• Welcome to Overclockers Forums! Join us to reply in threads, receive reduced ads, and to customize your site experience!

webcam grief: should I just chuck it?

Overclockers is supported by our readers. When you click a link to make a purchase, we may earn a commission. Learn More.

TheDS

Member
Joined
Jan 18, 2001
Location
Daytona Beach, Florida!
Using a webcam that I got many years ago, had W2000 drivers for it (that's what I use), I hook the thing into my USB port and install the application taht comes with it for use with video-capture (using the camera).

I launch the included app and I can get it to use the camera, giving me live shots from it. The little light comes on, and things look rosey.

I close the app, and try to use the camera on my IM client, but it claims I have no camera. I try re-opening the included app (the one that just worked) and IT TOO says I don't have a camera hooked up.

Some other testing reveals that, after boot up, I can launch the included app and use it ONCE, but I can never get the IM client to use it, even if I don't first launch the webcam's app. In this case, the light comes on, but then I get the error.

The MOST LIKELY explanation is that, like any file the OS thinks is in use and refuses to let you do ANYTHING to, when launching something to use the thing, it LOCKS it, and you can't use it. Simple unplugging/replugging of the USB cable will get the light to turn off, but does not remove the apparent lock. It just so happens that the included app gets it to work, but the IM client is probably trying to establish two sessions with it or something, and fails.

SO:
Is this a problem I will have with ALL webcams, or am I just paying for the incredible luck I had playing dominoes last night? Is there such a thing as a control panel applet that I can use to fiddle with this thing? (The camera's CD doesn't have such a thing.) It does not show up under Scanners and Cameras, even if I add it. Is there some trick to getting it to work? Do all webcams suck? Has anyone else gotten their webcam to work with their IM client? (Using Trillian 3.1, and trying to connect with some one using AIM 5.9.) We were able to get microphones to work ok over the video link, but the option to simply do an audiolink was greyed out.

Thanks for your help.
:bang head
 
I got a IBM webcam that does the same crap... on XP Pro I have to reistall the darn drivers everytime I disconnect it from the USB port... I just learned not to disconnect it =(
 
Back