PoSmedley

Join Date 04/2005

+788

LVCom Server

What the heck is it doing?

I use WinPatrol and in my Active Tasks I am always finding that 'LVCom Server' is running. I shut it off and eventually it comes back. After some investigation, I found it's tied into my Logitech Webcam. The thing is, this LVCom Server runs 'without' the webcam being activated. We only use the cam about once a month for the little one to talk to a relative or something. So what keeps activating it?

I ran HiJack This and posted the log on a couple places , but they are all so far behind, it's been a week. I went into Zone Alarm and set it so it would have to have permission to run, but that did no good. My computer has a bad habit of slowing down, and freezing for minutes on end when I am browsing and when I check to see what apps could be running that I don't know about, it's always this one.

Is anyone familiar with LVCom Server?

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Corky_O

Join Date 04/2004

I have never used this one, but a couple questions to perhaps help troubleshoot:

1 - Do you have any LVCom software, or any other applications that interact with the web cam hardware? It is my understanding that this service enables advanced features between the hardware and applications using the COM Server. It may be the software (if it exists), a service of some kind, or a registry key that is calling the LVCom server executible.

2 - Is the "lvcomsx.exe" shown in HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run key in the registry? If so, and you are familiar with working in the registry, you could try to export the key as a backup - and then delete the lvcomsx.exe string to prevent running automatically in the background. Then test the functionality of your web cam and software, to make sure the service can be invoked when wanted.

I do this with 'QuickTask' which is the Quick Time service which runs in the background if not removed from this key.

Note - another way to remove safely, would be to copy the name, type, and data of the string - which allows you to recreate the string if there is an issue. This is a method I use when modifying one string.

Hopefully, someone with more knowledge will stop by.

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Try this. If you uninstall what it tells you to, you still should be able to use the cam....

Link

Good luck!

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To add to post three...uninstall the Logitech Image Studio software

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PoSmedley

Join Date 04/2005

+788

The registry stuff is a little beyond me. But what you said about it being tied into something else makes sense. I just can't imagine what it is. I'm more afraid some freakin virus or malware got on here and is calling it up, to do God knows what.

Thanks for taking the time to answewr.

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PoSmedley

Join Date 04/2005

+788

Try this. If you uninstall what it tells you to, you still should be able to use the cam

I went to the page and it's not loading for me?!?!?!

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Is it LVcomS server or LVCom server? there might be a difference. Do a Google search on both of them and go from there.

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uninstall the Logitech Image Studio software

Did you try this?

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Corky_O

Join Date 04/2004

The registry stuff is a little beyond me

No problem.

You can safely try the following:

Start > Run > Type: msconfig > hit "Enter" > click the "Startup" tab, and look for the listing for lvcomsx.exe to see if it is available there > if found, deselect by removing the check mark in the box to the left of the file listing > click "Apply" > reboot machine.

After reboot, you may receive a message indicating that settings were changed using msconfig - just say OK, then close msconfig and select the option "without reboot". This should prevent the process from running in the background, unless it is a really stubborn file.

Note - if you do not see the file listed under the "Startup" tab, you can look under the "Services" tab > select the "Hide All Microsoft Services" option > deselect the LVCom service if it is listed there for some reason > click "Apply" > reboot.

If you use msconfig to change a setting, and want to return at any time to normal booting, just start msconfig again > select "Normal Startup" under the General tab > click "Apply" > reboot.

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this progy might help you out a bit it is called "whats running" like a task manager but alot more detailed. Link

hope this helps you and good luck

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PoSmedley

Join Date 04/2005

+788

Thanks for all you r suggestions. I am going to go through this stuff a step a a time (this kinda crap makes me nervous) and hopefully get to the source of the problem.

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PoSmedley

Join Date 04/2005

+788

uninstall the Logitech Image Studio software

I have looked and 'don't' have that installed with the cam.

Everything I find says that LVCom Server (LVCOMSX.EXE) adds 'additional functionality' to the webcam. It is 'not' listed in my start-up programs yet it starts on it's own. I don't undertsand what functionality it is adding if I haven't activated the damn cam.

I'm gonna have some coffee and then try the registry approach.

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PoSmedley

Join Date 04/2005

+788

This little bugger is amazing.

You can safely try the following:

Did what you outlined, rebooted, etc. Went into Zone Alarm and restricted it. Opened webcam to see if it worked....this is the funny part...it was still there along 'with' FxSvr2.exe (Quick cam framework server) and Launcher.exe ...both tied to the cam.

