Hello all,
I purchased my FE41Z approx 1-2 weeks ago. Not my first Sony laptop. It comes pre-installed with Windows Vista and so the problems start.
First of all I installed my own full edition of Office 2003 and after that the inbuilt webcam no longer works. I removed it and it works again! 
Very disappointing indeed. Then I went on to put internet security on my computer. I don't use Norton and use Kaspersky as I've always used that and have paid license. Installed that and checked webcam after... doesn't work again! 
Removed that and still doesn't work so I did system restore to before installation and webcam works again.
I then called Sony support and was surprised by their less than helpful advice, which was "Don't use that software then!" Since then I've installed Office 2007 and webcam works after then. Tried a different internet security (BitDefender) and again problems with in-built camera starts again. So rolled back to before that again.
Right now I'm running my computer without security, which is not what I want with the high amounts of adware and viruses circulating on the web. I've been able to use the webcam without those installed.
I went to install another one of my software today (Namo) and again the webcam doesn't work after. These do work on Vista fine, so I cannot see why they interfere with the webcam.
Sony support have asked me to do various tests such as MSCONFIG and disable all start up programmes. Done that and webcam still doesn't work. They also asked me to reinstall drivers. Again, done that and still doesn't work when my much wanted programmes are installed.
I have no idea what to do now. Any help appreciated. Sony support are looking into this but I don't feel a fix will be coming from them anytime soon.
Thanks for reading.
Lisa
I tried what was suggested - re marking the compatibility checkbox to be used as administrator, however the option is greyed out even though i am listed as administrator. Any ideas on this irritating problem please. 10x
My 64 bit one was like that, although my computer is 32 bit and the 32 one checked no problem. Do you have user account control switched on? If not, that's probably why it's not working. If not, try right clicking and select "run as administrator"?
Also VAIO phoned and said there is a fix for this. They said they'd email me the link on Microsoft but nothing ever arrived. He seemed to have a bit of a problem spelling Lisa when I was reciting my email address to him
:smileyd_oh: I have searched Microsoft and found these fixes, there are two which are linked below for you
Sony Capture utility crashing - http://support.microsoft.com/kb/931812/
VAIO Webcam fix (ignore vaio version, no more than that listed) - http://support.microsoft.com/kb/323322/
Good luck,
Lisa
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Hi Lisa,
You can download the Microsoft KB932142 Hotfix (found in the other section) and the VAIO Camera Capture Utility from the FE41Z Driver and Updates site ...
You're welcome, sorry I can't help further..
Hopefully the Motion eye camera fix will be released soon..
umm i have the VGN-FE41Z too and i got it to work so that there are no problems thanks to thalamus and richie and other sony forum admins=)
and also my motion eye works 100% which no1 else has claimed 0.o,
but i only have one problem.
the timer for closing the screen always resets itself please suggestions?
Hi Lisa,
You can download the Microsoft KB932142 Hotfix (found in the other section) and the VAIO Camera Capture Utility from the FE41Z Driver and Updates site ...
What other section do you mean? I've looked on the Sony website and see an Other section but no links etc. Just reg problems, e-support etc.
I did a system restore on my computer to 2 weeks ago and that's why the camera isn't working. Everything is set to run as admin still so no idea why it's decided to stop working.
OK scrap all the above it's now working since yesterday (what the h*ll, do I hear you say!?)
It seems my computer has a mind of it's own and loads what it wants to. No spyware, no viruses. Vista is just weird on here!
Lisa
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