Video not working in chat, but works fine in tuning wizard (MSN 6)

[Slipstream3D]

Help, I'm trying to get video chat up and running in MSN Messenger 6 without
much success. I have a Panasonic Mini DV camcorder (i.e. no drivers,
automatically installed by windows xp) and the camcorder itself works (I
have edited video off of it in Adobe Premiere Pro).

My problem is this: the video shows up and tests perfectly in Messenger 6 in
the Tuning Wizard, but when I go to a conversation my "portrait" space is
black, as opposed to showing my video feed. When I open the Web Camera
Settings box, Messenger 6.0 shows nothing, with all controls greyed out, and
Messenger 6.1 beta (tried it in case it'd fix the problem) says that the
video is being used by another device.

Oddly enough, Windows Messenger 5, if I decide to start it, functions
absolutely perfectly.

It is not specifically the firewire camera either; my camcorder also has a
"usb webcam" function that uses completely different driver files, and it
does the same thing.

Any help will be greatly appreciated.

--Slipstream3D

 

[Jonathan Kay [MVP]]

Greetings Slipstream3D,

It sounds like you're using the 'Webcam' button in MSN Messenger 6. This option (and the Web
Camera Settings dialog) are *literally* for Webcam's -- not camcorders/DV/video card inputs
etc.

In order to make this work, you'll need to use the 'Video Conference' option instead. To do
so, click the Actions menu, then 'Start Video Conference'. The 'Video Conference' option is
virtually identical to what is in Windows Messenger and should work without a problem.
____________________________________________
Jonathan Kay
Windows MVP, Messenger
Associate Expert
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone/
Messenger Resources - http://messenger.jonathankay.com

 

[Jonathan Kay [MVP]]

Hi Slipstream3D,

The 'Webcam' option was actually made by Logitech and is primarily centered around their
cameras (although it will work with others). It's designed to use the built-in Microsoft WDM
Image Capture driver exclusively -- not the DV driver, not other drivers (video card inputs,
etc.).

The "preview" in the Audio/Video Tuning Wizard uses the same function as the 'Video
Conference', and as such why it works there.
____________________________________________
Jonathan Kay
Windows MVP, Messenger
Associate Expert
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone/
Messenger Resources - http://messenger.jonathankay.com

 

[Slipstream3D]

Ahhhhhh. So it's just pure dumb luck my friend's non-logitech webcam works
through the Webcam button. Looks as if I'm gonna buy a logitech webcam
anyway (don't want to wear out an $800 DV camcorder when a $100 webcam will
work just as well).

Thanks for the tips

 

[Jonathan Kay [MVP]]

Hi,

Well, any camera that uses the WDM Image Capture driver will work -- for instance, I use an
Intel PC Camera just fine -- but the actual software component that the 'Webcam' uses, was
developed by Logitech.

You're very welcome =).
____________________________________________
Jonathan Kay
Windows MVP, Messenger
Associate Expert
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone/
Messenger Resources - http://messenger.jonathankay.com