USB2.0 driver: Webcam not recognized when upgrading to Windows 8 Pro 64-bit

The integrated "Exmor"-based webcam on my Sony VAIO VPCF22KFX laptop is no longer recognized by the OS. Under Windows 7 64-bit, the webcam worked flawlessly. Sony's web site reports this laptop model as Windows 8-ready. When I upgraded to Windows 8, it was recognized about 50% of the time after booting up under Device Manager > Imaging devices > USB2.0. After a few days, it stopped showing up altogether and cannot be found either when the Device Manager's "hidden" option is selected.

I went through uninstalling the unrecognized device, re-upgrading the OS,, single-patch updates from Sony, etc., but the result is the same.  Sony does not explicitly publish a Windows 7 or Windows 8 driver for the webcam itself.  

 

At the moment, all hardware is reported by the Device Manager utility as recognized except for the following unit, which may or may not point to the webcam. Here's some of the unknown device's info:

GENERAL

Device status: Windows has stopped this device because it has reported problems. (Code 43)

Hardware Ids: USB\DEVICE_DESCRIPTOR_FAILURE
Compatible Ids: USB\DEVICE_DESCRIPTOR_FAILURE
Location information: Port_#0002.Hub_#0004
Physical Device Object name: \Device\USBPDO-5
Capabilities: 00000040
CM_DEVCAP_RAWDEVICEOK
Problem code: 0000002B

******

EVENTS

Device USB\VID_0000&PID_0002\6&ae927c&0&2 had a problem starting.

Driver Name: null
Class GUID: {00000000-0000-0000-0000-000000000000}
Service:
Lower Filters:
Upper Filters:
Problem: 0x2B
Status: 0x0


Device USB\VID_0000&PID_0002\6&ae927c&0&2 was configured.

Driver Name: null
Class GUID: {00000000-0000-0000-0000-000000000000}
Driver Date:
Driver Version:
Driver Provider:
Driver Section:
Driver Rank: 0x0
Matching Device ID:
Outranked Drivers:
Device Updated: false

Thanks for the reply, Shenan.

From what I observed, the webcam was relying on the generic USB2.0 that showed up under "Imaging devices".  For whatever reason, that entry no longer shows up.  The webcam worked fine under Win7 64-bit and about half the time under Win8. 

Sony hasn't ever explicitly published a driver for the webcam on this model.  They have published a driver installer supporting USB 3.0, among other hw, but that's it.   My take is that Windows 8 doesn't provide the generic driver component(s) anymore and Sony is playing catch-up at the moment. 

I did pose the question on Sony's support community site, but, alas, they're in a transition to a new site that will go online on Nov 19.  Thus, my post here.  Sony support gives 15 minutes of initial troubleshooting, but then contend they have to charge almost $80 for continued support, even though they confirm on their web site that the specific model is Windows 8-compliant. My laptop is still under Fry's support warranty, but I'd rather not ship my laptop for a fix is more than likely is related to a driver or configuration issue.

Not much progress yet, Josh.  I now know that the USB2.0 webcam entry will reappear as active and enabled if you shutdown, remove the battery, and boot up.  However, this entry is grayed out either by Windows 8 updates or by simply reattaching the battery.

I'm at the point of purchasing a USB HD webcam and forget the convenience of the integrated device.  This would be a disappointment: Sony labeled this laptop as Windows 8-ready.

Not much progress yet, Josh.  I now know that the USB2.0 webcam entry will reappear as active and enabled if you shutdown, remove the battery, and boot up.  However, this entry is grayed out either by Windows 8 updates or by simply reattaching the battery.

 

I'm at the point of purchasing a USB HD webcam and forget the convenience of the integrated device.  This would be a disappointment: Sony labeled this laptop as Windows 8-ready.

You mean this web page?
Congratulations! The VPCF22KFX/B is supported for Windows 8.

Where the only listing from the "Individual Files" download site I have found under Windows 8 (64-bit only) for the camera is [disappointingly]:

Camera

File Description ArcSoft Magic-i™ Uninstaller
Release Date 10/22/2012
Version 1.0
File Size 2.89 MB

Description: This utility will uninstall the ArcSoft Magic-i software

Not much progress yet, Josh.  I now know that the USB2.0 webcam entry will reappear as active and enabled if you shutdown, remove the battery, and boot up.  However, this entry is grayed out either by Windows 8 updates or by simply reattaching the battery.

