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TICKET ARCHIVE -> iSight problems

ileumofgod - Jan 22, 2008 - 9:50 pm

When i enter into iChat the application does not give me the option to video chat even thought i definately have a built in camera. I have tried another application (Photobooth) to see if the problem is application specific and i don't think that it is. I then checked to make sure that the computer sensed the iSight using system profiler and it does. When i use photobooth i can record video, see myself move, and take pictures etc, but when i enter iChat the video option sometimes quickly flashes on the menu bar and then disappears saying that my computer does not support video conferencing. Sometimes i can get away with actually starting a video chat, but the application still says under preferences that my computer does not support video conferencing. I am using the newest version of iChat and the newest mac OS. I am using a Macbook.

DeltaMac - Jan 22, 2008 - 10:50 pm

iChat is dependent on your internet connection to provide you with a video link. This support log might help you out.
http://discussions.apple.com/thread....sageID=5963969

ileumofgod - Jan 23, 2008 - 11:35 pm

I know that my internet connection should provide a video link, because i have been using iChat on this connection for about 4 months. I forgot to mention earlier that before i upgraded to Mac OSX 10.5.1 iChat's video chat function worked well as long as i had the bandwidth. But now iChat rarely even gives me the option to use the camera that is attached to my computer, much less look through anyone elses camera. That being said, intermittently, iChat does allow me to chat briefly sometimes before it cuts me off saying that my computer does not support video conferencing.

DeltaMac - Jan 24, 2008 - 6:55 am

Try a full restart of your MacBook next time before you enter a video chat. You might get that to work.
The video chat requires a lot of resources from your system, not just good network bandwidth.
Are you planning to upgrade your memory (RAM)?
512MB is the minimum for Leopard. You had more margin for memory before Leopard (with Tiger 10.4), which had a minimum of 256MB. Now your system may just be running out of memory when you enter a video chat.

ileumofgod - Jan 24, 2008 - 9:03 pm

My RAM might be the problem, but if it is then why does iChat consistently say that i do not even have a camera instead of just saying that my computer is slow?

DeltaMac - Jan 24, 2008 - 9:56 pm

Does iChat report 'no camera installed' or is it as you have already reported 'does not support video conferencing' ?

The message that your system does not support video conferencing - does not have anything to do with your camera. It's a message that your system does not have resources (memory or network bandwidth) that adequately supports video conferencing - at that time, so it prevents you from using video at that time. And, you have made this situation worse by upgrading to Leopard, because the iChat provided with Leopard requires even more resources (RAM memory especially) Absolutely, if you want to reliably use video conferencing (or have a system that is more stable in general) upgrade the memory that you have installed.

ileumofgod - Jan 24, 2008 - 10:45 pm

Do i have to go to a Mac store to upgrade my RAM, or can i purchase something and install it myself?

DeltaMac - Jan 25, 2008 - 6:41 am

Here's a good place to start. They have good memory, and on-line videos or simple instruction sheets to guide through installing the memory.
http://eshop.macsales.com/shop/memory/MacBook/DDR2/

ileumofgod - Jan 25, 2008 - 1:05 pm

Thanks for your help.