I'm trying to take use the picture center of a Logitech Quick Cam. When trying to take a picture I get the message:

"Quick Cam devise is currently in use by another application" when trying to take a picture."


How do I find out what "application" is being used and correct the situation?

Thanks!

There are several different models of logitech quickcams, so this may or may not apply to yours. Also, the Windows Operating System version will make a difference. But, here goes:

This link may not work for you. But the Logitech Support page is found here and you can add your system and camera model numbers and search their support section if the following does not apply to your situation.

The information in this article applies to the following Software
ImageStudio 7.x
QuickCam 8.x

The information in this article applies to the following Operating Systems:
Windows® 2000
Windows® XP
Windows® 98SE
Windows® ME


Cause
Check for simultaneous running video applications. If another video application is running, the camera driver might still be in use by that application. Examples of these video applications are Yahoo! Messenger, MSN, Logitech VideoCall, and Windows Movie Maker.

Solution
The following solutions are the most common to address this error message:

A. If another video application is running, quit the program and start the application you wish to use with your camera. Keep in mind that only one application can use the camera at a time. If this does not rectify the problem, continue on to following solutions:

B. Install the Latest Version of DirectX
Before continuing with the diagnostics, please make sure you are using the latest release of DirectX. You can download the latest release here.

To install DirectX, please perform the following steps:

Unplug the camera.
Uninstall the Logitech camera software (QuickCam 8 or Image Studio 7) using Add/Remove Programs in the Windows Control Panel.
Click Start, Settings and Control Panel.
Double click the Add/Remove Programs icon.
Highlight the Logitech camera software and click the Add/Remove button. (Change/Remove if you are using Windows XP.)
Install the latest DirectX version from Microsoft.
Reinstall the camera software.
C. Verify That the Device Has Been Loaded in the Device Manager
When Windows correctly detects the Logitech Video Camera, it will load 2-3 entries in the Device Manager, depending on the camera being used.

To verify if the device has been loaded, please perform the following steps:

Press the CTRL, ALT and DEL keys simultaneously to bring up the Task Manager.
End task on LVCOMS.EXE.
Open the Device Manager and remove the camera.
Click the Start button, Settings then Control Panel. (For Windows XP and Windows 2000, click Start then Control Panel.)
Double click on the System icon.
Click on the Device Manager tab. Windows XP and Windows 2000 users, click on the Hardware Tab, then the Device Manager button.
Click on the plus (+) sign next to Imaging Device. A properly installed camera will load an entry in this section entitled Logitech USB Video Camera. If this entry does not exist, or is listed with a yellow exclamation mark (!), remove it and proceed to the next step.
Next click on the plus (+) sign next to Universal Serial Bus Controller.
Remove the entry for Logitech USB Camera and proceed to the next step.
(For cameras with a built in Microphone.) Click on the plus (+) sign next to Sound, Video and Game Controllers.
Remove the entry for Logitech USB Microphone and proceed to the next step.
Unplug the Camera.
D. Delete the Driver Folder and Reinstall the Driver
If ythe driver does not appear in the Device Manager, you may need to reinstall the camera drivers. For the following steps, please have the Logitech camera software CD readily available. Use the instructions that apply to the software version your camera uses.

To delete the driver folder for ImageStudio 7.3.0 Software, please perform the following steps:
Double click on My Computer.
Open C:\Program Files\Common Files\Logitech,
Right click on the QCDriver (or QCDriver#) folder and select Delete.
**This QCDriver folder may have a number at the end of the name (E.g., QCDriver2 ).**
Once the QuickCam driver is removed, reinstall the driver for the camera by performing the following steps:
Insert the Logitech ImageStudio 7.3.0 camera software CD in the CD-ROM drive.
Click Cancel if the auto-run starts.
Double click on My Computer on the Windows Desktop.
When the window opens, right click on the CD-ROM and choose Explore.
Double click on the QCDriver folder pertaining to the QCDriver folder you deleted in the instructions above.
Double click on SETUP.EXE to reinstall the driver.
To delete the driver folder for QuickCam 8.x Software, please perform the following steps:
Double click on My Computer.Open the C:\Program Files\Common Files\Logitech folder.
Right click on the QCDRV folder and select Delete.
Open the C:\Windows\System32 folder.
Delete all files that start with lv.
Open C:\Windows\Twain_32 folder.
Right click on the QuickCam folder and select Delete.
Once the QuickCam driver is removed, reinstall the driver for the camera by doing the following:
Insert the Logitech QuickCam 8.x camera software CD in the CD-ROM drive.
Click Cancel if the auto-run starts.
Double click on My Computer on the Windows Desktop.
When the window opens, right click on the CD-ROM and choose Explore.
Double click on the BIN folder.
Double click on SETUP.EXE to reinstall the driver.
You may encounter a signature error during this process; simply bypass this warning.

Thanks Dwight! Where can I find the "simultaneous running video applications" that are running on my computer? (I've got AOL-Windows 98.)

What other applications are running? Close your AOL connection and close all Message Services. I suspect something like AOL Messenger may be running a service that would utilize the camera.

