Sony Visual Communication Camera VGP-VCC2

[BuxtonIcer3]

This is not working at all since I upgraded from Windows Media Centre Edition to Vista Home Premium 32 bit. I was not that familiar with the camera before I upgraded. My laptop model is VGN-AR21M . I've downloaded all the drivers from the vaio-link.com website but nothing so far. I'm hoping someone else has experienced this problem and can point me in the right direction. Thanks

[Blencogo]

Hi BuxtonIcer3 and welcome to Club Vaio.

The webcam has had constant problems with Vista.

1. Is the camera installed properly? Look in Control Panel -> Device Manager -> Imaging Devices. Does it show the Sony Visual Communication Camera VCC2 as being installed?

2. Have you installed the Vista version of VAIO Camera Utility 2.0.00.11140?

3. Operation of the camera is different in Vista. Have you tried configuring the camera with something like Skype? Tools -> Options -> Video Settings.

[BuxtonIcer3]

I've downloaded VAIO Camera Utility 2.0.00.11140, the version for Vista. The funny thing is when I double click the application it begins the install. However I'm not sure if its installing properly as is ends a little funny where the installer vanishes from the screen. I'm not sure if this is the way the software normally installs. When I look at the program files folder this is what has been installed.

Directory of C:\Program Files\Sony\VAIO Camera Utility\Driver

21/08/2007 00:19

.
21/08/2007 00:19 ..
13/01/2006 00:56 1,583 SonyImgF.inf
28/12/2005 00:22 29,184 SonyImgF.sys
2 File(s) 30,767 bytes
2 Dir(s) 39,151,206,400 bytes free

C:\Program Files\Sony\VAIO Camera Utility\Driver>

I don't think it is installing properly , you any ideas ?

[BuxtonIcer3]

man - what a let down this site is , what am i supposed to do now

[Blencogo]

man - what a let down this site is , what am i supposed to do now

I'm not quite sure what you are expecting. This is not the official Sony support site - it is just a Club where Vaio users like you and me come for mutual support. If someone here has had the same problem and knows the answer, they will help if they can. Unfortunately, there are always many more who come here seeking solutions than there are people offering help and suport. All helpers here try to help people like yourself if they can - please remember they are all unpaid and give their time here for free.

It looks like the Vaio Camera Utility is not installing properly. The only other way I can think of installing it is as follows: -

1. If it is showing in Control Panel -> Programs and Features then uninstall it.
2. Go to the downloads page for the AR41S (which is sold with Vista Preinstalled) and download the Original Utilities Package (sorry it's 92MB)
3. Right-click on the downloaded .ZIP file and choose "Extract All". Extract the files to a directory where you can find them.
4. Go into the Extracted files from the Utilities Package and find the Utilities Installer - VAIO Camera Utility folder.
5. Double click on the Setup.EXE to install it.
6. Repeat the installation process with the VAIO Camera Capture Utility installer.

AR41S Vista Downloads

Make sure your camera is showing as installed in Device Manager -> Imaging Devices.

As I said a lot of people are having similar problems with the camera - let us know if this works!

[BuxtonIcer3]

Do you think its working ringing Sony to complain, is there any news on a service pack that might sort these issues out - did anyone actually test the bloody software before releasing it.