"Show my Webcam" greyed out?

Have just downloaded and installed the 'new' Window Live Messenger.
Version 2009 (Build 14.0.8064.206)

When I chat to a contact and wish to put my webcam on the two options
available are ...

Show my Webcam (which is greyed out/not available) and Start a Video Call.

My contact has to send a request to me for me to accept to start my webcam.
Why can I no long initiate my cam. I dont want to start a Video Call.

.... Also, the option in Personal (in the main Messenger settings) which is a
checkbox option "Allow others to see I have a webcam" is unchecked. Yet when
I open a conversation window to send instant messages my contact(s) can see I
have a webcam as the webcam icon is visable their end--is this a bug?

Greetings,

It's a bug. If the option is grayed out, right-click the Messenger icon in the notification
area and choose Sign out. Then right-click the icon again, choose Sign in and sign in as per
normal. The option should now be available.

The webcam notification is also similar, but not considered a bug as the setting is only
refreshed when you sign in. As such, just set the option, sign out and back in for it to be
shown correctly to your contacts.

--
Jonathan Kay
Microsoft MVP - Windows Live Messenger
MSN Messenger/Windows Messenger
MessengerGeek Blog: http://www.messengergeek.com
Messenger Resources: http://messenger.jonathankay.com
(c) 2009 Jonathan Kay - If redistributing, you must include this signature or citation
--

"wrl-x2" <> wrote in message
news:1758855E-A48F-4D89-88CF-...
> Have just downloaded and installed the 'new' Window Live Messenger.
> Version 2009 (Build 14.0.8064.206)
>
> When I chat to a contact and wish to put my webcam on the two options
> available are ...
>
> Show my Webcam (which is greyed out/not available) and Start a Video Call.
>
> My contact has to send a request to me for me to accept to start my webcam.
> Why can I no long initiate my cam. I dont want to start a Video Call.
>
> ... Also, the option in Personal (in the main Messenger settings) which is a
> checkbox option "Allow others to see I have a webcam" is unchecked. Yet when
> I open a conversation window to send instant messages my contact(s) can see I
> have a webcam as the webcam icon is visable their end--is this a bug?

That worked! ... if I sign out then sign back in the option to 'show my
webcam' is now there, available.

As for my contact able to see I have a webcam even though the option to
allow others to see I have a webcam is unchecked, am sure signing out then
signing back in will work too for that.

That is such a pain. Having to sign out then sign back in for an option to
work.

--- end ---


"Jonathan Kay [MVP]" wrote:

> Greetings,
>
> It's a bug. If the option is grayed out, right-click the Messenger icon in the notification
> area and choose Sign out. Then right-click the icon again, choose Sign in and sign in as per
> normal. The option should now be available.
>
> The webcam notification is also similar, but not considered a bug as the setting is only
> refreshed when you sign in. As such, just set the option, sign out and back in for it to be
> shown correctly to your contacts.
>
> --
> Jonathan Kay
> Microsoft MVP - Windows Live Messenger
> MSN Messenger/Windows Messenger
> MessengerGeek Blog: http://www.messengergeek.com
> Messenger Resources: http://messenger.jonathankay.com
> (c) 2009 Jonathan Kay - If redistributing, you must include this signature or citation
> --
>
> "wrl-x2" <> wrote in message
> news:1758855E-A48F-4D89-88CF-...
> > Have just downloaded and installed the 'new' Window Live Messenger.
> > Version 2009 (Build 14.0.8064.206)
> >
> > When I chat to a contact and wish to put my webcam on the two options
> > available are ...
> >
> > Show my Webcam (which is greyed out/not available) and Start a Video Call.
> >
> > My contact has to send a request to me for me to accept to start my webcam.
> > Why can I no long initiate my cam. I dont want to start a Video Call.
> >
> > ... Also, the option in Personal (in the main Messenger settings) which is a
> > checkbox option "Allow others to see I have a webcam" is unchecked. Yet when
> > I open a conversation window to send instant messages my contact(s) can see I
> > have a webcam as the webcam icon is visable their end--is this a bug?
>
>
>

Hi,

Glad to hear it. Hopefully at least the first issue will be dealt with in a future release.

