librarian7
Level 1 (25 points)
Mac OS X

Q: USB camera not working

I have a "Creative VF0700 LIVE! Cam Chat HD" USB camera which worked fine in Mac OS X prior to my upgrade to OS X El Capitan. It shows up as a USB device in the "system report" and I have tried different usb ports and have reset the SMC and "zapped" the PRAM.  Any idea if this will be fixed in future update?  It is a standard UVC camera and it works with Skype and photo booth, etc with older OS X  (I have a Mac Pro 3,1) and I can boot old system and it works fine).

Mac Pro, OS X El Capitan (10.11.4), MacPro3,1 14 gigs ram, 4 terabytes

Posted on Mar 29, 2016 10:25 AM

by EZ Jim,Apple recommended
EZ Jim EZ Jim
Level 7 (22,547 points)
A:

librarian7 wrote: ... it works with ... older OS X ...

 

From your description, your camera should work with 10.11.4.


First, use Apple's http://support.apple.com/kb/HT2090 to check for user-specific problems. You may simply need to change to a user account that does not exhibit the problem.

 

(BTW - The Troubleshooting article calls the camera an "iSight".  However, after the article was published, Apple has changed the built-in camera's name on newer Macs from "iSight" to "FaceTime" and then to "FaceTime HD."  Regardless of the name of your built-in camera, the same info and troubleshooting applies.)

 

To check for user-specific problems, you need to test more than one Apple app (Photo Booth, FaceTime, iMovie, QuickTime Player, etc.) in more than one user account.  Do NOT use a "Guest" account for this test.  If you have not already established a separate user testing account, create a new one now.  If you need help, how to do it is explained in http://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201754.

 

A "Standard" user account is all you need for testing.

 

If your cam won't work properly with Apple apps in any OS X 10.11.4 user account, use OS X Recovery to completely reinstall your Mac OS X 10.11.4 from the Recovery System stored on your startup drive.  Don't bother testing Skype or other third-party apps until you have your camera working with Apple apps.

 

 

 

Message was edited by: EZ Jim

 

Mac OSX 10.11.4

Posted on Mar 30, 2016 11:27 AM

Close
librarian7

Q: USB camera not working

  • All replies
  • Helpful answers

  • by EZ Jim,Apple recommended

    EZ Jim EZ Jim Mar 30, 2016 11:27 AM in response to librarian7
    Level 7 (22,547 points)
    Mar 30, 2016 11:27 AM in response to librarian7

    librarian7 wrote: ... it works with ... older OS X ...

     

    From your description, your camera should work with 10.11.4.


    First, use Apple's http://support.apple.com/kb/HT2090 to check for user-specific problems. You may simply need to change to a user account that does not exhibit the problem.

     

    (BTW - The Troubleshooting article calls the camera an "iSight".  However, after the article was published, Apple has changed the built-in camera's name on newer Macs from "iSight" to "FaceTime" and then to "FaceTime HD."  Regardless of the name of your built-in camera, the same info and troubleshooting applies.)

     

    To check for user-specific problems, you need to test more than one Apple app (Photo Booth, FaceTime, iMovie, QuickTime Player, etc.) in more than one user account.  Do NOT use a "Guest" account for this test.  If you have not already established a separate user testing account, create a new one now.  If you need help, how to do it is explained in http://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201754.

     

    A "Standard" user account is all you need for testing.

     

    If your cam won't work properly with Apple apps in any OS X 10.11.4 user account, use OS X Recovery to completely reinstall your Mac OS X 10.11.4 from the Recovery System stored on your startup drive.  Don't bother testing Skype or other third-party apps until you have your camera working with Apple apps.

     

     

     

    Message was edited by: EZ Jim

     

    Mac OSX 10.11.4

  • by librarian7,

    librarian7 librarian7 Mar 30, 2016 4:00 PM in response to librarian7
    Level 1 (25 points)
    Mac OS X
    Mar 30, 2016 4:00 PM in response to librarian7

    Tried EZ Jim's suggestions -- no go.

  • by Fil-mac,

    Fil-mac Fil-mac Mar 31, 2016 2:29 AM in response to librarian7
    Level 1 (13 points)
    Desktops
    Mar 31, 2016 2:29 AM in response to librarian7

    im experiencing the same problem with El Capitan.

    Camera does not show up on facetime, skype, quicktime or any other software that utilizes webcam but it appears on system report.

     

    No idea how to solve this!

  • by EZ Jim,Apple recommended

    EZ Jim EZ Jim Mar 31, 2016 8:46 AM in response to librarian7
    Level 7 (22,547 points)
    Mar 31, 2016 8:46 AM in response to librarian7

    librarian7 wrote:

     

    Tried EZ Jim's suggestions -- no go.

