. The reason for
this can be that the Advanced Video FX is enabled in Live! Cam Console and
an effect has been enabled for example the Ayres Rock effect. To enable
or disable Advanced Video FX do the following.
- The AVFX utility can be accessed from the Live! Cam Console which
will auto launched once a video streaming activity is detected.
- Select Advanced Video FX on the console.
Here you can enable or disable Advanced Video FX as shown.

If the troubleshooting steps have not helped fix your Webcam, please try
it in a another PC with a different specification. If you still require
assistance please contact Customer
Support.
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