--
Jonathan Kay
Microsoft MVP - Windows Live Messenger
MSN Messenger/Windows Messenger
MessengerGeek Blog: http://www.messengergeek.com
Messenger Resources: http://messenger.jonathankay.com
(c) 2009 Jonathan Kay - If redistributing, you must include this signature or citation
--

"wrl-x2" <> wrote in message
news:75CDE10A-ACC4-4482-B353-...
> That worked! ... if I sign out then sign back in the option to 'show my
> webcam' is now there, available.
>
> As for my contact able to see I have a webcam even though the option to
> allow others to see I have a webcam is unchecked, am sure signing out then
> signing back in will work too for that.
>
> That is such a pain. Having to sign out then sign back in for an option to
> work.
>
> --- end ---
>
>
> "Jonathan Kay [MVP]" wrote:
>
>> Greetings,
>>
>> It's a bug. If the option is grayed out, right-click the Messenger icon in the
>> notification
>> area and choose Sign out. Then right-click the icon again, choose Sign in and sign in as
>> per
>> normal. The option should now be available.
>>
>> The webcam notification is also similar, but not considered a bug as the setting is only
>> refreshed when you sign in. As such, just set the option, sign out and back in for it to
>> be
>> shown correctly to your contacts.
>>
>> --
>> Jonathan Kay
>> Microsoft MVP - Windows Live Messenger
>> MSN Messenger/Windows Messenger
>> MessengerGeek Blog: http://www.messengergeek.com
>> Messenger Resources: http://messenger.jonathankay.com
>> (c) 2009 Jonathan Kay - If redistributing, you must include this signature or citation
>> --
>>
>> "wrl-x2" <> wrote in message
>> news:1758855E-A48F-4D89-88CF-...
>> > Have just downloaded and installed the 'new' Window Live Messenger.
>> > Version 2009 (Build 14.0.8064.206)
>> >
>> > When I chat to a contact and wish to put my webcam on the two options
>> > available are ...
>> >
>> > Show my Webcam (which is greyed out/not available) and Start a Video Call.
>> >
>> > My contact has to send a request to me for me to accept to start my webcam.
>> > Why can I no long initiate my cam. I dont want to start a Video Call.
>> >
>> > ... Also, the option in Personal (in the main Messenger settings) which is a
>> > checkbox option "Allow others to see I have a webcam" is unchecked. Yet when
>> > I open a conversation window to send instant messages my contact(s) can see I
>> > have a webcam as the webcam icon is visable their end--is this a bug?
>>
>>
>>

I did sing out and then sing back in again but it didnt help at all. How can
i make it work forever not just once and a while.

"Jonathan Kay [MVP]" wrote:

> Greetings,
>
> It's a bug. If the option is grayed out, right-click the Messenger icon in the notification
> area and choose Sign out. Then right-click the icon again, choose Sign in and sign in as per
> normal. The option should now be available.
>
> The webcam notification is also similar, but not considered a bug as the setting is only
> refreshed when you sign in. As such, just set the option, sign out and back in for it to be
> shown correctly to your contacts.
>
> --
> Jonathan Kay
> Microsoft MVP - Windows Live Messenger
> MSN Messenger/Windows Messenger
> MessengerGeek Blog: http://www.messengergeek.com
> Messenger Resources: http://messenger.jonathankay.com
> (c) 2009 Jonathan Kay - If redistributing, you must include this signature or citation
> --
>
> "wrl-x2" <> wrote in message
> news:1758855E-A48F-4D89-88CF-...
> > Have just downloaded and installed the 'new' Window Live Messenger.
> > Version 2009 (Build 14.0.8064.206)
> >
> > When I chat to a contact and wish to put my webcam on the two options
> > available are ...
> >
> > Show my Webcam (which is greyed out/not available) and Start a Video Call.
> >
> > My contact has to send a request to me for me to accept to start my webcam.
> > Why can I no long initiate my cam. I dont want to start a Video Call.
> >
> > ... Also, the option in Personal (in the main Messenger settings) which is a
> > checkbox option "Allow others to see I have a webcam" is unchecked. Yet when
> > I open a conversation window to send instant messages my contact(s) can see I
> > have a webcam as the webcam icon is visable their end--is this a bug?
>
>
>