     

    While I do not use any Creative brand cams, my UVC (USB video class) webcam works with El Capitan on my Mac Pro.

     

    Moreover, Creative's product page shows their LIVE! CAM CHAT HD is Mac OS X compatible.

     

    Having tried all relevant Apple suggestions, see if Creative's Troubleshooting Suggestions help you.

     

    If not, contact Creative directly for help making their product to work with your system.

     

     

    Message was edited by: EZ Jim

     

    Mac OSX 10.11.4

  • by Fil-mac,

    Fil-mac Fil-mac Mar 31, 2016 10:10 AM in response to EZ Jim
    Level 1 (13 points)
    Desktops
    Mar 31, 2016 10:10 AM in response to EZ Jim

    On Creative's product page shows that its MacOS X 10.5 compatible only

     

    It's hard to believe that they stoped supporting it for later versions or up until version 10.9 because it used to work with my old computer in 10.9.

     

    Now with my new iMac 5K retina and El Capitan it just doesnt show up in the webcam list anywhere. Only on system report / usb

     

     

  • by librarian7,Apple recommended

    librarian7 librarian7 Apr 1, 2016 8:38 AM in response to EZ Jim
    Level 1 (25 points)
    Mac OS X
    Apr 1, 2016 8:38 AM in response to EZ Jim

    Here is the response from Creative... a bit opaque/recursive. I have also placed a query with Apple - but I suspect they are busy taking the Mac out of iOS .

     

    Thank you for contacting Creative.

     

    With regard to your email, we regret to inform you that Mac OS X 10.11 El Capitan is not supported.

     

    The  Live! Cam Chat HD minimum system requirement is Mac OS X 10.5 up to Mac OS X 10.10.2 (restricted to Plug and Chat) only as shown on the following link.

     

    Solution ID: 83939
    "Installing a Creative Live! Cam on a Mac"
    http://support.creative.com/kb/ShowArticle.aspx?sid=83939

     

    Currently, there's no advise whether there will be an update.

     

    We apologize for any inconvenience caused. 

     

    For other enquiries, please send us an email via our Support website.

  • by Fil-mac,

    Fil-mac Fil-mac Apr 1, 2016 8:42 AM in response to librarian7
    Level 1 (13 points)
    Desktops
    Apr 1, 2016 8:42 AM in response to librarian7

    i received the same response from them today.

    so what are our options? Buy a new one?

    Which ones are truly compatible?

  • by librarian7,

    librarian7 librarian7 Apr 1, 2016 8:55 AM in response to Fil-mac
    Level 1 (25 points)
    Mac OS X
    Apr 1, 2016 8:55 AM in response to Fil-mac

    Not sure, but it is a pain to use old OSX just to have access to web cam. I guess if you have a retail store with liberal return policies you could try various webcams and see if any work. This seems to be the website for Mac web cams -- I think this is where I got the idea to go with the Creative -- we know how that worked out .

     

    http://www.mac-compatible-web-cam.com/

     

    It does seem odd that El Capitan does not seem to support UVC. I don't know much about programming, but implementing an industry standard driver would seem pretty simple (particularly since it worked in the previous iteration).

  • by Fil-mac,

    Fil-mac Fil-mac Apr 1, 2016 9:28 AM in response to librarian7
    Level 1 (13 points)
    Desktops
    Apr 1, 2016 9:28 AM in response to librarian7

    Its very disappointing and frustrating  to have a fully functional webcam but not being able to use it on a brand new imac 5k retina computer.

  • by librarian7,

    librarian7 librarian7 Apr 1, 2016 9:39 AM in response to Fil-mac
    Level 1 (25 points)
    Mac OS X
    Apr 1, 2016 9:39 AM in response to Fil-mac

    Send your (our) concerns to the Mother Ship...

     

    http://www.apple.com/feedback/macosx.html

  • by Fil-mac,Helpful

    Fil-mac Fil-mac Apr 1, 2016 10:19 AM in response to librarian7
    Level 1 (13 points)
    Desktops
    Apr 1, 2016 10:19 AM in response to librarian7

    done!

  • by EZ Jim,

    EZ Jim EZ Jim Apr 2, 2016 10:41 AM in response to librarian7
    Level 7 (22,547 points)
    Apr 2, 2016 10:41 AM in response to librarian7

    Well done, all.  Thanks for sharing your info for others who may be experiencing the problem.

     

    I think you have done a great service here.

     

    Cheers!

    EZ Jim