Vista - built-in webcam not working

Hi, I'm not a computer "geek" and I'm having a difficult time figuring out
what is going on with my new laptop. I did all the upgrades...I've read as
much material, followed every link and have just about pull out all my
hair...what am I doing wrong. I bought this thing to help me keep in touch
with family members all over the country and I can't get the built in webcam
to work. When I open the program it comes up but no picture. When I do it
through yahoo messenger all there is is a black screen. The options of
changing setting can not be highlighted or clicked on. MSN messenger gives
me an error message and shut off. Can some out there help me? Looking at
other postings, it nice to know I'm not the only one but it sure can be
frustrating.
Thanks in advance,
Sutherngrl

oops I forgot to mention the computer model...it's a Acer Aspire 5610z
running on Vista.

"Sutherngrl" wrote:

> Hi, I'm not a computer "geek" and I'm having a difficult time figuring out
> what is going on with my new laptop. I did all the upgrades...I've read as
> much material, followed every link and have just about pull out all my
> hair...what am I doing wrong. I bought this thing to help me keep in touch
> with family members all over the country and I can't get the built in webcam
> to work. When I open the program it comes up but no picture. When I do it
> through yahoo messenger all there is is a black screen. The options of
> changing setting can not be highlighted or clicked on. MSN messenger gives
> me an error message and shut off. Can some out there help me? Looking at
> other postings, it nice to know I'm not the only one but it sure can be
> frustrating.
> Thanks in advance,
> Sutherngrl

At this point, you should contact Acer as all of the hardware should be
working straight out of the box..


"Sutherngrl" <Sutherngrl@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:29277F4E-C1FF-4DD1-8595-46C79C8DFCBE@microsoft.com...
> oops I forgot to mention the computer model...it's a Acer Aspire 5610z
> running on Vista.
>
> "Sutherngrl" wrote:
>
>> Hi, I'm not a computer "geek" and I'm having a difficult time figuring
>> out
>> what is going on with my new laptop. I did all the upgrades...I've read
>> as
>> much material, followed every link and have just about pull out all my
>> hair...what am I doing wrong. I bought this thing to help me keep in
>> touch
>> with family members all over the country and I can't get the built in
>> webcam
>> to work. When I open the program it comes up but no picture. When I do
>> it
>> through yahoo messenger all there is is a black screen. The options of
>> changing setting can not be highlighted or clicked on. MSN messenger
>> gives
>> me an error message and shut off. Can some out there help me? Looking
>> at
>> other postings, it nice to know I'm not the only one but it sure can be
>> frustrating.
>> Thanks in advance,
>> Sutherngrl

--


Mike Hall
MS MVP Windows Shell/User
http://msmvps.com/blogs/mikehall/

If it's a build in webcam from Bison? There are software and driver updates
on the Acer support site!

Ko.

"Sutherngrl" <Sutherngrl@discussions.microsoft.com> schreef in bericht
news:29277F4E-C1FF-4DD1-8595-46C79C8DFCBE@microsoft.com...
> oops I forgot to mention the computer model...it's a Acer Aspire 5610z
> running on Vista.
>
> "Sutherngrl" wrote:
>
>> Hi, I'm not a computer "geek" and I'm having a difficult time figuring
>> out
>> what is going on with my new laptop. I did all the upgrades...I've read
>> as
>> much material, followed every link and have just about pull out all my
>> hair...what am I doing wrong. I bought this thing to help me keep in
>> touch
>> with family members all over the country and I can't get the built in
>> webcam
>> to work. When I open the program it comes up but no picture. When I do
>> it
>> through yahoo messenger all there is is a black screen. The options of
>> changing setting can not be highlighted or clicked on. MSN messenger
>> gives
>> me an error message and shut off. Can some out there help me? Looking
>> at
>> other postings, it nice to know I'm not the only one but it sure can be
>> frustrating.
>> Thanks in advance,
>> Sutherngrl

I think the issue here does not lie with your laptop but with Windows Vista.
Lot of people have been facing the same issue in which the vista does not
recognize the integrated webcam. Besides that instant messengers like yahoo
have advertized that they are in the process of releasing new versions which
are totally vista compatible though they claim version 8.1 is compatible but
not completely. So the webcam problem lies partly with vista and partly with
the messengers.
webcam may or may not work with some messengers. However patches are surely
due and will come out soon as vista becomes the dominating os in a matter of
time.

for yahoo messenger, you can register on their website by which they will
mail you and let you know when their new version for windows vista releases.