Satellite Laptops :: A-Series models

[mgipe]

My web cam stopped working and it says "Webcam driver failed. Restart camera or computer."

I have tried installing an update for the webcam from the Toshiba website and it didn't do anything. I've also tried to follow instructions on different messaged (involving the device manager) but the instructions don't match up with anything on my computer. So basically I have no idea how to fix it....any ideas?

I don't know the product type/name or what type it is but it is the built in camera that came with the computer.

Thanks man.

[fmdp]

I had the same problem and was about to go nuts reinstalling software and drivers when I found a post that mentioned a possible malfunction in the camera cable with the lid open. I tried it and my cam does work with the lid almost closed a third of the way! Once the cam makes contact I can slowly open the lid to almost 90 degrees but not quite and it will go dead once it reaches a point. The original poster mentioned an unwillingness from Toshiba to admit it is a defect but it's very obvious that it's a hardware problem and they have so many of us going crazy looking for a software fix, were you able to fix it finally? Took it to a repair shop? Thanks

[mgipe]

I took it into Geek Squad (bc thats the warranty I had) they sent it out a few times and figured out exactly what you told me (minus the getting it to work part) and so I just sent it out one last time, the cable is fixed and connected now but it still wont work. The only advice I got was to do a system restore to try and get the driver back but at this point I'm over it. I dont want to pay anymore to get it fixed and a system restore is a pain to do, so I will probably just continue to use the external camera I bought for it last year when this all started.

So you were right!! But mine still isnt fixed.

[NoMoreToeshibah]

I bought a A305-6829 and I also bought a Toshiba A305-S6858 in the summer of 2008.

I installed Windows 7 - 32 bit software  a few months ago and now would like to use the webcam for Skype.

I installed many drivers and different Camera Assistance Software for countless hours trying to get my these USB chicony webcam working.

After reading the close the lid half way comments I tried it and now the webcams shows up in device manager every time I half close the lid.

The cameras also works when I run the Camera Assistance Software.

So if you don't mind tilting the laptop to use Skype it works but is a pain to do.

Thanks Toshiba for using cheap hardware!!!!!!

[vribbeck]

i too have a satellite a305 i believe and the same thing happened.  the laptop caught fire. the warrantee was up one month prior. upon investigation, the wires above the f-keys were rubbing when i opened and closed the laptop. this caused the wires to become exposed and arc and evntually smoked themself. my camera does not operate now. and the error message comes up everytime i start my computer. my boyfriend is pretty smart about these things though and disconnected the wires and it seems to work again, but it smells REALLY badly. and my wireless quit working as well. so....for $599.00 i got 13 months out of my laptop....i am not very happy. it will cost me too much to replace the parts . does anyone know of any recall info on these models? my friend said they were watching the news and saw something about toshiba. we also have the battery chargers that get EXTREMELY hot under normal conditions, after just 45 minutes of charging they are really hot to the touch...

[vribbeck]

please see my prior post, my laptop actually caught fire and it was from wires when i closed and opened it getting worn....my laptop is not under warantee as of july, but it's barely a year old....

[rblkng]

SOLUTION FOUND FINALLY

after 6 hours of searching and trying installing new drivers, old drivers, disabling and enabing services with the msconfig of windows vista i still got this msg....  "Webcam driver failed. Restart camera or computer."

THE SOLUTION WAS OMG... when i had the laptops screen in less than 90 degrees i heard a sound and vouala, camera enabled,,, when i moved the laptops screen over than 80-90 degrees angle the camera was stoping

no driver problems-no services-no windows updates from vista to win7, it was just the screen ungle degrees...

i guess its a malfunction of the factory,,,

sorry about my english

[DebHgn]

I now have the exact same issue.  At the same time, my speaker has a big red x, when I click it it says I have "No Audio Device installed"

When I right click speaker, and click Playback device it tells me there is no device, no recording device and no sound device.

Anyone have any ideas!

Thanks!

[smartk9s]

After reading all the above and attempting to reload the camera driver, I too discovered the fault is at the connection at the left side of the hinge. So, anyone know exactly which screws on the bottom need to be removed to access the hinge? (This is actually on a A305-S6872.)