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Issue with iChat and iSight

post #1 of 23
8/26/08 at 8:38pm
Thread Starter 
I have been using iChat with iSight for some time now with no problem. I have an iMac with Mac OS 10.5.4 and when I go to click on iChat and use it to video conference I get a "Your camera is in use with another application" error message. I can get into iMovie and the camera works without a hitch so the problem appears to be with iChat.

From what I have read on the Apple forums is that this is an issue that no one seems to have a fix for. I would like to uninstall iChat and then reinstall it to see if it fixes the problem but I am not sure how to go about doing this. I know I just have to drag and drop the iChat app to the trash can to remove it but where do I get a stand alone version of iChat?

Any suggestions would be appreciated.

Parker
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post #2 of 23
8/27/08 at 5:39am

Re: Issue with iChat and iSight

Quote:
Originally Posted by Parker Clack
I know I just have to drag and drop the iChat app to the trash can to remove it but where do I get a stand alone version of iChat

There is no standalone version of iChat. It's one of the core applications installed with the OS. I would first download the latest version of QuickTime and try re-installing it. If that fails to fix the problem, try this.
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post #3 of 23
8/27/08 at 2:27pm
Thread Starter 

Re: Issue with iChat and iSight

Michael:

I downloaded the latest copy of Quicktime and that is when iSight started to mess up. I already tried killing the VDCAssitant with no luck. I reinstalled iChat from my restore discs with no luck. I removed Quicktime and reinstalled it with no luck.
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post #4 of 23
8/30/08 at 1:53am
Thread Starter 

Re: Issue with iChat and iSight

Any other suggestions?
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post #5 of 23
8/30/08 at 8:25am

Re: Issue with iChat and iSight

I'd create a second account on your machine (if you don't already have one) in the Accounts preference pane and log out of your existing account and into the new one. Then launch iChat and try using it to see if you still get the error. This will help to verify whether the problem is a system level problem or a user level problem.
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post #6 of 23
8/30/08 at 12:16pm

Re: Issue with iChat and iSight

Michael,

That is an EXCELLENT idea!
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post #7 of 23
8/30/08 at 5:59pm
Thread Starter 

Re: Issue with iChat and iSight

I will give it a shot.
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post #8 of 23
9/2/08 at 12:05pm

Re: Issue with iChat and iSight

Years ago, the fix was unplug iSight, and then boot up.
Sort of a handshaking issue.

I had it recently where the camera doesn't want to turn on. Unplug, try again.
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post #9 of 23
9/2/08 at 1:15pm
Thread Starter 

Re: Issue with iChat and iSight

Unfortunately, my iSight is built in and there is nothing to unplug.
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post #10 of 23
9/18/08 at 1:47am
Thread Starter 

Re: Issue with iChat and iSight

Ok, I have installed the latest version of Mac OS, removed Quick Time, removed and then reinstalled iChat and it still will not allow me to use my built in iSight camera in iChat. It works with the other apps just fine. I have signed in as a new user in iChat, created a new account for the Mac and both give me the same issue that is iChat comes back with a "The camera is in use by another application." I have run the command line to shut down all apps and still a no go. I have done all the suggestions on the Apple forums with no luck. I have unplugged the Mac and reset it by holding in the power button for 10 seconds with a no go on the camera working with iSight.

Is there any app that you can run to show you want program is using what device? And shut those devices down one at a time to see if it fixes the problem?

I didn't start having this issue until I installed the latest version of Quick Time about 2 months ago and uninstalling it and installing a newer version has not helped. I have run out of ideas to try as nothing that I have read to suggest fixing the problem has helped.
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post #11 of 23
9/19/08 at 8:05pm

Re: Issue with iChat and iSight

10.5.5 is out- are there any fixes included for your specific problem?
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post #12 of 23
9/19/08 at 8:27pm
Thread Starter 

Re: Issue with iChat and iSight

Miel:

I downloaded 10.5.5 the other day and I still have the same problem.
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post #13 of 23
9/20/08 at 1:38am

Re: Issue with iChat and iSight

Parker,

I dare suggest that its perhaps time to format your hard drive.