finally lol, i have been searching for the answer to the same problem
for the past week. thank you.


--
missleahxx

I have the latest version of the messenger (installed just today), and it is still a problem.

One thing I noticed, though, is sign-out, sign-in seems to only work if your status is set to "available" upon sign in. If you change your status to "available" after signing in, or sign in as "unavailable" or anything else but available, "show my web cam" will most likely not be available for selection.

So, set sign in status to available, and you should see the option to show your web cam.

This is how it works on my XP machine (netbook) with the latest version of Messenger installed.



Jonathan Kay [MVP] wrote:

Re: "Show my Webcam" greyed out?
17-Mar-09

Hi

Glad to hear it. Hopefully at least the first issue will be dealt with in a future release

--
Jonathan Ka
Microsoft MVP - Windows Live Messenge
MSN Messenger/Windows Messenge
MessengerGeek Blog: http://www.messengergeek.co
Messenger Resources: http://messenger.jonathankay.co
(c) 2009 Jonathan Kay - If redistributing, you must include this signature or citatio
-

"wrl-x2" <> wrote in message
news:75CDE10A-ACC4-4482-B353-...

EggHeadCafe - Software Developer Portal of Choice
Dr. Dotnetsky's Cool .NET Tips and Tricks #24
http://www.eggheadcafe.com/tutorials...-cool-net.aspx

Greetings RP,

I did an article on my blog about this recently which goes into a little further detail which
may help you out:
http://messengergeek.spaces.live.com...DA1!3016.entry

(note it appears spaces is broken at the moment, but hopefully will be fixed by the time you
read this)
--
Jonathan Kay
Microsoft MVP - Windows Live Messenger
MSN Messenger/Windows Messenger
MessengerGeek Blog: http://www.messengergeek.com
Messenger Resources: http://messenger.jonathankay.com
(c) 2009 Jonathan Kay - If redistributing, you must include this signature or citation
--


"R P" wrote in message news:...
> I have the latest version of the messenger (installed just today), and it is still a
> problem.
>
> One thing I noticed, though, is sign-out, sign-in seems to only work if your status is set
> to "available" upon sign in. If you change your status to "available" after signing in, or
> sign in as "unavailable" or anything else but available, "show my web cam" will most likely
> not be available for selection.
>
> So, set sign in status to available, and you should see the option to show your web cam.
>
> This is how it works on my XP machine (netbook) with the latest version of Messenger
> installed.
>
>
>
> Jonathan Kay [MVP] wrote:
>
> Re: "Show my Webcam" greyed out?
> 17-Mar-09
>
> Hi,
>
> Glad to hear it. Hopefully at least the first issue will be dealt with in a future
> release.
>
> --
> Jonathan Kay
> Microsoft MVP - Windows Live Messenger
> MSN Messenger/Windows Messenger
> MessengerGeek Blog: http://www.messengergeek.com
> Messenger Resources: http://messenger.jonathankay.com
> (c) 2009 Jonathan Kay - If redistributing, you must include this signature or citation
> --
>
> "wrl-x2" <> wrote in message
> news:75CDE10A-ACC4-4482-B353-...
>
> EggHeadCafe - Software Developer Portal of Choice
> Dr. Dotnetsky's Cool .NET Tips and Tricks #24
> http://www.eggheadcafe.com/tutorials...-cool-net.aspx