I went back into Zone Alarm and restricted Launcher.exe...could NOT find the FxSvr2.exe...rebooted, opened the cam and it all cma eback without Zone Alarm asking or warning or anything.

I don't know what this crap is doing, but I run FreeRam xp Pro, and I can see almost instantly when that freakin LVCom Sever opens, because it drops so much. I kill it, and the rams go back up.
It's looking like it's time for a new cam.

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I have looked and 'don't' have that installed with the cam.

Is it in the Control Panel? Under "Add/Remove" programs? Or maybe under "Logitech" in the all programs menu?
I have had this same issue before and unistalling worked for me.

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Corky_O

Join Date 04/2004

Not having one of these web cams, I am short on competent ideas - so here is the last one I might try:

Note - this assumes you have a disc with the drivers and software, and that you are running Windows XP.

Disconnect the camera > uninstall all software and drivers that were installed with the camera > reboot > delete any folders for said software that are left in "C:\Program Files" > check in Task Manager for any of the processes you are concerned about, to make sure they are now gone (if not, they are probably not part of the web cam installation).

Turn off the computer > connect the web cam > boot the computer > allow Windows to recognize the hardware > if Windows tells you the hardware has been installed, but there may be a problem - use one of the following to install the drivers only:

1 - If the hardware wizard pops-up, use it to install the drivers.

2 - Use the installation disc to install the drivers - only if it offers the option to install "Drivers"

3 - Right-click My Computer > Properties > Hardware tab > Device Manager > look for the web cam device (it may have a yellow question mark by it) > right-click the web cam device listed > select "Update driver" > select the option to allow Windows to automatically install the drivers > place the web cam installation disc in the cd drive > click next to tell Windows to install the drivers > after completion, cancel any additional software installation attempted by the disc > remove disc.

You can then test the camera for functionality, and if all is well you are done.

If on the other hand, you find that the additional software is needed, I believe you are stuck with using it. Another possibility, is that the lvcomsx.exe file is connected to the driver(s). For example, ATI's new drivers install an ".exe" file, which runs in conjunction with the drivers.

Note - I use method #3 all the time, which enables me to install the hardware and drivers only.

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Windows XP has the drivers you need to use the webcam. I use mine all the time without additional software.

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Excellent workaround, Corky. There's a lot of software out there that has proprietary attributes like that of the webcam Mo is using, that you can do without. An example: SBC Yahoo DSL. If you install the drivers using the method you outlined above, you don't really need the Yahoo software, which includes a browser that likes to make itself the default, to use the connection. And the ATI you mention above, you don't need to have the Control Panel, though it's neato-nifty skin IS appealing, you can still adjust all settings through Display Properties.

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you give me the creeps. i think you are doing something illegal and are paranoid that you will get caught. we live in an evil world, don't we? [edited for "creative" language"] I.D.

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Island Dog

Join Date 06/2003

+1048

Is this more spam?

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PoSmedley

Join Date 04/2005

+788

you give me the creeps. i think you are doing something illegal and are paranoid that you will get caught. we live in an evil world, don't we? [edited for "creative" language"] I.D.

wtf?

Is this more spam?

If you mean post #17...yeah, I would say so. When I click on the ID it says it doesn't exist but I get this page...Link

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Here's some info on the process:

http://www.liutilities.com/products/wintaskspro/processlibrary/LVCOMSX/

If you don't want it to run remove the Logitech camera software and return the web cam, or send Logitech a message and let them know you don't appreciate that they bundle extra crap with their drivers.

As far as ZA not alerting you that the apps are running that is probably because the programs are not accessing the internet. ZA is meant to stop programs from sending data via the internet without your knowing, so if the programs never attempt to access the internet ZA will never complain about them running.

If the process is not listed in the registry it may be running as a service and as such you can stop it from starting, and here's how:

1) Right-click your My Computer icon and select Manage
2) Expand Services and Applications in the laft pane
3) Highlight Services
4) Scroll through the list of services in the right hand pane until you find the right one
5) Right-click on the service name and select Properties
6) Make sure the path to executable is correct and points to the LVCOMSX.EXE file
7) In the drop down list select 'Disabled'
8) Click the Stop button if the service is currently running
9) Click OK

This will disable the service and keep it from starting up at boot time. Note, be careful not to diable any services you are not familiar with as you can cause problems in Windows by turning off features of the OS that you use. Also, if the Logitech software monitors the service and changes it back to 'Automatic' it will start again after you reboot. If this happens, your only recourse may be to uninstall the software.

Good Luck!

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