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PaulHK
Contributor
Contributor

Adding WebCam in VM crashes base system - VMWare Workstation 12 Pro

Hi,

I have an issue that I have replicated by completely re-installing my host OS and re-installing the VM so it is definitely not a faulty installation issue. I have a Vaio Z Flip laptop running Windows 10 Pro and have tried installing a VM (using Workstation 12 latest version) also running Windows 10 Pro. All works fine except when I try to connect either of the front or rear cameras to the VM - after a few seconds I get a message saying that driver installation failed. Then approximately one minute later the whole laptop has a blue screen of death (at least the newest version of the BSOD). I've tried this several times with the same outcome.

Grateful for any advice.

Paul

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yanw
VMware Employee
VMware Employee

How did you connect the cameras to the VM?  from Removable Devices?

Would you please upload the minidump files which should locates at C:\Windows\minidump, thanks

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bluefirestorm
Champion
Champion

Most webcams on laptops usually are connected internally via USB controllers. Check to see from Device Manager what type of controller it is connected to and match that on the USB Controller setting in the VM in the "USB Compatibility". To check the connection, select the camera(s) from Device Manager of the laptop under Imaging Devices and then select View By Connection and you will see the chain as to how it is connected.

Some USB 3.0 controllers has the name "USB 3.0" explicitly spelled out or something along the lines of "eXtensible Host Controller" or both.

USB 2.0 controllers usually have names like "Enhanced Host Controller".

Were all these attempts with battery power or with power plugged to the mains? The line of thinking here if it is battery, with the obsession these days of long battery duration, that somehow the USB controller(s) and/or camera(s) were turned off in the midst of installing the drivers in the VM.

Are the webcams using standard Microsoft webcam drivers or specialised Vaio drivers? If specialised Vaio drivers, maybe try installing the drivers inside the VM first.

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