Few months back I was having problems using the Show My Webcam option from Windows Live Messenger 2009 on my laptop running Windows Vista. After spending a lot of time testing, I found a temporary workaround to enable the grayed out or broken camera icon by just signing out and then signing in back. This workaround is not really a real solution because I had to do that all the time whenever I wanted to use the Show My Webcam option. It is a bug on Windows Live Messenger 2009 and surprisingly there isn’t any updates to fix the problem even after months has passed since messenger 2009 was released.
Today I was checking out Jonathan Kay’s blog and he too written a similar article but with another solution. I gave it a try and the solution permanently enabled Windows Live Messenger 2009 Show My Webcam option! By saying permanently meaning that after restarting my computer, the Show My Webcam option is no longer grayed out and I no longer need to repeat the workaround whenever I wanted to enable show my webcam.
The solution that was posted in Jonathan’s website is to disable the webcam from “Audio and video setup” and then re-enabling it back. To do that, press Alt + T to bring up the Tools menu bar, then select Audio and video setup…. Click the Next button when you’re at the audio setup to go to the webcam setup. Click on the drop down menu from the webcam selection and select Disable. Click Finish.
Now do the exact same thing as above but this time instead of selecting disable, select your default webcam that you want to use. Now try signing on to your Messenger and check if the Show My Webcam feature is available to use or not (by right it should). Also do try restarting your computer to check if your Messenger 2009 show my webcam is enabled or not without going through the workaround steps above.
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Well whenever i get into my webcam it comes up with a picture of a flower. I record myslef yet the sound still comes in but the picture remains and i cannot see my self ! HELP !!!!!
I upgraded to Messenger 14.0.8117 and my local webcam would no longer work – even though it worked in Tools/Audio Video Setup. I disabled/re-enabled and now everything is fine.
Many thanks
hii Emil Valbak Hermansen. this is what i found abt ur problem. hope its helpful
windowslivehelp.com/thread.aspx?postid=7c854a5d-8dbe-4d97-b46c-d44a03d42eb9#7c854a5d-8dbe-4d97-b46c-d44a03d42eb9
Hi everyone. I know its not exactly the same problem but I hope you can help me out. When i press the little webcam icon next to my own or the other ones picture, i automatically starts to “Start a Videocall” without the possibility to select just “Show My Webcam”. Anyone know how to fix this?
Sincerely
Emil
hey how can i use my web cam again…???? need help please
i followed the instructions to the letter of the second fix and it worked!!
yea i have the same problem like rachel wht should i do ?:S
Hey, my show webcam button doesnt come up at all :/ it only says video call. do you know how to fix this? i tried that way you did for your problem but it didnt woork for me :(
those two of your solution regarding enabling show my webcam isn’t worked for me..
im using windows live messenger version 2009 and im running windows 7..
does anyone can help me out for another solutions?
thanks man it worked perfectly, now i can use my webcam again!
Top man :) i thought i played with a setting thanks a bunch:)
WOW!! thankyu Raymond! Soo much.. been trying for days to sort this out, and I found you, you are a God send! Works perfect now!!
I NEED THIS FIXED PLEASE HELP!!! I TRIED TO COPY IT TO DESKTOP CHANGED IT NO LUCK. COPYED IT IN MORE BAD LUCK. RESTARTED MY COMPUTER A MILLION TIMES. EVEN BEFORE ALL THIS I DIDNT HAVE SITE ADVISOR, I DOWNLOADED IT FOR IT TO WORK. LISTEN BUDDY, I NEED TO VIDEO CHAT AND THIS UPSETS ME GREATLY. THANX FOR THE HELP.
~MIKE~
Thank u very much
it fixed my problem
thnx again mate
THANK YUU RAYMOND….it works again!!!!!!!!!!
RAYMOND
Gender: Masculine
Usage: English, French
Pronounced: RAY-mənd (English), ray-MAWN (French) [key]
From the Germanic name Raginmund, composed of the elements ragin “advice” and mund “protector”. This name was introduced to England by the Normans in the form Reimund. It was borne by several medieval (mostly Spanish) saints, including Saint Raymond Nonnatus, the patron of midwives and expectant mothers, and Saint Raymond of Peñafort, the patron of canonists
you saved best buy from me. i had this issue after buying a new toshiba satelitte, the $1200 one. i figured after updating windows would be the fix. nope. so i bought a phillips spc 1ooo cam, knew it had to be my ancient cam had to be the prob. ready to toss my new laptop through best buy’s front window i was frustrated. thanks for saving a few grey hairs. best fix info i’ve ever seen on the web.
thank u so much for this!! i use msn to communicate with my boyfriend in florida.. we wont’ be seeing each other for about 6 to 8months.. i’m here in the Philippines and miss him dearly. our webcam is the only way we can see each other. and yes sometimes my internet is slow that we can’t do a video call.
we prefer using skype for the video calls. but the disadvantage of using skype is that i have to be online all the time to receive his messages. because you have to be both online to receive each other’s messages.
with msn, we can send offline messages while one is offline. and we can read it once we sign in. we feel that sending text messages will be expensive and so we use the messenger and email. what i like about the msn messenger is that you can customize the sound alert.. so when he logs in.. i can hear a distinct sound that would let me know he’s online.. and also a customized sound whenever he sends me a chat message.
as you know we’re on opposite time zones and have to make time to talk to each other. thank you again raymond for this! :)
Thanks so much. This worked for me today. I really appreciate the help.
