“Show my webcam” not available and grey webcam during video call problems in Windows Live Messenger 14.0.8117.416
Introduction
A minor update to Windows Live Essentials was recently released with some bug fixes and “minor changes”, while introducing new bugs and having people not very liking at least some of these “minor changes” like the one option that is left out where you could choose to only show your webcam instead of making a full video call.
Grey box when making a video call
In the recent version 14.0.8117.416 of Windows Live Messenger there exists some type of bug through which one might get a grey box when making a video call. I’m not sure which webcam’s this problems concerns, but I came across one laptop model where this was the case. I also found that there are also other people having this same problem.
“Show my webcam” not available
In this new version, the option to only show the webcam without having to start a video call is left out. Again, there are some people complaining about leaving out this used future.
Solution
The solution for any of the two problems is rather simple. You have to remove your current version (currently newest 14.0.8117.416) and install the older version 14.0.8089.726.
It seems as Microsoft does its best to not provide any downloads for the older (working) versions. Trying to keep your installers of your older versions for later use gets complicated as you can only download the online installer that always downloads the necessary files from the internet of the latest version. It is probably possible to get and save these installer files somehow, but for “normal” people I suppose this would be a hell of a struggle.
Anyway, I felt that I should provide the offline installer files for this older version. There is a full Windows Live installer that contains
- Windows Live Family Safety
- Windows Live Mail
- Windows Live Messenger
- Windows Live Movie Maker (Windows Vista and Windows 7 only)
- Windows Live Photo Gallery
- Windows Live Sync (integrated with Toolbar and Photo Gallery)
- Windows Live Toolbar
- Windows Live Writer
- Microsoft Office Outlook Connector
- Microsoft Office Live Add-in
- Microsoft Silverlight
but also a seperate Windows Live Messanger setup. You can download them both below.
Official Windows Live Essentials 14.0.8089.726 offline setup
Download Windows Live Essentials 14.0.8089.726 (135MB)
- Size: 141.402.440 bytes (135 MB)
- MD5 hash: 0ff7f12bb44f91cad117632e3edd13ae
Download Windows Live Messenger 14.0.8089.726 (24.0 MB)
- Size: 25.240.576 bytes (24.0 MB)
- MD5 hash: 500e43ce39cede387e263ed886d24a74 (MSI file inside the downloaded cab)
Update
* As FuGu pointed out in the comments, the other party you’re communicating with should probably also have the same or older version to get this to work. If the other party has the newer version 14.0.8117.416 it will simply block the request if you just want to show the webcam instead of making a video call.
Related posts:
- Windows Live Essentials Offline Installer
- Windows Live Messenger Uninstaller v0.01
- Enable transfers/sharing of files with potentially unsafe file types in Windows Live Messenger
ABOUT TIME SOME ONE POSTED THIS.. FUCK MICROSOFT…
Thanks alot for this, ive been trying to reinstall an old version, and keep getting the latest version with the no show my webcam option…so annoying that they have removed it :s…Thanks alot for the offline files, ur a legend
Microsoft motto should honestly change from Where do you wanna go today in
Microsoft Get the worse worst !
And the so called programmers at Microsoft should go make shoes hihihihihih
You are certainly right. Mirosoft sucks.
Fuck you microsoft. bring back the show webcam option! it’s because of you that so many african children are dying in oil spills and stuff… whatever!
Thank you very much!!! Microsoft got it wrong this time around.. i was getting crazy with the newer version and this one saved me from it, thanks once again!
the older version still gives me grey screen on video call, but not on webcam…
The contact im talking to must also have the older version , if i send a webcam call , he will auto refuse the call if he has version 14.0.8117.416
so video call works , i mean he sees the call and can accept, but grey screen for me :/
microsoft SUCKS BALLS
in everyprogram i use the webcam works
even in older msnversion like version 8, everything works
WHY THE HELL does it give a grey image when i do videocall??? why does it work when i choose webcam and why have the monkeys at microsoft disabled webcam in the latest version?
There program is bugged, videocall shoudnt give a grey image ! when i choose options and set up video and audio , i get an image, why do i get an image in options and not when i ****** choose videocall…..
everyone can answer this , the program is bugged and they call it final….
GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR
Same problem here… Still no solution… Fuck useless Microsoft…
If you just can’t get it to work, I found Oovoo is a darn good replacement until microsoft gets their act together.
@FuGu
Thanks for pointing that out FuGu. I have updated it in the post. I really don’t know what is causing this problem to occur. I checked for driver problems and various different options, but I was not able to find the real issue. I think for now, this is your best hope.
If you manage to find any other solution though, feel free to post it here.