HP Envy webcam pictures all purple

Question

I have a new HP Envy 15 with an integrated webcam, running Win 7. It works, but all the images are purple, suggesting to me that the red and blue guns are working, but the green isn't. The problem shows up on both their own software and on Skype.

I talked to tech support, and they had me update the BIOS, reinstall the hardware BIOS for the webcam, and update the webcam software. It therefore sounds like a hardware problem, but they won't back that unless I do a full restore, which would wipe my disk of all the software I've spent the last couple of weeks configuring.

Is there anything else I can try? Other than just buying another webcam, I mean.

Any suggestions would be appreciated.

Answer 1

I have an HP envy webcam and I know what the problem is for sure. I've sent the computer back for repair twice with no satisfactory resolution from HP. It's actually quite simple what happened with this laptop. You have three typical lighting sources:

1) Incandescent 2) Fluorescent' 3) Sunlight

HP turned this webcam to ONLY look good under fluorescent lighting. If you attempt to use it in sunlight or under incandescent light it will look absolutely terrible no matter what combination of sliders you use. Turning low light compensation on or off will also have little impact.

Bottom line: Use this webcam only under fluorescent lighting. If you have to use it in sunlight or incandescent lighting you're screwed. Don't bother sending the computer back to HP if you've owned it for more than 20 days, they will refuse to help you and tell you that "that's just how this webcam works."

By the way, just for fun, if you have a location that has both fluorescent lighting and incandescent lighting, turn on your Envy webcam and walk around under both lighting conditions. Watch how good it looks under fluorescent lighting, and then watch it turn terrible as you walk under the incandescent lighting. It's pretty laughable HP released a webcam like this. Especially on one of their top of the line notebooks. What's even more laughable is their total unwillingness to fix the problem for their customers who deserved better.

Anyone reading this who's unhappy with this scenario (as I am) should at least take the time to contact HP and tell them we're dissatisfied. The Envy is an expensive computer and HP customers didn't deserve a webcam that won't work in 2 out of 3 ordinary lighting conditions.

Answer 2

Use something like DriveImage XML or Acronis True Image Home to image you disk. Do a full restore and verify that the camera is indeed not working correctly. After the full restore has done it's purpose, restore the disk image you created.

Answer 3

I've just got one of these too, and its great apart from the webcam. I've found that sometimes in really good light the colours look ok. When it gets dark everything has a purple look to it. If you open skype and go into the options - video settings your webcam should start. Under it theres a button to adjust the webcam settings. Try turning off the Auto White Balance on the Vide Proc Amp tab and then in the Camera Settings tab turn off the Low Light Compensation. This turns off the little Infared lights either side of the camera. Now you can go back to the Video Proc Amp tab and fiddke with the Brightness slider.

Answer 4

Most webcams have a hue slider in the advanced options (like inside your instant messenger app, go into Camera Selection and there's probably an Advanced button there). Check that.

Answer 5

It's a software problem with HP's Web Camera Filter.

Go into HP MediaSmart Webcam. Go to: Setting -> Display tab -> Advanced Settings -> Camera Control tab: turn off Low Light Compensation.

This will disable the camera's infrared sensor which is what causes the problem. Also, incandescent bulbs cause the extreme color mismatching while the new brighter bulbs do not.

Answer 6

If you have an HP Envy webcam problem you need to watch this YouTube video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G6EBlvFzhs8

Buying a stand alone webcam for the machine is a good solution and I'll probably do the same, but don't let the issue drop without at least letting your voice be heard by HP. I invite all readers here to click the link above and join the community to let HP know what they're doing here is wrong.