iSight Camera "Not Connected" -- being removed from USB Bus

Welcome to Apple Discussions, boygenius07

What can I do to make the USB High-Speed Bus recognize the iSight

Perhaps one of your "USB devices" is defective and is the real cause of this problem. 

First, you should consider possible conflicts. If you have added any non-Apple software, uninstall all of it until you get your Mac working correctly.

If you have not installed any new software or hardware since your Mac worked correctly, disconnect all peripherals and try again. If everything works with nothing else connected, connect one item at a time to determine whether anything external is causing your problem.

If the problem persists when nothing else is connected, leave all disconnected and consider the following suggestions.

You say that you "... have taken ALL the suggested steps listed in other posts ... etc", but you do not say specifically that you have tried:

(1) EVERY relevant suggestion for built-in iSight in Apple's How to Troubleshoot iSight.

Is the problem EXACTLY the same when you check whether the problem is "application-specific" and "user-specific"?  Click here if you need help creating a new user account to check whether your problem is "user-specific" during Troubleshooting.

(2) reapplying the latest version of Mac OS using the following method:

• Backup your Home Folder, or at very least, your important files.

• Repair permissions. ( Click here if you need help.)

• Then download and apply the Mac OS X 10.4.10 Combo Update v1.1 (Intel)

• Finish with another Permissions Repair, and then check your iSight again.

Try both now if you have not already done so.

You do mention "restarting the PRAM, SMU, etc", but you do not specifically mention leaving the batter out for an extended period. Some iNtel Mac laptop users have reported success after unplugging their Macs and leaving the battery out for half-an-hour to overnight, so you can try that if you have not already done so. I doubt that this will help in your case, but it costs nothing but a bit of time to try it.

If none of the above work, the fault is likely within your Mac, and you will need the services of an Apple-Authorized Service Provider for a fix. Unless you are an Apple-Authorized Service Provider, you will likely void your warranty if you try to perform any hardware service, so contact the Apple Store for service. Ask them whether they want you to bring one or more of your USB devices when you take your Mac in for service.

Is this going to happen for the life of this MacBook?

We all understand your frustration, but the obvious answer is "only if you do not fix the problem." ANYTHING, including Macs, can have problems. However, there is no reason that your Mac cannot be fixed.

is my MacBook somehow wired wrong

Only an Apple-Authorized Service Provider (AASP) can answer that. When you contact your AASP, be sure to show him the documentation for your service history, specifically including the "RESEAT:Cable/ Connector" information. This info makes me wonder if iSight's internal connections may need repairing, but only an AASP can check that without endangering your warranty.

If none of the things you can do yourself fixes the problem, to avoid wasting "a large amount of money", be persistent until your MacBook is properly repaired under warranty.

If a repair by the Apple Store is required, when repairs have been completed, unless you have already provided some of your USB devices to the AASP, take at least one of them with you when you go to retrieve your Mac. Ask the service people to verify that the Mac works with your device attached before you leave the store so you know it works before you take it home.


EZ Jim

PowerBook 1.67 GHz Mac OS X (10.4.10)  G5 DP 1.8  External iSight