Trick to Use Logitech QuickCam Messenger in Windows Vista
Officially, older batch and most of the Logitech QuickCam Messenger is not supported and not compatible with Windows Vista, although you may misleading believe otherwise as QuickCam 10.5 software supports Vista is provided for free download. However, in most of the case, except Logitech QuickCam Messenger with P/N no. of 861225 and USB/PID of 08DA will fail in installation during the webcam setup, where Vista unable to detect the webcam even though you have inserted the webcam.
On the other hand, using Windows Vista Add Hardware Wizard will not detect any driver for the webcam, even though you have extracted the driver files from the executables, no matter the Wizard search automatically online and locally or been asked to browse and locate the software drivers on the unpacked location.
In addition, Problem Reports and Solutions applet may appear after the failed driver installation for Logitech QuickCam Messenger with the following message:
Windows Vista does not support Logitech QuickCam Messenger
This problem was caused by a compatibility issue between Windows Vista and Logitech QuickCam Messenger.
Logitech QuickCam Messenger was created by Logitech, Inc..
Recommendation
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To search for similar devices that are compatible with this version of Windows, visit the Windows Vista Hardware Compatibility List website online.
However, it’s not totally out of hope for owner of Logitech QuickCam Messenger who has upgraded to Windows Vista. The following hack will use Windows XP driver (a common trick to use non Vista compliant device) to install the webcam in Vista:
- Download QuickCam 8.4.8 with driver for WinXP.
- Install WinRAR if not already installed yet.
- Open the setup installer qc848enu.exe and unpack its contents to a folder. Alternatively, right click on qc848enu.exe and select “Extract to qc848enu\” option.
- Insert or plug in the Logitech QuickCam Messenger to a USB port if not already done so.
- An “Driver Software Installation” icon in systray (notification area) should appear, which will pop up detailed message if click. It should fail, and “Add Hardware Wizard” dialog window will appear. Choose to install the driver manually by instructing the Wizard to locate and look for the web cam driver inside the Drivers folder under the unpacked folder of the qc848enu.exe setup program. You can use browser button to select the folder.
- Windows Vista should grab the XP driver and install it properly.
- Download the latest version (10.5.1) of Vista compliant QuickCam software from Logitech to install the software on Vista.
- Run the setup (qc1051enu) normally. You may need to skip the detection of webcam near the end of installation process.
Update: Fix for Logitech Quickcam in Windows Vista SP1.
Voila, you can now use the Logitech webcam to capture images or use it in conjunction with video chat in IM programs such as Windows Live (MSN) Messenger, AIM Messenger, Yahoo! Messenger, Skype or run Logitech VideoCall.
This hack may work on other Logitech QuickCams that doesn’t yet or will never support Windows Vista too, such as Logitech QuickCam Zoom Silver, QuickCam Notebooks Deluxe, QuickCam Express, QuickCam Chat, Quickcam Orbit/Sphere, Quickcam Pro 4000, QuickCam Orbit MP, QuickCam Chat and etc. However it’s not tested. If you willing to try out and feedback is appreciated.
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Entries (RSS)
January 25th, 2010 10:48
This works for Windows 7 as well!
To summarize the steps:
1. Download the latest driver from Logitech website for Logitech QuickCam Messenger [V-UBC40] for the desire OS & bit:
http://www.logitech.com/index.cfm/435/3780&hub=1&cl=us,en?osid=14
2. Run the setup installer file (ie:lws110.exe); you don’t have to install VID; just unpack the drivers.
3. During the installation, it will ask you to plug in the Logitech QuickCam Messenger to a USB port.
4. Once it is detected, it will say that it’s not compatible; just click to continue installation anyway.
5. Unplug and re-insert the USB connector and Windows will automatically detect it.
6. Select choose where to look for drivers and click on the folder where the drivers were unpack before.
7. Logitech QuickCam video driver should install normally but the audio driver will say that “the device can not be started” even though the driver is installed as “Logitech Audio (Messenger).”
8. To fix this audio problem, you have to replace the current Windows 7/Vista “usbaudio.sys” with an older Windows XP version (version 6.06 or earlier).
9. You will need to find a copy of usbaudio.sys from someone with Win XP which is located in x:\Windows\System32\drivers\.
9. Now you have to take ownership and grant full access permission of x:\Windows\System32\drivers\USBAUDIO.SYS file in your computer.
10. Here is how to do it:
http://www.tipandtrick.net/2008/how-to-take-ownership-and-full-control-permissions-of-files-and-folders-in-vista/
11. Once permission is granted, rename the file to “usbaudio.win7.sys” (keep for future use).
12. Copy the Win XP version of usbaudio.sys to the same folder x:\Windows\System32\drivers\.
13. Restart the computer and now both video and audio should work properly.
January 5th, 2010 04:43
Works great! Kind of ridiculous that the old quickcam messenger isn’t supported on Vista however…
January 1st, 2010 01:13
Thank you! This saved my life.
But I’m having problems with my sound. I cannot hear anything. I have a laptop & built in-speakers. I have checked if they accidentally got muted or something but my laptop says they work. I plugged in my headphones as well but they didn’t work either.
Does anyone know how to fix this?
Thanks in advance.
December 28th, 2009 02:41
Thanks a lot … did all as noted and video works perfect.
I, as some people too have the problem with the microphone. The device cannot start it says in device manager. Any cure for this?
December 25th, 2009 21:27
Thanks for the great advice. It worked for my Quickcam Express(V-UB2) on Win7 Ultimate perfectly..To be honest I had lost my confidence to install this device and was going to revert to WinXp, but now there’s no need ….Lot of Thanks any way!!!!!
December 1st, 2009 02:03
It worked perfectly on my Quickcam Messenger, great!
I didn’t install the logitech software though, it’s still works perfectly with skype etc.
November 16th, 2009 07:00
It doesn’t work with older Quickcam Express. Last OS for that product is Windows XP.
November 2nd, 2009 03:51
Sorry guys
I sent my disagree about your mater before, beause I did a Little confusion, I was facing that you’re talking about windows 7 RTM.
November 2nd, 2009 03:47
Sorry but I forced to disagree your advise above.
For you get success with your logiteh quickcam mesenger on windows 7 build 7600, you just should download the driver for The Quickcam Chat for skype, http://www.logitech.com/index.cfm/435/263&hub=1&cl=br,pt?osid=14
That’s it, will works fine, I had problems before with mine cam, And resolved as related.
October 30th, 2009 12:45
Thanks so much for this. Works great in windows 7 as well. Just DL the 10.5.1 vista drivers, and search the same folders with the wizard to get it to install.
October 10th, 2009 11:16
I have a QuickCam Pro USB (dark focus ring) webcam and I have tried your instructions, but the Quickcam software says “webcam is in use by another application”. I have stopped all services and programs from running at startup and still nothing… HELP!!!!
September 29th, 2009 16:05
The older logitech QuickCam Chat works on win vista! Cool!
August 22nd, 2009 21:44
@Tess : Install 7-zip instead of Winrar. http://www.7-zip.org/ It works great and it’s free.
Thank you very very much for this post. I can now run my QuickCam Messenger on Windows Vista Home Premium SP1 (I don’t really need the microphone because I’m using a separate desktop micro, so I’m skipping the second fix).
Merci infiniment, grazie mille !