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Hi All.
I bought a new LifecamStudio 2 days ago. I installed the camera, following the instructions of course. In the end of the installation, I could se my self in the Lifecam software window, so far no problems, the camera worked. Suddenly a popup message appeared, telling me that the firmware of the camera needed to be upgraded, so I pressed OK. The firmware upgrade started but was shortly aborted with an errormessage, saying the upgrade was not succesfull. I tryed to reinstall the firmware, but now it tells me hat I already have the most recent firmware installed. So the nproblem is now that, when I instert my camera into the USB port windows finds the camera, but as soon as I start any program the uses the camera it goes from a Lifecam Icon (in the hardware manager that is) to a unknown unit. The Lifecam studio software tells me that no camera is installed. I have installed the camera on other computers without any luck.
/Stefan
Locked Question. This question was migrated from the Microsoft Support Community. You can vote on whether it's helpful, but you can't add comments or replies or follow the question.
Fixed it :)
In device manager underneath imaging devices I saw "Webcam" -- before the botched fw update it said "Microsoft LifeCam Studio" and had a diff driver. I rolled back the driver (or if that doesn't work you can force it to use the one inside program files \ lifecam) then re-installed lifecam -- my cam now works. Now -- what's the deal with this update utility and why's it changing what driver the camera uses?
I bought this camera 2 years ago, worked great. Microsoft updated it's OS to windows 8 and camera's functions stopped working. Microsoft update it's OS to windows 8.1 and created a new updated driver 4.25 to replace 3.5.
When installed it wipes out everything and renders the camera unusable. I brought this to the attention of Microsoft several weeks ago, their technicians confirmed the updated driver does not work and the technician confirmed that it is a Microsoft issue. I was told it would be fixed shortly and I would be notified.
7 weeks later I re contacted Microsoft to find out why I had not heard back or been provided with the proper software for their product , which they warrantee for 3 years BTW, and they jerk me around by putting me in touch with some Indians that clearly have no idea what they are talking about nor do they keep records or have access to records of a case.
I am so disgusted with talking to foreigners that are not capable of dealing with the issue that I am trying to reach out to Microsoft Corporate USA because they clearly don't know that customers are being screwed over this way.
Maybe Microsoft got to big and forgot about the consumer, sure feels that way.
Just wanted to provide an update on this. I contacted microsoft again and told them that I had a webcam that was not working (this time I didn't say anything about the firmware update causing the problem to avoid another discussion about how to install software, drivers, and firmware) and told them I'd like to know how to go about getting a replacement. I was sent an email requesting a photo of the product ID, along with a proof of purchase, both of which I subsequently provided.
Six weeks later, I phoned them again to find out what was happening, and was told that it had been forwarded to their product replacement department and will be dealt with as quickly as possible. The next day I got an email back from the original person who I'd sent the proof of purchase and product ID to, saying that they no longer manufacture the lifecam studio, and as a replacement he can offer me a lifecam cinema or a lifecam 600.
I sent an email back saying that I wasn't interested in the lifecam cinema because it is substantially lower in value than the one I paid for, and also that I can't find any information on the lifecam 600, and could I please be provided some information on this. I finished by asking if a refund was a possibility if the lifecam 600 was not to my liking.
I received an email back saying that if I want a refund, I have to go back to the store I bought it at. There was no information about the lifecam 600 in this last email, and I'm still not convinced it exists.
I will take it back to the store I bought it from, but I'm still really not happy with Microsoft. Firstly, they leave the firmware update online, knowing that it destroys cameras, and then they only offer cheap replacements when it does. I am hoping to be able to swap it for another brand of webcam of similar value at the store.
Having the exact same issue.
Got a popup to "update firmware".
Followed instructions (camera is connected directly to the computer, not via hub)
Update failed, and said to disconnect camera, wait 5 sec, then reconnect.
Now the camera is no longer recognized when plugged in. (trying the update again just tells me to reconnect the camera)
Tried connecting the camera to two other different computers, but it's dead, so this IS a hardware issue since there is no way to roll back, or do a factory reset on the camera itself.
Did you get a replacement camera?