 

I'm at the point of purchasing a USB HD webcam and forget the convenience of the integrated device.  This would be a disappointment: Sony labeled this laptop as Windows 8-ready.

You mean this web page?
Congratulations! The VPCF22KFX/B is supported for Windows 8.

Where the only listing from the "Individual Files" download site I have found under Windows 8 (64-bit only) for the camera is [disappointingly]:

Camera

File Description ArcSoft Magic-i™ Uninstaller
Release Date 10/22/2012
Version 1.0
File Size 2.89 MB

Description: This utility will uninstall the ArcSoft Magic-i software

You got it... that's all there is.  Indeed, disappointing.  I didn't even bother reinstalling the ArcSoft webcam software (Windows 7 list), which works fine as long as the batter hasn't been reinstalled at any point... hard to believe.

Update: I removed the grayed-out USB video entry and now it won't reappear, even after removing the battery and rebooting the laptop. 

I posted the following on Sony's customer support community.  This is the best solution at the moment.  My video camera has worked consistently for the last week:

The webcam relies on Microsoft's ksthunk.sys and usbvideo.sys drivers to work.  I had installed the fresh USB2.0 Camera entry early yesterday but the ArcSoft webcam software [apparently] was somehow blocking it.  I remember removing the ArcSoft software yesterday afternoon and didn't observe any change to the device's status, but today it showed up as if nothing had ever happened.

So, to get your webcam back in order, first make sure ArcSoft webcam software has been removed from your laptop, just to be safe. Sony also published a Windows 8 64-bit removal routine that presumably takes care of the offending portion, but I haven't tested this out. 

Now, you'll need to install the >>> Microsoft <<< device driver(s) as follows:

1.  In Windows 8, got to the bottom left corner, right-click on the mini Start screen, and select Device Manager.

2.  In the top menu, click on View and select "Show hidden devices".

3.  Go to the Imaging [D]evices section and right-click on the grayed-out USB2.0 video entry (or the grayed-out entry that correponds to your internal webcam) and select "Update Driver Software".

4.  Select "Browse my computer for driver software".  Counterintuitive, but it's the right choice.

5.  Select "Let me pick from a list of device drivers on my computer".

6.  Select Microsoft and USB Video Device.

I posted the following on Sony's customer support community.  This is the best solution at the moment.  My video camera has worked consistently for the last week:

 

The webcam relies on Microsoft's ksthunk.sys and usbvideo.sys drivers to work.  I had installed the fresh USB2.0 Camera entry early yesterday but the ArcSoft webcam software [apparently] was somehow blocking it.  I remember removing the ArcSoft software yesterday afternoon and didn't observe any change to the device's status, but today it showed up as if nothing had ever happened.

 

So, to get your webcam back in order, first make sure ArcSoft webcam software has been removed from your laptop, just to be safe. Sony also published a Windows 8 64-bit removal routine that presumably takes care of the offending portion, but I haven't tested this out. 

 

Now, you'll need to install the >>> Microsoft <<< device driver(s) as follows:

 

1.  In Windows 8, got to the bottom left corner, right-click on the mini Start screen, and select Device Manager.

2.  In the top menu, click on View and select "Show hidden devices".

3.  Go to the Imaging [D]evices section and right-click on the grayed-out USB2.0 video entry (or the grayed-out entry that correponds to your internal webcam) and select "Update Driver Software".

4.  Select "Browse my computer for driver software".  Counterintuitive, but it's the right choice.

5.  Select "Let me pick from a list of device drivers on my computer".

6.  Select Microsoft and USB Video Device.

<hint>
What Sony is telling you is that the generic "Microsoft" driver is the best support for WIndows 8 you will get for said camera - as they do not and will not be supporting it under that Operating System.
</hint>

Hopefully that is one of the few components in that system not being supported directly by Sony for the Windows 8 they supposedly supported on that system. :-)