You can do this in the Task Manager Window: Press the Ctrl + Alt + Delete keys at the same time, or
1. Click Start
2. Click Run
3. Type in:

taskmgr

4. Click OK

In the Applications select and "End Task" on all except Explorer and System Tray.

Then try your camera again to see if it works.

If you still get the error, the "application" is likely a "service" running in the background.

You can perform a "clean boot" to prevent background service applications from running. This will in no way harm your system, and you can reset everything by reversing the steps.

1. Click Start
2. Click Run
3. Type in:

msconfig

4. Click OK
In the MS Configuration Utility, Select all tabs and take note of all that are currently unchecked in order to reset these later.
Then choose selective startup in the General tab.
See this page to see the picture. One note, the image is of a Windows ME OS msconfig, so yours will look slightly different, but the function and procedure is the same.

Uncheck the Selective startup items one at a time, restarting your system with each change. When your system restarts, try your camera. When you get it to work, you will know which section the interference is coming from.

With this knowledge, go into the section and look for any entry that may be associated with an instant messenger program or that may have some connection with the camera. Uncheck that and restart again.

This can be a somewhat lengthy process because of the need to restart the system each time. And be careful to not what you're unchecking so that you can reset the system later.

It may be possible to take a shortcut by using the "Refresh" button on the System Properties window. After unchecking and OKing the msconfig window, choose "Exit without restart" on the options dialog box. Then do the following:

Right-click on My Computer; choose Properties.
Click the Device Manager; select Computer.

Click the "Refresh" button and try your camera. Unfortunately, this doesn't alway work, so if the camera doesn't work, you will need to restart the computer and really know for sure. Only if the camera does begin to work will you know this refresh did reset the system.

When you do find the running application, you can uninstall or disable it in order to use your camera. I suspect the AOL Instant Messenger may be the problem.

One thing you might wish to consider. Because Windows 98 no longer is supported, you may which to purchase a new computer. Incompatible devices and the inability to install/run new programs will become more troublesome over time.

Dwight
Note: Edited to correct spelling, grammar error

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Dwight,

Welp . . . I went through all the MS configruration tabs twice, except the "ProscessSystem.inifile" tab- I couldn't open the camera program due to resolution size. And all the other tabs I still get the same message.

There's more Dwight . . .

Also when I reset the Selective Startup (I applied it and Oked it) then restarted the computer again. When restarting up the computer again I went back to check the setting and it coming up checked for Normal Startup! (It was orginally checked as Selective Startup)

I hope that made sense Dwight!

Please be more specific...for instance what exactly do you mean by "I went through all the MS configruration tabs twice, except the "ProscessSystem.inifile" tab"

And by " couldn't open the camera program due to resolution size".

Keep in mind, I can't see your system and I don't know enough detail about your system and all the hardware attached to it to be able to make a guess. And I don't know the model of Logitech QuickCam that you're using.

Dwight

It's a Logitech Quick Cam, a 7.2.3 Logitech Image Studio is disc that I've loaded.

I did the clean boot and went through all the tabs in the MS Configuration Utility and they all say a program is running . . .

I do think it's time for a new puter.

I suspect that what you're dealing with is a "phantom device". By that I mean a residual of some device that is no longer attached, but that is seen by the system as still being connected to your computer.

I suggest your unplug your Quickcam and any other USB devices and then remove the USB drivers. when that is complete, restart the computer. The system will see the USB hardware and automatically reinstall the software drivers. This will hopefully remove any "phantom device(s)" that your system may be "seeing" as installed.

Here is how:

Right click on your "My Computer" icon and choose "properties"
Click the Device Manager tab.
Scroll to the USB (at the bottom)
Click the + sign to the left of the entry
Select each USB item, the click the Remove button.
OK the warning dialog box=.
When computer, restart the computer.
The USB device drivers will be automatically reinstalled at system boot up.
Try your camera again. You will need to reinstall the driver for this, so have your Quickcam CD ready. I suggest you install only the Quickcam driver and not the software at first. See if this works and if so, come back and install the application software.

Dwight


See this Microsoft page.

Hi Dwight!

I removed the 2 USB items, rebooted, and then started to reinstall the Quickcam CD and up comes the message that it is "Unable to Locate the USB Port". I guess it wasn't automatically get reinstalled? How do I go about reinstalling the USB driver?

Thanks Dwight!

When you restarted the computer, the automatic reinstall of the USB occurred?

Only after startup, when the Quickcam was plugged in, you saw the message "cannot find..."?

Is that the correct sequence?

If the above is correct, follow the initial installation instructions from the Quickcam CD, except try to install only the Quickcam driver, not the application program.

If you think the USB itself did not reinstall, go back to the system properties window/device manager tab and verify the two USBs are listed. The pathway is shown above.

Dwight

Hi again Dwight,

THe message came up after the startup, the two USBs are not listed. What next?

Just letting you know I figured out how to reinstall the USB drivers!

Does your Quickcam work correctly now?

Hi Dwight, The Quickcam is still coming up with the message "Quick Cam devise is currently in use by another application"

All I can think of is to revisit this page: Logitech Quckcam Help and follow each of the steps carefully. You might try giving their tech support line a call...perhaps they can suggest something further.
Dwight