Updated iPad Mini to iOS 8.1.2, rear facing camera no longer works

[minimo3]

So I did a clean install of iOS 8.1.2 onto an iPad mini (1st generation). Restored from the ipsw because the normal update hung halfway. Anyway the camera app no longer works. I am unable to take any photos. It just shows a black screen. The front facing camera works intermittently. I have done multiple hard reboots, a soft reboot, logging out of all iCloud/iTunes accounts and back in, Reset All settings, installing 3rd party camera apps, enabling everything in privacy settings. Nothing works. This thing is just 2 years old and its been crippled by software already (camera was working perfectly just before the update). Anyone have other suggestions I can try?

I don't know what I was thinking, I should've stayed with iOS 7.1.2.

 

[Rodster]

Hard reboot as in Home+power button? Have you tried doing a complete erase and restore from iTunes?

 

[minimo3]

Hard reboot as in Home+power button? Have you tried doing a complete erase and restore from iTunes?

Yup hard reboot as in hold down both power+home until the apple logo appears. I did that about 3x.

When I installed iOS 8.1.2 it was a Shift+Restore+pick .ipsw file to overwrite the entire device. Everything was wiped out, it came out like a factory new device. Took half the day to reinstall everything.

Tried using Camera Awesome. It consistently crashes as soon as I hit the shutter.

 

[Rodster]

When I installed iOS 8.1.2 it was a Shift+Restore+pick .ipsw file to overwrite the entire device.

You sure you got the right file? I would do a complete erase, connect to iTunes and do a restore.

edit: I would let the Apple server select the appropriate FW file for your iPad. No need to hit shift+restore. iTunes will automatically erase everything on your iPad and download the correct OS.

 

[minimo3]

You sure you got the right file? I would do a complete erase, connect to iTunes and do a restore.

edit: I would let the Apple server select the appropriate FW file for your iPad. No need to hit shift+restore. iTunes will automatically erase everything on your iPad and download the correct OS.

I plugged the iPad mini into iTunes and hit the Restore button. When it finished installing I told it to Set up as a New iPad so there would be no chance of corruption with backup data. Tapped on Camera and .... completely black screen. If a completely restore to factory and setup as new doesn't work I don't think anything else will. I am bringing it to the store to see what they say, but I'm not hopeful, they'll probably claim its a hardware fault and want $200 for a replacement. No way I'm paying money for something their software update broke.

 

[Armen]

This thing is just 2 years old and its been crippled by software already (camera was working perfectly just before the update). Anyone have other suggestions I can try?

I don't know what I was thinking, I should've stayed with iOS 7.1.2.

my first gen iPad mini is on 8.1.2 and both cameras work. Have you tried a DFU restore?

 

[minimo3]

my first gen iPad mini is on 8.1.2 and both cameras work. Have you tried a DFU restore?

I just tried the DFU restore. Just to be doubly sure, I deleted the .ipsw file that iTunes had cached to ensure that iTunes went out to Apple and downloaded the right one. Once it was done I also made sure not to login to any iCloud, iTunes ID, AppleIDs. And no backup was restored. So its as close to a brand new factory model as could be.

Rear camera still shows a black screen.

Oh well, no point replacing this one. Just going to let them run to the ground. Maybe in a year or two we can get light and fully featured 8" Surface Pro Minis.

 

[Armen]

I just tried the DFU restore. Just to be doubly sure, I deleted the .ipsw file that iTunes had cached to ensure that iTunes went out to Apple and downloaded the right one. Once it was done I also made sure not to login to any iCloud, iTunes ID, AppleIDs. And no backup was restored. So its as close to a brand new factory model as could be.

Rear camera still shows a black screen.

Oh well, no point replacing this one. Just going to let them run to the ground. Maybe in a year or two we can get light and fully featured 8" Surface Pro Minis.

Could the camera have gone bad?

 

[minimo3]

Could the camera have gone bad?

Its possible, but it would be quite a coincidence to go from working to broken in the span of the hour or so when it was updated.