Spend an afternoon and start all over. This time, once you install
Leopard with the basics, do a backup to an external using SuperDuper.
This way should anything like this ever happen again all you need
to do is boot up, run the restore and you bypass all the nasty install
woes.

I know formatting is a pain-in-the-ass, but I have run into situations
on both a PC and MAC that I can't correct a problem without having
to clean my system out.

Just my 2 cents on this matter.
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post #14 of 23
9/20/08 at 7:48am

Re: Issue with iChat and iSight

You could unplug all usb & firewire except keyboard and mouse. Shut down and start with Command-Option-P-R keys held until the gray screen. This will reset the p ram and chime 2 times.

If you have a PC app that uses a cam, it might be the culprit.
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post #15 of 23
9/20/08 at 8:40am

Re: Issue with iChat and iSight

Greetings people, this is my first post, before I go into a long winded reply, I would like ask Parker Clack a fe questions.

1: Was there a security update posted and downloaded before the problem happened

2: Do you have any known auto start programs upon boot (we can look at the unkown later).

3: Are you a heavy user of iMovie.

Thanks
Ray
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post #16 of 23
9/20/08 at 8:59am

Re: Issue with iChat and iSight

Sorry I forgot to ask, are you also using MS messanger for mac or any other chat besides iChat and do you have anything installed from AOL
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post #17 of 23
9/20/08 at 3:28pm
Thread Starter 

Re: Issue with iChat and iSight

Quote:
You could unplug all usb & firewire except keyboard and mouse. Shut down and start with Command-Option-P-R keys held until the gray screen. This will reset the p ram and chime 2 times.

If you have a PC app that uses a cam, it might be the culprit.

I will try unpluggin all my USB products (which are just MyBook external HDs). I don't any type of PC app that uses a cam on my Mac.

Quote:
1: Was there a security update posted and downloaded before the problem happened

No. I just downloaded the latest version of Quicktime at the time and then the only Mac app affected was iChat.

Quote:
2: Do you have any known auto start programs upon boot (we can look at the unkown later).

No.

Quote:
3: Are you a heavy user of iMovie.

No.
Quote:
Sorry I forgot to ask, are you also using MS messanger for mac or any other chat besides iChat and do you have anything installed from AOL

No. I have only used iChat and I have nothing installed from AOL.


Parker
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post #18 of 23
9/21/08 at 6:53pm

Re: Issue with iChat and iSight

Have you tried to reset your permmision's, if you have a intel based mac, you may want to try a SMC reset, this can solve some video problems, use the SMC as a last resort, isight has had problems from day one wether external or internal, G5 or Intel, many have indicated isight problems after quicktime updates
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post #19 of 23
9/22/08 at 1:41am
Thread Starter 

Re: Issue with iChat and iSight

Ray:

That was one of the first things I tried and it didn't work either.
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post #20 of 23
9/22/08 at 9:51am

Re: Issue with iChat and iSight

I have had problems with my isight before like you, I was able to correct it a few times, it just I dont remember what I did, but most of the time it was quicktime that caused problems and I was at the mercy of apple getting a fix out for it.
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post #21 of 23
9/22/08 at 3:43pm
Thread Starter 

Re: Issue with iChat and iSight

Ray:

I figured that was the case. I will be on the lookout for an upgrade to QuickTime for a fix.
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post #22 of 23
9/22/08 at 5:46pm

Re: Issue with iChat and iSight

Parker, did you download the 10.5.5 combo update, install it and see if it makes a difference? Always make sure you manually download the combo update instead of the incremental one.
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post #23 of 23
9/23/08 at 7:18am
Thread Starter 

Re: Issue with iChat and iSight

Michael:

Been there. Done that.
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