'error 80004002 cannot run preview graph': problems with webcams

[mz3]

Hi, I have two webcams, an internal webcam that came with my dell inspiron 1720 vista home 32 which runs with dell webcam center and an external webcam that runs with AMcap. Both worked fine until last week.

opening the dell web cam center and starting the camera I receive the message: Failed to start video preview, please reconnect your camera.
While opening the external webcam with AMCap I receive the message: 'error 80004002 cannot run preview graph.

I have uninstalled and reinstalled both softwares. I have updated all the drivers. I have updated my nividia graphics card driver and still the same. Can anyone guess what the problem is and what a solution might be? I feel there must be something corrupted at a root level somewhere.

many thanks

Ps, I found this thread on the forum where a user seems to have a similar issue but - the thread went a bit strange:
Bisoncam - USB 2.0 - "graph cannot preview"

[WMBrown]

Make sure the web cam driver is properly installed along with the video driver (video card). Please update the DirectX version of Windows.

[RoninBlade]

1: Please check Properties of My Computer> Hardware> Device Manager you have any device with an exclamation mark or cross in yellow or red, respectively.

2: If you do not have anything like that, check if your webcam device appears in the listing.

[Maxforu]

For that you need to follow the below steps mention.

1) First of all you need to install the drivers by disabling all the non Microsoft services on your system.
2) Then you need to uninstall the web cam drivers.
3) Then you need to unplug the web cam and need to reboot your system.
4) Then you need to go on your Start menu, then select Rund and then type in msconfig and press the enter key.
5) Then on the General tab,you need to click on Selective Startup.
6) Under Selective Startup, you need to click on clear the Load Startup Items check box.
7) Then again click on the Services tab, then you need to select the Hide All Microsoft Services check box, and then you need to click on Disable All.
8) Then click on OK. Then it ask you whether you would like to reboot your system,just click on Restart.
9) Then you need to plugin the webcam back on your system and need to install the drivers.
10) Then just reboot your system.

[mz3]

Thanks for helping guys.

WMBrown, The drivers are there and my graphics card driver and Directx version is up to date.

Ronin Blade, I don't see any warnings in the device manager, and yes they are listed.

Maxforu, One of the cameras is internal. Is there a way to 'unplug' it - A problem occurs when I uninstall the driver and reboot the machine. Vista automatically searches for this camera's driver and installs it. Can I prevent this?

Many thanks again.

[akshaytyagi99]

hey mz3 go to Amcap and then on option then click on preview twice it will work