Yawcam - Black (preview) screen - Before you ask ....

[tellmewhy]

Yawcam - Black (preview) screen - Before you ask ....

One of the problems you can have using the Yawcam application, is a black (preview) screen.
Those black (preview) screens can be caused by different sources.
Before you ask, there are several things you can check.

1. No source is/can be selected in Yawcam - You don't have a web camera :
   You should see something like this :
   
   
   
   
   Device (none)
   
   Connect a web cam and select it.
   How you connect to a web cam ? See Yawcam - On-line help.
2. No source is/can be selected in Yawcam - Check physical connection :
   You do have a valid video source connected to your computer.

   Q: Which webcams/video devices does Yawcam support?
   (Extracted from the Yawcam - FAQ)
   
   A: Yawcam version 0.3.0 and above works with all DirectX compatible webcams and video capture devices. This means almost all modern usb webcams and TV-cards.

   But the (preview) screen stays black.
   • Connectors / cable(s) are damaged :
     Replace the damaged cable and reconnect the web camera.
     How you connect to a web cam ? See Yawcam - On-line help.
   • Connectors / cable(s) are not damaged :
     If you are using a USB splitter / Mini HUB then remove those items and retry with a simple connection.
     Disconnect / reconnect the video source.
3. No source is/can be selected in Yawcam - Check webcam driver :
   Your webcam is connected to your desktop as it should be.
   In spite of this, you can't select your webcam in Yawcam.
   See -> Windows - Check driver installation
4. Device is in use by another application :
   A black (preview) screen can be caused by the lack of available recourses.
   You have a video camera connected to your computer, but it's already in use by another application.
   Starting Yawcam, you should have recieved an error :
   
   
   
   Check wich application uses the webcam.

   How to check wich application is running ?

   • Applications running as a service :
     See -> Windows - Consulting / start / stop windows services
   • Applications minimised to system tray :
     Right click the application icon and select the exit or the close option.
     
     
   • Applications open in taskbar :
     Use the Alt+Tab combination to select / go to the application.
     
     
     
     Or use the taskmanager to consult the list of running applications.
     See -> Windows – Start / stop applications via task management

   Solutions :
   • I have another webcam connected to the PC :
     Close the application that uses Yawcam and prevent it from running at next computer start-up.
     Or you can Switch to another source.
     How can you prevent applications from running / where do you have to check ?
     • Windows – Programs opened at start up / logon
     • Windows – Start / stop applications via task management
     • Windows - Consulting / start / stop windows services
     • Windows - Prevent programs running at start-up
   • I don't have another webcam connected to the PC :
     Close the application that uses Yawcam and prevent it from running at next computer start-up.
     Identical list as above
   Another option would be to use an application like Split Camera.
   Such application permits you to use your video source in different applications at the same time.
5. More instances of Yawcam running at the same time :
   Close one instance of the Yawcam application.

Those, of course, or not the only possible causes for a black screen.
So this is just a first possible step to solution.