Question Camera and Webcam Problem - Error: 0xA00F4243 ?

[paulbasel]

I had an older Logitech webcam that worked for years. Then one day, sometime in the last couple of months I noticed it didn't work in Skype (black screen). I tried to find the problem but couldn't. I thought it was defective and bought a new one. Same problem. I tested the new LogiLink LL1 with the camera app and received this error. I should point out that the microphone worked on the old one as well as the new one.

"Close other apps. It looks as though another app is already using the camera. If you need it, here’s the error code: 0xA00F4243 (0xC00D3704)"

I have an Asus M51AC Desktop PC running Win 10 fully updated. I uninstalled the old Logitech software and driver before installing the new webcam.

Here's what I have tried so far with no success:

​

- Ran Malwarebytes - clean​

- Windows driver up to date, no separate driver for this new camera.​

- Ran DISM tools and SFC, fixed a couple of problems. No change.​

- Switched the USB port to one I know functions properly. No change.​

- Device manager shows the "USB Live camera" functioning properly.​

- Disabled all apps at startup, rebooted, no change.​

- Camera access is on. Turned off all apps using the camera. No change.​

- Uninstalled the MS camera app and reinstalled it after a reboot - no change.​

- Ran system troubleshooter, no problems detected.​

- Ran Hardware and Devices troubleshooter, it returned "saskutil and sasdifsv don't have drivers". These are associated with superantispyware. Not important for this problem.​

- Registry: added Dword: EnableFrameServerMode, hex value 0 in the Windows Media Foundation\Platform. Rebooted, no change.​

- Used Process Explorer to find whether any programs were running that used the Physical Device Object name, in my new webcam the object name is: \Device\000000b2. Process Explorer found none even though I had the camera app open as well as the Skype video setting. Refresh frequently, nothing. I believe this process should at least find the two devices that were open and running.​

​

Any help greatly appreciated before I lose all of my hair.​

 

[Colif]

Click on the Windows key + I to open the «Settings».
Select "Applications and Features."
Locate the Camera and click on it.
Select "Advanced Options" and then "Restart".
Restart the PC.

Then check.

I figured it out after months of trying and sending it back to the manufacturer. I had the camera plugged into my powered USB 3.0 hub which was working fine prior to February. After plugging it directly into one of my desktop ports it works no problem. Unsure why it doesn't work on the hub however.

all quotes from link below

tried Jerico T's suggestion in link below? (create new user)
Microsoft

 

[paulbasel]

I tried that a couple of times No go. I forgot to add in my list of possible fixes.

 

[Colif]

Used Process Explorer to find whether any programs were running that used the Physical Device Object name, in my new webcam the object name is: \Device\000000b2. Process Explorer found none even though I had the camera app open as well as the Skype video setting. Refresh frequently, nothing. I believe this process should at least find the two devices that were open and running.

hmm

did you see this one?

1. Open Registry Editor by pressing Win+R and typing regedit
2. Navigate to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\CapabilityAccessManager\ConsentStore\webcam\
3. If not found, try HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\CapabilityAccessManager\ConsentStore\webcam\
4. Microsoft applications are saved as child keys, non-Microsoft applications are under NonPackaged
5. Click on the application
6. Each entry has two values LastUsedTimeStart and LastUsedTimeStop. Unfortunately, the values are stored in FileTime. It can be converted in most languages, I have not found an online tool yet.
7. To track in real-time, you can use SysMon with a Registry Modification event.

https://superuser.com/questions/1746419/which-application-is-currently-using-my-camera-on-windows-10

 

[paulbasel]

No, I didn't. I'll try this now.

 

[KingLoki]

Internet security/Anti-virus software can block access to the camera as a privacy measure. Not sure what you are running, but maybe it needs to be allowed or an exception added within this security/privacy program ??

You did a good job at trying to troubleshoot so far 🙂

 

[paulbasel]

Running Windows Defender. I'll turn it off and see if makes a difference.

 

[paulbasel]

I see the Microsoft.SkypeApp and under NonPackaged is another entry for Skype for the Desktop, Teamviewer and Zoom. I'll try running SysMon.

 

[paulbasel]

Turning off Windows Defender did not solve the problem. SysMon is just a bit too complicated for my ancient brain. I'm throwing in the towel. I have to buy a new computer before October 2025 when MS shuts down security updates for my beloved 2013 Asus M51AC desktop. Still runs rings around my wife's new Lenovo laptop on Win11. Thanks guys for all the suggestions. It's the first problem in 11 years that I have not been able to solve with my PC or those of my friends' machines that I supported over the years.

 

[KingLoki]

One last sugesstion, have u replicated all the same settings as your wife's lenovo in windows 11. e.g all camera settings, advanced settings, privacy settings, and plug the camera into a rear usb port. Cheers.

 

[Colif]

Turning off Windows Defender did not solve the problem.

turning it off without replacing it with something is difficult. It simply refuses to normally let you unless it sees a replacement already in place.
Logitech webcams are due for new software anyway, they been using the same drivers now for years.

