Skype black video after 10.6.3

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Level 1

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Skype black video after 10.6.3

after updating to 10.6.3 my webcam no longer works with skype..... still works with photobooth, works in ichat, skype just shows a black screen, the LED light for the camera does come on, skype shows the right camera in the list, but the preview box just stays black....... all was working fine with 10.6.2 before updating

it's a usb camera built into my monitor

Message was edited by: jasx

Mac OS X (10.6.3)

Posted on Apr 7, 2010 10:46 PM

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Answer 1

Apr 8, 2010 2:57 AM in response to jasx

HI and Welcome to Apple Discussions...

Go to ~/Library/Preferences and move the com.skype.skype.plist file to the Trash. Restart your Mac.

The ~ (tilde) character represents your Home Folder.

Carolyn 🙂

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Answer 2

jasx Author

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Apr 8, 2010 3:45 AM in response to jasx

hi, i just tried this, also deleted the com.skype.skype.plist from /Library/Preferences

still shows a black box, camera is turning on and off but no picture

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Answer 3

Meherally

Level 4

1,129 points

Apr 8, 2010 3:52 AM in response to jasx

Hi Jasx,

Welcome to the discussions.

Another poster had similar problems with skype and it became okay after applying the combo updater for 10.6.3

Not sure if you updated via software update or used the combo. If you did not use the combo, I recommend do that and see if it helps. The combo updater can be found here http://support.apple.com/kb/DL1017

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Answer 4

Apr 8, 2010 10:50 AM in response to Meherally

I have the same problem and just re-aplied the 10.6.3 combo update. Skype still only shows a black video, even though the camera is on. Other applications (Photo Booth, iChat, Q7) don't have a problem and show the video just fine.

Any other tips I could try?

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Answer 5

jasx Author

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Apr 8, 2010 2:10 PM in response to jasx

can the combo update still be used even though system is already at 10.6.3?
yeah i used software update

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Answer 6

CMCSK

Level 6

11,452 points

Apr 8, 2010 2:12 PM in response to jasx

Yes

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Answer 7

jasx Author

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Apr 8, 2010 2:56 PM in response to jasx

nope no luck, just installed the combo update, still a black screen:
http://i43.tinypic.com/winj1g.jpg

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Answer 8

CMCSK

Level 6

11,452 points

Apr 8, 2010 4:04 PM in response to jasx

Since you are using a 3rd party video cam and your issue is with Skype, post in the Skype forums.

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Answer 9

CJF1975

Level 1

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Apr 9, 2010 6:02 AM in response to CMCSK

I disagree. I have the same problem. Everything was working fine before 10.6.3 update.

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Answer 10

Meherally

Level 4

1,129 points

Apr 9, 2010 7:24 AM in response to Jan-Hendrik

Hi Jan,

while this is not something scientific try this: go to preferences... in skype and click on the video tab and make sure it shows up there. Then close the preferences and see if video comes back in the video chat window.

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Answer 11

Apr 9, 2010 7:31 AM in response to Meherally

I only get a black video rectangle. Camera is on (shown by little LED) but Skype does not seem to receive the signal.

Part of me agrees with a previous poster that this should probably be posted on Skype forums, but this problem appeared after upgrading to 10.6.3, so I posted it here.

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Answer 12

Meherally

Level 4

1,129 points

Apr 9, 2010 8:04 AM in response to Jan-Hendrik

Hi Jan,

If you are getting black rectangle even in the preferences pane then seems it is a problem with Skype. At this point I would suggest do the regular housekeeping chores which is

A. Run disk utilities and do permission repair.

B. Restart in Single user mode and run fsck -fy.

This might fix something minor otherwise reinstall Skype.

cheers.

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