Problem with webcam

[Bummy]

So I installed VirtualBox to my Slackware host and then I installed Windows XP in virtual box. I have got Windows to recognize my webcam, which is Logitech C200 and it works if I plug it in when I'm, for example, in Windows live messenger's audio and video settings screen. But the problem is that whenever I'll close that settings window or I plug webcam in without it, my system doesn't show a video because it says that webcam and microphone is used by another process. What can I do? Some process seems to use webcam automatically when I mount it. Could it be that Linux automatically takes it into use? I'm using KDE desktop environment. How to prevent that from happening or is it even possible? Thanks in advance.

[DanBender]

I am having a similar issue running on a Mythbuntu (Ubuntu 10.10, xfce, mythtv) host system and Windows XP client. I was able to install the webcam drivers (Logitech C500), and during that process it showed the camera working. After this I opened Skype settings and tested the microphone on the camera, which worked.

When I went to video settings, it gave me an error "Can't start video. Try closing other programs that might be using your webcam." After this, the microphone test fails as well. A similar failure occurs in the Logitech webcam software.

The activity light is OFF, meaning the camera is not being accessed, even though it is identified properly in the system and software.

The webcam works correctly in the Linux host, verified using Cheese.

[Azriel]

bump, i'm currently having the same problem. with a C200 logitech webcam.

I've tried both Win 7 and Win XP as guest OSes, with the same results.

The logitech webcam software recognizes the webcam, and manages to use it (I can take picture or videos with it), but as soon as I try to use my webcam with another application such as msn or skype, I'm having the issue described by OP, which is the program saying it can't connect to the webcam. After that, I can't use it with the Logitech Webcam Software anymore. Virtually unplugging and plugging back the webcam into the guest OS restores the first behavior, but still doesn't make the webcam available to applications other than the logitech webcam software. The activity light is always off (except when i'm testing the webcam with the logitech webcam software obviously) so it shouldn't be busy.

I've set a device filter for my webcam and have tried starting the OS with both the cam plugged in or plugged out, but it doesn't change anything.

Since I've tried on both WinXP and Win7, with several installs in both cases, and since both msn and skype brake the camera, and since I can correctly use my webcam while booting on a "true" windows partition, I have to assume that VirtualBox is the cause here. Webcam is also working correctly in Linux (tested with chesse)