Disabled all apps at startup, rebooted, no change.

just to make sure, this is the same as:

Try a clean boot and see if it changes anything - make sure to read instructions and make sure NOT to disable any microsoft services or windows won't load right - https://support.microsoft.com/en-au/help/929135/how-to-perform-a-clean-boot-in-windows

It doesn’t delete anything, it just stops non Microsoft programs running with start. Easy to reverse.

if clean boot fixes it, it shows its likely a startup program. You should, over a number of startups. restart the programs you stopped to isolate the one that is to blame.

 

[paulbasel]

". . . and make sure NOT to disable any microsoft services or windows won't load right." Your link didn't work, but according to MS I must hide and then disable windows processes.

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us...-windows-da2f9573-6eec-00ad-2f8a-a97a1807f3dd

Earlier I followed the instructions on this page to perform a clean boot and couldn't restart the computer. Had to use a restore point. What am I doing wrong?

 

[Colif]

If windows didn't work right, you may have accidentally disabled some Microsoft services. I think there is a hide option - step 3. On the Services tab of System Configuration, select Hide all Microsoft services, and then select Disable all. Select Apply.

if you don't hide the MS ones before disable, it will stop everything... I can understand Windows not loading right then.

Strange my link didn't work as it does for me.

 

[paulbasel]

In my reliability and problem history there are a number of mentions that the Windows Image Acquisition (MIA) has stopped working.

I looked in the Services section of the computer management module and could not find the service at all. According to what I have read so far, WIA provides a standardized interface for imaging devices such as scanners, digital cameras, and webcams.

Could this be part of the problem?

 

[paulbasel]

I am positive that I checked the box for Hide all Microsoft Services. The link you provided opens a webpage that says "bad merchant" and I have my privacy badger disabled for this site.

 

[KingLoki]

A Complete Guide to Troubleshooting the Windows Camera App

Get back your webcam with these fixes for the Windows Camera app.

www.makeuseof.com

 

[paulbasel]

@KingLoki Thanks for the troubleshooting guide. There were a couple of fixes that were new to me.

I had previously used all of the general fixes and adjusted the camera privacy settings but did them again. No change.

The Windows Camera Frame Server service was stopped. Started it and set it to automatic. No change after restart.

I did the same for the Windows Image Acquisition (WIA) service but no change after restart. (I don't why I couldn't find this before as I mentioned in a previous post.)

Group policy setting were not on my Win10 machine. I created the bat file to install it and rebooted. I changed the camera settings in the admin templates to allow use of the camera. Did the same for App Privacy in the windows components section. Rebooted. No change.

Tried the "Get Help" troubleshooter. It completed its work. Rebooted, no change.

I haven't yet tried your suggestion to replicate all the same settings on my wife's Lenovo in windows 11.

I think that I am destined to only use Skype on my phone until I buy a new computer.

 

[Colif]

I have to buy a new computer before October 2025 when MS shuts down security updates for my beloved 2013 Asus M51AC desktop. Still runs rings around my wife's new Lenovo laptop on Win11.

I7 4770k still isn't a bad CPU considering you can still buy 4 core 4 thread CPU now. They might run a little faster... but not by much.
Laptops and desktops are not really similar unless you spend a lot on laptop to make up for its downsides. Most laptops are built for long battery, not high performance. They also lack the cooling that you can put in a desktop PC. No space to add extra fans..

New desktop would still make it look slow. That and it lacks some things, like secure boot and a TPM. And while some people still try to install 11 on unsupported hardware, Microsoft are fighting just as hard to stop them.

Mums desktop is about same age as that and probably runs slower as its only an I5

 

[KingLoki]

Are you sure you don't have any other program opened that may be accessing the camera?

 

[KingLoki]

Try turning on the three services that I mentioned but don't restart and test camera in skype or another program like OBS or discord etc. One or more of the services may be stopped during reboot. Worth a try.

 

[paulbasel]

@KingLoki I only have 4 programs enabled at startup, Google updater, Google Drive, OneDrive and Windows Security notification. I've looked through the processes that are present but don't know enough to determine if one is accessing the camera. I have a text file showing all the processes but I don't know how to attach a file in this forum.

 

[paulbasel]

"Try turning on the three services that I mentioned" I couldn't find the services you mentioned.

 

[KingLoki]

I checked my system and they are all there. You need to type Services in the windows desktop search box to get there. There are heaps of windows services in the list

 

[paulbasel]

I know there a lot of services running. I can see them as well. However, you mentioned to try turning on 3 services but didn't mention which ones. I assumed you meant 3 specific services that may have been stopped, but you didn't state which ones.

 

[paulbasel]

@Colif I really hate to give up this desktop. It has been a real workhorse. I do a lot of research and have a two screen setup with 10 - 12 browser tabs open at once, a word processor and spreadsheet, plus my favorite Q-Dir while listening to music and it never skips a beat.

I do not want to try the Win 11 workarounds that many sites are describing. MS states you can install it if you have TPM 1.0 but my relic from the past doesn't even have that.

I'm sticking with a desktop, either a small form or a mini. I'm too old now to be crawling around under the desk on my sore knees.