Why does my webcam show a black screen every time i choose to view it?

Hi cazjenks...
Try this solution to your problem

Follow the instructions below to use your webcam
Click on Start then >Control panel>hardware and sound >device manager>imaging devices>web cam....enable it
Another way is to use a IM application like Yahoo messenger,NetMeeting,etc. They will have video capabilities that will work with your webcam.
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Sony's Vaio laptop computer line includes the company's Motion Eye webcam and ArcSoft WebCam Companion software for Vista and Windows 7 operating systems. Located in the LCD screen's upper bezel, the webcam is positioned at face-level when seated at the computer and automatically tracks movement to keep subjects within the lens's field of view.

1.Click on the "Start" menu at the bottom left corner of your screen, choose "All Programs" at the bottom of the menu just above the search box.
2.Scroll through the program list until "ArcSoft WebCam Companion" is located. Alternatively, you may type "WebCam Companion" in the search box to locate the program.
3.Click on the WebCam Companion icon to open the program. The program window will open, offering choices of Capture, Record, Monitor and Edit. Capture is used to take still pictures individually or in a series, Record is used to record videos, Monitor records videos when motion is detected and Edit allows editing of previously recorded videos.
4.Choose the webcam function you wish to use by clicking the icon. The appropriate screen will open, activating the webcam and displaying the camera view on-screen. The on-screen view will display what is within the field of the webcam lens, allowing you to adjust the LCD screen or your position before beginning webcam functions.
5.Click the webcam function according to the mode you have chosen. Functions in Capture mode include Capture or Burst, Record in the Record mode, Monitor in the Monitor mode and Snap Shot or Edit Video in Edit mode. When you have completed your webcam activity, the program automatically saves your video or snap shot within the program to be accessed, viewed or edited at a later time.

I hope you find it very helpful. Thank you for using fixya.com

first make sure your web cam is perfectly ok. open yahoo messenger login your account click messenger menu then click view webcam then a window will open a warning message check donot show again then ok then choose you internet connection choose broadband then it will open a window with your webcam.
if you want your friends to view your webcam just chat with them, and in action menu click invite to view my webcam. you can see in your webcam window how many viewers you have and if you are broadcasting.

Instructions

1. 1 Open Yahoo! Messenger and then click "Messenger," "Preferences" and then select "Webcam." Choose the option "When I show my webcam, change my status message to," and then enter whatever you want your status message to be in the text field. Then click "OK" to finish changing your status settings.
   
2. 2 Choose "Webcam" from your Yahoo! Messenger "Preferences" menu and then click one of the following options, "Always ask my Permission," "Allow everyone to view my webcam," or "Always allow the following people to view my webcam." If you choose the latter you can select, from your friend's list, the people who you always want to allow to view your webcam. From there you can also select "Ignore other view requests," if you don't want to allow anyone else to view your webcam. You also have the option to either choose or not choose to select "If I am in a chat room, allow people in the chat room to view my webcam," by clicking the box. If you want to remove anyone who is viewing your webcam, you can select, "Who's watching me?" to remove their name from your viewers list.
   
3. 3 Click "Webcam" from the "My Webcam" options in your Yahoo! Messenger "Preferences" menu, and choose "Statistics. From there you can figure out how much bandwidth you are using, as your connection mode, frame rate, image size and image capture type.
   
4. 4 Select "Messenger," "Preferences," and "Webcam" from Yahoo! Messenger, and then click "Camera Settings." Move the slider under "Broadcast my webcam with," to select the between faster-speed transmissions or higher quality images. You can also change image size from this option as well as brightness and contrast. Click "OK" to finish.
   

Step 1 : Open Yahoo! Messenger and then click "Messenger," "Preferences" and then select "Webcam." Choose the option "When I show my webcam, change my status message to," and then enter whatever you want your status message to be in the text field. Then click "OK" to finish changing your status settings.


Step 2 : Choose "Webcam" from your Yahoo! Messenger "Preferences" menu and then click one of the following options, "Always ask my Permission," "Allow everyone to view my webcam," or "Always allow the following people to view my webcam." If you choose the latter you can select, from your friend's list, the people who you always want to allow to view your webcam. From there you can also select "Ignore other view requests," if you don't want to allow anyone else to view your webcam. You also have the option to either choose or not choose to select "If I am in a chat room, allow people in the chat room to view my webcam," by clicking the box. If you want to remove anyone who is viewing your webcam, you can select, "Who's watching me?" to remove their name from your viewers list.


Step 3 :Click "Webcam" from the "My Webcam" options in your Yahoo! Messenger "Preferences" menu, and choose "Statistics. From there you can figure out how much bandwidth you are using, as your connection mode, frame rate, image size and image capture type.

Step 4 : Select "Messenger," "Preferences," and "Webcam" from Yahoo! Messenger, and then click "Camera Settings." Move the slider under "Broadcast my webcam with," to select the between faster-speed transmissions or higher quality images. You can also change image size from this option as well as brightness and contrast. Click "OK" to finish.

Test your hardware here
http://www.testmycam.com/
Click 'allow' in top panel and see if your cam broadcasts in the left panel
If it does - you know your cam hardware is OK and you need to look at the software.

First check the 'Imaging' folder in the Device Manager
Expand the folder and right click on your webcam text
select 'Update driver' and use the internet option

You can uninstall the software from the control panel and download from
the HP website
http://welcome.hp.com/country/us/en/support.html

this could be a conflict of IRQ address problem Look in device manager check Irq setting for both devices.right click and check from the properties "resources" tab.and for info contact http://tinyurl.com/m7ghqz

it shows pictures.. as an advertisement.. it means its loading.. it freezes sometimes because of the connection.. and it shows black screen bec. of the connection too.. if it goes black again,., try reconnecting it...

I using msn it sometimes stuffs up.
try unplugging camera rebooting then plug camera in you should have found new hardware popup bottom of screen if it does not need to reinstall drivers

first u change ur messenger and check