Video Chat Applications (Non Logitech)

[#1]

Hi,

I recently purchased a couple of Logitech webcams and found that I couldn't get Yahoo Messenger working with them. 

I am using the UK customised version 8.1.0.402.  I searched the Internet and cam across the registry hack of adding "UseVFW" on Yahoo's website.

Even after doing this, Yahoo Messenger still crashed .  Being a programmer and tech support guy, I know of the kind of problems that occur with being using the registry so I did some investigation.

Using NTREGMON from SysInternals (now part of Microsoft), I filtered for "UseVFW" to make sure that it was the value that was being used and I found the following:

YahooMessenger QueryValue HKCU\Software\Yahoo\Pager\\UseVfw NOTFOUND

They key being queried is different to the one in Yahoo's help page: http://help.yahoo.com/help/uk/messenger/win/webcam/webcam-15.html

I added the registry value in the "Pager" key instead of the "Webcam" and it started working .  I assume this is because Yahoo Messenger used to be called Yahoo Pager many moons ago.

I have e-mailed Yahoo regarding this asking them to fix their software or update their help page.

So, it you have been pulling your hair out with Yahoo Messenger then try adding the registry DWord value "1" to HKEY_Current_User\Software\Yahoo\Pager\UseVfw instead.

I hope this helps.

---

Ketan.

[#2]

Welcome to the Logitech Community Webcam Forum shah2000!

The "Use VFW" option no longer applies...since everyone is using DirectShow now.

Thanks.

[#3]

The webcams were bought 2nd hand (QuickCam for Notebooks Pro) and uses driver QuickCam v8.4.8.  See http://www.logitech.com/index.cfm/480/3386%26cl=gb,EN for details.  There doesn't seem to be any Vista driver for it - probably why it was cheap .

I don't know if that version still uses VFW but I definitely had Yahoo Messenger crashing on me until I applied the registry entry mentioned earlier.

Regards,

Ketan.

[#4]

There is some backward compatibility in DirectShow from what I understand.

VFW is not used by Logitech Software versions after 5.6.x (FAQ #531).

In any case...Thank you for your comments.

(Ref: Interesting article on VFW and DirectShow)

[#5]

Thanks for your post, Ketan.

I has the same problem, that was resolved using registry editor too.

But in the new versions of YM no option "UseVFW".

And YM even can't find any webcam installed.

So it was resolved by adding DWORD  value "1" to HKCU\Software\Yahoo\Pager\\Camera Src

Now my Logitech QuickCam PRO for Notebooks working well with YM.

But next interesting thing that  I still can't install correctly Logitech software for webcam downloaded here:

http://www.logitech.com/index.cfm/435/3055&cl=ru,ru?osid=1

I have OS WinXP PRO SP3,  and it's looks like Logitech installation file \QuickCam_11.80.1065\QuickCam\x32\QuickCam.msi from the package above didn't want to setup with WinXP SP3.

[#6]

Welcome to the Logitech Community Webcam Forum alexcat!

---

alexcat sez -

But next interesting thing that  I still can't install correctly Logitech software for webcam downloaded here:
http://www.logitech.com/index.cfm/435/3055&cl=ru,ru?osid=1

I have OS WinXP PRO SP3,  and it's looks like Logitech installation file \QuickCam_11.80.1065\QuickCam\x32\QuickCam.msi from the package above didn't want to setup with WinXP SP3.

---

Since this issue is not related to a third-party Instant Messenger program, please post a New Message to the Webcams forum for assistance with it.



Thanks.

[#7]

You are a LIFESAVER.  I'm using Logitech Pro9000 webcams. I'm using Logitech 11.8 and Logitech Enterprise software on various computers, and I'm using Windows XP SP3.   I was using Yahoo Messenger v 7.5 with NO webcam problems, although I DID add the "UseVFW" registry entry under "Webcam," some time ago.

Now, Yahoo says that I won't be able to use v 7.5 after August 15, 2009.  So I downloaded and installed YM v 9.0 

Then, when I tried to use the webcam inside Yahoo, the YM webcam window would not open, and YM crashed. It was totally non-responsive. I couldn;t even shut it down from Windows Task Manager  I had to REBOOT the computer in order to get rid of the hung YM.

So... I found your post.  I ADDED Dword "UseVFW" to the Registry, under the Yahoo "Pager" section.  Now everything WORKS!!

I have Flash v 10... and all latest DirectX and DirectShow.  But still, the ONLY thing that worked for me, was the above-mentioned Registry entry.

(By the way,  I hate YM version 9.  I was MUCH happier using v 7.5   :-)

Jules

[#8]

Welcome to the Logitech Community Webcam Forum JulesNYC1!


http://help.yahoo.com/l/us/yahoo/messenger/messenger9/webcam/mstacamfix.html



Thanks.

[#9]

---

JulesNYC1 wrote:

You are a LIFESAVER. 

<snip>

So... I found your post.  I ADDED Dword "UseVFW" to the Registry, under the Yahoo "Pager" section.  Now everything WORKS!!

Jules

---

You're welcome.  For a while I thought I was the only one.

The alternative may be to completely uninstall Yahoo Messenger, clean out the registry of all Yahoo Messenger and Yahoo Pager entries and then re-install.  You hopefully will end up with only Yahoo Messenger registry keys and the original Logitech solution should then work.

I have a working system, I'm not tempted to try it out myself and risk breaking it again. 

I have also used the WebCam with Vista (even though it wasn't meant to be) and it works a treat - drivers downloaded automatically via Windows so I'm even happier.

Ketan.

[#10]

Please note that for Yahoo! Messenger 9, the registry update information has changed.


HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Yahoo\
New Key = Webcam
New DWORD Value = UseVFW
New DWORD Data = 1



Thanks.