MacBook built-in iSight camera not working

My camera seems to have died... After reading other posts and the apple doc here: http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=93240 I've tried pretty much everything. There are no lights on, applications don't see it, doesn't work with a different user, system profiler doesn't see it. The first time I zapped the PMU it came back and worked briefly, but hasn't worked since, and subsequent PMU resets have not done anything.
Of course, this started about a week or two after the 1 year warranty ran out, and I had forgotten to get applecare extended. Oops.
My question is this: is there anything I can do short of taking it to Apple service? Is there any likelihood that it could just be a loose cable and if so how hard is it to take apart the MacBook (I am technically inclined). Or is it most likely going to require a logic board replacement... hundreds of $$ I'm guessing.

Hello Smersh
If the suggestions offered here do not get you a fix, and if you have tried all the other applicable suggestions in http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=93240 without success, it sounds to me like you need to try the last one, too, (contact Apple or your Apple Authorized Service Provider.)
You may be right that the fix will be minor and may not take long, but there are no user serviceable parts of iSight. Have it fixed by an AASP. As part of his diagnostic review, the AASP's technician will determine whether a logic board is required. If you are concerned about cost or repair time, you can ask the AASP for a cost and time estimate before any repair work starts.
EZ Jim
PowerBook 1.67 GHz w/Mac OS X (10.4.11) G5 DP 1.8 w/Mac OS X (10.5.1)  External iSight

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    Message was edited by: Macaroni108

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  • External iSight Camera not working after update installed?

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    Welcome to Discussions, johnboysf
    (1) Assuming you are not ANY having other problems with your Macs and that your Mac OS X Maintenance is up to date, you can concentrate on the iSight part of your system(s).
    Restart your Mac with no unnecessary peripherals connected and try the suggestions here:
      http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=93240
    (2) If your iSight still does not work with any app, check for Possible hardware or software conflicts with iSight.
    (3) I cannot tell whether your mini is an iNtel or PPC. Apply the appropriate Combo Updater as follows if you still have the problem:
    • Backup your Home Folder, or at very least, your important files.
    • Repair permissions. (Click here if you need help.)
    • For PPC, download and apply the Mac OS X 10.4.10 Combo Update (PPC).
    • For iNtel, download and apply the Mac OS X 10.4.10 Combo Update v1.1 (Intel).
    • Finish with another Permissions Repair, and then check your iSight again.
    Users have reported fixes to a variety of audio, video, connectivity, and software conflicts and unreliability issues after properly applying Combo Updates.
    (4) If your problem persists after trying all of the above, the problem may be with your iSight itself. The fact that you got that notification after you had previously been using your iSight successfully under OS 10.4.x, and the fact that the updater ran for you and your roommate under OS 10.4.x, makes me think there may be something wrong with your iSights. The Tiger (10.4.x) OS includes all the necessary earlier update (including iSight Firmware 1.0.3) and installs the Firmware update if necessary at the time you installed Tiger or first connected your iSight. Therefore, the Firmware update should be unnecessary and should not have been identified by Software Update... as being needed (unless someone has improperly thrown away some OS X files.)
    As you note, iSight Firmware 1.0.3 will not run except on Mac OS X v10.3.7-10.3.9 (or, it now seems, if something is wrong.) If you have access to a Firewire-equipped Mac that is using one of these OSs, you can try applying the update to your iSights using that Mac.
    (5) If you cannot find a Mac that is still using Panther, or if applying the update does not resolve your problem, contact your Apple Authorized Service Provider for professional service. Ask your AASP if he wants to see your Macs, too, to check whether their software has been modified or damaged.
    EZ Jim
    PowerBook 1.67 GHz w/Mac OS X (10.4.10) G5 DP 1.8 w/Mac OS X (10.5)  External iSight

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