Hello, Raymond!
I’ve had this problem for several days now and have scoured the internet for answers, but your trick worked! Thanks very much for your help, it was greatly appreciated! :)
It worked! Thanks
UR A HERO
thanks.
same problem with new Windows Installation, now solved. :)
thanks raymond ! :D your a legend
Thank u so much! I did worked! u saved my life! :D
THANKS- just did the—- “To do that, press Alt + T to bring up the Tools menu bar, then select Audio and video setup…. Click the Next button when you’re at the audio setup to go to the webcam setup. Click on the drop down menu from the webcam selection and select Disable. Click Finish” —-AND ALL WORKS NOW AND HAS MADE MY DAUGHTER VERY HAPPY
THANKS FOR YOUR HELP
Worked for me. Cheers mate, been bugging me for ages.
im reallt getting annoyed ive been tryin to use my web cam on windows live messenger gor ages it did work once and now u send or accept for people to view ur cam it starts loading then goes off as soon as ir connects and if i try doing a video cal it completly naks up and have to shut it down as it doesnt repsond ive tryed changing my webcam settings but its still the same can u help please.
Thanks maaaaaaaaaaaaaan
it is working
Gracias, fue la solución ideal, bravo Jona !!!
Thanks! 10 internets for you, sir!
Surprisingly…, it worked for me too. Odd!
thanks so much that was so easy solution, din really need to mess up with the computer :)
Hey this works,thanks!
For them who dont work rhis try this solution
go on device manager and to your webcam go disable then enable it should work and sorry for my bad english
I just figured out this works when you have set “Allow others to see that I have a webcam”
Thanks guys!
Did not work for me… Thanks though..
I’m going to try it .. hope it works.. otherwise there’s always Pidgin. (pidgin.im)
Worked for me too, thx :)
thanks so much , it actually worked !
Fixes the grayed out webcam option but all my contacts see is a big red X. M$ need to sort this crap out.
thanks alot brutha!!!
OMG!
no manches te amo!
ya se soluciono!!
idolo..
muchisimas gracias!!
La solucion de Jonathan me funcionó de 10!!!
Muchísimas gracias!!! Saludos.
Thank you so much!
Works like a charm :)
Thanks man.
Works like a charm!
gracias tigre si kedo al 100% mi camara del msn si funka pen…. el ke diga ke no funciona sale
Thanks great work
Works like a charm! Thank you very much! Will share the tip around.
That was neat. I could get my “show my webcam” option enabled or “live”. Now the problem is is there any way in which i can tell my other firends on contact list that I have enabled my webcam and they can see me if they request. In other words on Yahoo Msngr, there is an alert suffixed to my name in others contact list saying “Webcam On”. If anybaody wants to view my webcam they can. In case of Live Msngr for some reason I can only “invite” specific users from “my side” to view my webcam which is ridiculous. I would like my friends to know that my Webcam is on and they can, if they want to, on their own click and see the my webcam. Is there any workaround or did i get it wrong and the feature is already there. Thanks.
my webcam doesnt work with msn messenger, but the show web cam is available. And i have checked my antivirus, my firewall. Everything and it still doesnt work.
Works for me! Thank you so much!
i have had this problem for months and turning off the camera in audio and video settings and turning it back on works, but as soon as i close the program and reopen it, it stops working again. Grrr.
THAT BLOODY WORKS!!! THANK YOU SOOO MUCH
:’D
Thanks for this.
Btw, you look nice on your avatar Raymond.
Still doesnt work…. for me, the only way that works is to unplug and plug the webcam again
Thanks Raymond :)
Another reason you are King of the tech blogs! You just keep researching and sharing !!! I have saved this in case I need it for a client – but I’m still not switching to the new messenger yet ! lol !
Thanks Raymond
er i think the point is ray, you can use other “all in one” IM programs such as miranda, that **** all over msn!!!
Daniel, I can’t switch because most of my friends and family are in messenger. I see no point in switching if I am alone in the other IM :P
Great posts Raymond, but don’t you think its about time to switch to another messenger? Every third post is about how to fix something annoying in Windows messenger.
Im kind of confused Ray.
My “show web-cam” is click-able and not grey without any workaround.
Btw Ray, All ur tips are amazing. Thank you so much. I have ur blog as my homepage ever since I subscribed. Ive been recommending all my friends to join as this is the best blog ever.
Great job my friend :)