Q: built-in camera macbook pro not working

If you don't get a response from vanwarantion, please post back and tell us which specific Macbook model and which Mac OS X version you are using. 

Someone may be able to offer suggestions based on the details in your reply.

Message was edited by: EZ Jim

Mac Pro Quad Core (Early09) 2.93Ghz Mac OS X 10.9.3     24" LED Cinema Display,

JES 81 wrote:

 

What do you mean by "open a terminal?"

You can search for "terminal" in spotlight. If you are not sure what are you doing, I suggest you to get help from someone before running terminal commands you see on the internet. It might be dangerous.

My Macbook - when I open Photo Booth, the camera green light comes on, but the screen is black.  Would the above solution work for this, as well?

I  am not sure if it is the same problem. My solution just forces VDCAssistant daemon to reload which is responsible for controlling the camera and it should be non-destructive.

I have not updated to Mavericks so I did not have a chance to see if Apple have fixed this issue.

Also if my solution does not work, perhaps you should bring the device to an apple store and ask them about this.

Why do you not fix the camera?

What more could I do to fix it?

juliana diehl wrote: What more could I do to fix it?

Ask your Apple-Authorized Service Provider do it.

As I`d told you: I did it.

juliana diehl wrote: As I`d told you: I did it.

I think we are making progress on our language translation difficulties.  Let's keep trying.

Did you tell me about telephone "support operator" conversations or face to face meetings Apple service technicians?

I understood your previous comment about the "support operator" to mean you had only talked on the telephone about your hardware problem.  The Apple Genius Bar or Authorized Service Provider technicians are different.  They are people who have physically examined your Mac.

(1) If your Mac has actually been physically examined by an Apple Authorized Genius Bar or Authorized Service Technician, the technician can explain why Apple cannot repair your Mac's camera.  As I'd requested earlier, please share that reason with us.

(2) If your Mac has NOT actually been physically examined by an Apple Authorized Genius Bar or Authorized Service Technician, backup your important files.  Then take you Mac to a Apple-Authorized Service Provider and ask them to fix your camera.

Did you tell me about telephone "support operator" conversations or face to face meetings Apple service technicians?

Yes. I told it. But I also contacted Authorized Service. Sorry, I did not consider mentionated it.
The technical opinion was, translating: "Camera defect. We must replace the display because camera and display are an unique piece". And something more about price and tax to get the machine. Nothing more.
I

juliana diehl wrote: ... Camera defect... something more about price and tax ...

Excellent response!

I now understand that your Mac can be repaired.  However, you would need to pay for the repair.  I also understand that you have decided not to have Apple fix your camera.

Thank you for your perseverance.  Your extra effort will certainly help others who read this topic to understand your specific issue.

Message was edited by: EZ Jim

Mac OSX 10.9.3

This works for me!

Thanks Jim!

This: 3) If your cam still does not work properly, use Disk Utility to repair permissions worked for me! I did not need to download any new software though!

When I open Terminal, should I use Shell>New Window>Basic then type in the commands,  sudo killall VDCAssistant? Or, open Shell>New Tab>Basic and then type the commands there? Once I've typed in sudo killall VDCAssistant, just hit return/enter? I don't know how long my cameras been down as I rarely use it. But I had a new hard drive installed 6 months ago, and maybe that's when things went bad. I've tried opening Facetime and it shows a camera w/a line through it. And Preferences are greyed out. I also opened Iphoto and same thing. Camera w/a line through it saying "There is no camera connected". ***???? Where be me camera??? I did open terminal and tried it both ways mentioned above, but Terminal replied  by 1st asking for my password..no problem. Then said No matching processes were found. Any other suggestions? When they installed my new hard drive (not Apple) they also threw in a free upgrade to Mavericks which I still haven't installed. Maybe that will solve my problem. Is it possible that drivers are missing? I'm an audio guy, so not sure how the "video" world works. Thanks for any suggestions at all. Sincerely, Von

The "Digital Camera RAW Compatibility Update 5.07" from the 18th September 2014 fixed the issue for me.

I assume a similar "update" with a lower version number was the cause of that problem.

Hey,

try this one:

Reset 1.

Shut down computer and unplug power; wait 15 secs.

Turn on computer.

Shut down computer.

Reset 2.

Turn on computer.

Before gray screen comes up, so almost immediately, press Option-Command-P-R at the same time.

Hold down until you hear the turn-on noise, let go and let the system start up.

Reset 2 works for me!

This also worked for me, however only after a clean install of latest OS X 10.10.1. I erased all " free space" old OS and reinstalled/updated all applications. I had a hard time believing the camera was broken. It works perfectly after resets.

When I type in terminal and hit enter, it asks for a password in terminal when I type my user password terminal doesn't see keystrokes, nothing types.