using webcam as a video

Patric1 · 09-05-2010, 13:58

Hi, can anyone help- I had a toshiba laptop then got a plug and play webcam. I plugged the cam in and a window appeared on my desktop and we could see whatever the cam was pointing at i.e. us, the wall or our curtains etc. we used this to watch the hedgehogs in the garden at night.
To see this window all we did was click on the cam desktop shortcut icon and the window appeared.
We now have a new laptop and there is no window. We can't find anywhere the camera is working on the computer even though it says the cam is working properly - it does work well on skype so we know there is no problem.
Does anyone know how to reproduce this window?

speedfreak · 09-05-2010, 13:59

Im no expert (I never use my webcam) but maybe you need some webcam software, something like this...? http://www.manycam.com/

Welcome to the forum by the way

Raistlin · 09-05-2010, 14:24

Go to 'My Computer' and see if the camera shows up in the list there, if it does try double-clicking on it.

Patric1 · 09-05-2010, 15:47

Hi speedfreak and Rob M - Thanks for replying. we have tried clicking on he icon in my computer, but all this does is go to information about the cam and properties etc, same as icon on desktop. Will have a look at manycam.
could we have downloaded the window from photo 9 or something like that? Haven't downloaded anything onto this laptop as yet. The window didn't have any clues on it like an identification i.e. microsoft.
We could take pictures from it and videos. The window was fairly large and great fun and simple to use.

Kymmy · 09-05-2010, 16:13

Most webcams need 3rd party software to view, I personally liked Biromsoft webcam as it enables you to stream/capture/motion-sense/web the video..

Patric1 · 09-05-2010, 20:11

Hi Kymmy, thanks for that, I will also look at Biromsoft.

Patric1 · 10-05-2010, 11:51

Hi everyone, I have now solved my webcam problem, so this is how just incase anyone else is having the same problem.
I went to microsoft compatability for windows where I found microsoft image capture, which then had the Toshiba image capture that was compatible to windows 7, this then sent me to the Toshiba download. Hey presto! there is a thin line on desktop near the top left hand side which opens the capture window.
Hope this is of help to others.