Want to highlight a helpful answer? Upvote!
Did someone help you, or did an answer or User Tip resolve your issue? Upvote by selecting the upvote arrow. Your feedback helps others! Learn more about when to upvote >
Did someone help you, or did an answer or User Tip resolve your issue? Upvote by selecting the upvote arrow. Your feedback helps others! Learn more about when to upvote >
System Report lists the camera but it's X'd out
in FaceTime and not present in Skype. After
re-setting NVRAM it appeared briefly then
vanished. Some advise re-setting the SMC
but Apple's own KB didn't support that.
MacBook (13-inch Late 2006), Mac OS X (10.7.5)
(1) Use > Software Update... to be sure all your Apple software is up to date.
(2) Download and apply the latest version of Skype that is compatible with your system.
(3) Try all relevant suggestions from http://support.apple.com/kb/HT2090.
Be sure to test more than one app in more than one user account.
(4) If the problem continues, apply (or re-apply) the latest OS X 10.7 Combo Update.
For your Mac OS X (10.7.5) use this Combo Update.
If you don't have a preferred workflow for updating, here's how I do it.
• Use your Mac's Disk Utility to repair permissions.
• Then download and apply http://support.apple.com/kb/DL1582
• Repair permissions again immediately following the system restart that completes the Combo update.
Properly applying the Combo version of updates can sometimes correct software problems.
Thank you - I followed all steps religiously (for
this is our faith, no?) to no avail. FaceTime
and PhotoBooth still show no camera or X'd
out. System Report shows what I think is a
camera but I'm gettting no love. Does it seem
like a software issue that can be remedied
and does the Genius have methods beyond
what we've done here? Thanks for the support.
Tom
I forgot to mention that this "Book is running on
the charger while awaiting a new battery. Is a
battery required to activate iSight? Thx, Tom
Tom Meade1 wrote:... I followed all steps...
Good. Having eliminated several of the easiest things, we will try the next (more time consuming) things that may resolve your problem.
Tom Meade1 wrote: ... this is our faith, no?...
Not mine, no.
Tom Meade1 wrote:... System Report shows what I think is a camera...
You are correct that your SR report shows that your Mac recognized its inbuilt camera.
Tom Meade1 wrote:... Does it seem like a software issue that can be remedied...
Yes.
Tom Meade1 wrote:... does the Genius have methods beyond what we've done here?...
Yes. The Geniuses have access to proprietary Special Tools, Test Equipment, and Technical Data that allow them to fix things beyond what us users can do. That is why, if all else fails, or if you don't want to take the time to continue trying to resolve this yourself, I suggest you contact Apple or an Apple-Authorized Service Provider for service.
Tom Meade1 wrote:... FaceTime and PhotoBooth still show no camera or X'd out...
Because more than one up-to-date app fails in more than one user account, your Mac's system software may be damaged. The remedy for this is to reinstall OS X. Regardless of the reinstall method you use, backup your Mac before you reinstall OS X.
If your Mac shipped with OS X 10.7, you can use the backup installer that came with your Mac. Then apply the 10.7.5 Combo Update to return to the latest version in one update step. I recommend that you repair permissions before and after installing and updating.
If you do not have a 10.7.x installer, you can use the Lion Recovery HD method Kappy explains in http://discussions.apple.com/thread/3531813.
After reinstalling, test again using the How to Troubleshoot iSight method.
If the problem continues in more than one app and more than one user account, the only remaining thing I know that might remedy the problem is to zero your startup disk and do a clean install of your Apple software. If iSight works then, you know that some other software was causing a conflict. This is a time consuming process that I described in this topic: http://discussions.apple.com/thread/4018234?answerId=18614637022#18614637022. (You will use the current 10.7.5 Combo Update vs. the 10.7.4 version that was current at the time of the referenced post.)
If none of the things recommended to this point resolve your iSight problem, the only remaining suggestion I can offer is tocontact Apple or an Apple-Authorized Service Provider for service.
Tom Meade1 wrote:... Is a required to activate iSight?
No.
I suggest you try trashing some .plist files.
To do this: with Finder active, hold the Option key down and click the Go menu.
Select Library in the drop down.
In Library, open Preferences.
In the Preferences folder look for and trash:
com.skype.skype.plist,
also any files that begin com.apple.facetime ....
and finally com.apple.PhotoBooth.plist
Only one of these files might be corrupted, but since there is no danger in trashing a .plist, just trash all of them and restart the computer.
I intend to do that, Eustace - thanks. I also respect EZ Jim's process
and will get to that after the holidays. He's confirming that it's a
software issue and I don't doubt that his massive fix would be effective.
If, as he's suggesting, some software is conflicting with another item
then for the moment I'm going to review those items that were installed
immediately preceding the onset of the camera problem. For now I'm
using an external cam but Iwill pursue this and update the thread.
Tom Meade1 wrote:... now I'm using an external cam ...
Thanks for the new info.
A working external camera may indicate a hardware problem. Your AASP can likely diagnose this much faster than the zero & reinstall process.
We will watch for your status update.
iSight camera present but not working
