Bee and Mac's Webcam Help Page 

To enable webcam use...

Webcams in yahoo chatrooms

Yahoo compatible cams

Webcam errors

Check webcam upload wrapper

Check webcam viewer wrapper

Webcam drivers

To use a webcam on the internet you should:

1. check and update your version of windows

  windows update

2. install the latest webcam drivers for your webcam 

webcam drivers 

3. set your firewall to allow webcam use

4. make sure that it is installed correctly

To check if your webcam is installed correctly... click on the desktop icon...or start the webcam program in the program list (goto..start..program files...webcam)

If you can view yourself ...your webcam is installed correctly.

Yahoo webcam service is restricted to users over the age of 18

If you are behind a proxy or at your place of work and/or behind a firewall then you may not be able to use the webcam feature.

To use your webcam in yahoo chatrooms

1. make sure that you have the latest java version

java page

2. check your xp firewall settings

Follow these steps to ensure that the correct ports are opened in the xp firewall...click start...settings...control panel...double click network connections...and right click the connection that you use to connect to the internet...and click on properties. 

In the advanced tab make sure the "Protect my computer " box is checked...then click the settings button at the bottom next. Click the add button next.  

Under description fill in Yahoo! Webcam...under name or ip...fill in 127.0.0.1. Under both external port and internal port fill in 5100. Check the button TCP. 

3. check any downloaded firewalls are configured for yahoo.

Test your webcams compatibility here

If you see your image here, your webcam is compatible with yahoo.

Yahoo compatible webcams

If your webcam is not of a type compatible with yahoo, you will need to purchase one that is...see this list:

LOGITECH 
QuickCam Express
QuickCam Web 
Quick Cam Pro 3000 
ClickSmart 310 
ClickSmart 510

VEO 
Connect 
Advanced Connect 
Mobile Connect

INTEL 
Pro Video PC Camera 
Easy PC Camera 
Delux PC Camera 
Pocket PC Camera 

PHILLIPS
Vesta Gun (PCVC665K)
Vesta (PCVC675K)
Vesta Pro (PCVC 680K)
Vesta Pro Scan (PCVC690K) 

CREATIVE
Webcam
Webcam Plus
Webcam Go Plus
Webcam Go ES 

The above list covers the most popular webcam brands.

Yahoo messenger webcams work with all cameras that are VFW (Video For Windows) compliant.

Check your camera specifications to ensure that your webcam supports VFW.

WEBCAM ERRORS

Blue Screen               Black Screen            Inverted Images

Messenger Crashes  Super Webcam not working

Unable to use            No webcam found     

invalid token             Connection Issues 

Blue Screen  

A blue screen usually means...you need to change your camera source. Click the messenger menu in messenger and select start my webcam...(or in earlier messenger versions ...goto tools...start my webcam)

Then also click the messenger menu in messenger and select preferences ( or goto login and select preferences in earlier versions of messenger)

Click the webcam category...click camera source button...click the dropdown menu and select the camera model...click ok

Inverted Images

If your webcam image appears upsidedown change this setting. 

Click the messenger menu and select start my webcam...(for older messenger versions ...goto tools...start my webcam)

In the my webcam uploader window, click the file menu and select preferences and choose the webcam tab.

Click the camera settings button. There is usually a checkbox for invert image or mirror vertical. Uncheck this box if one exists. 

Connection issues 

One of the most likely reasons for this error is improper/very strict proxy settings in your browser. In internet explorer, go to the tools  menu  and internet options... click on the connection tab

if you use dial up connection click on settings

if you use T1,T2,DSL,Cable click on Lan settings

In the window that appears uncheck anything that is checked...then click ok...then click ok at the internet option window...close your browser and restart it

To correct some connection issues...click the messenger menu in messenger and select preferences (or goto login and select preferences in earlier versions of messenger)

Then click the connection category. Select no proxies option...click ok.

Close messenger completely and start program again.

If you are still unable to connect you might not have the ability to use the webcam feature.

Black screen

To correct a black screen...check there is enough light in the room you are using...(illuminate more if required)

Check your camera is functioning on desktop correctly...check your camera source settings. Click the messenger button on top of your yahoo friendslist and select start my webcam (or in earlier versions of yahoo...goto the tools button...and select start my webcam) 

Then also click the messenger button above your friends list and select preferences (or goto login and select preferences in earlier versions of messenger)   

Click the webcam catecory. 

If you see a black screen when viewing a friend's webcam:

Check the status message at the bottom of your viewer window.

If it says stopped, the person broadcasting has stopped to broadcasting images. Asked the person to resume broadcasting and try viewing again. 

If the person is in fact broadcasting and you still see a black screen in your viewer window, ask them to check their camera and take a webcam compatible test. 

Superwebcam fails 

Please review the possible reasons superwebcan fails

Both you and your friend must be using version 5.5 or higher.

Both you and your friend  must have a broadband connection.  Super webcam works with only one friend at a time. 

A firewall on your computer or your friend's computer may be causing problems. Super webcam needs to establish a direct connection between the broadcaster and the viewer. Your webcam statistics will tell you what type of connection you can establish.

No webcam found

If your webcam doesn't work on your desktop or yahoo...reinstall your webcam:

Uninstall any existing camera installations...click start...settings...control panel and add and remove programs...scroll down the list to find your webcam software ...highlight it and select remove.

Unplug the camera's USB cord from your computer. Restart your computer.

Insert your camera's setup/installation cd into the cd-rom drive. If the setup program does not start automatically within a few seconds, type d:/setup in the start...run meanu at the bottom of your screen. Replace d:/with your cd-rom drive. 

Follow the instructions described by the camera setup program and plug in your camera only when prompted. This is usually done after rebooting your computer.

Check webcam upload wrapper    

Yahoo requires a webcam upload wrapper for webcams to operate. To check if you have this goto...start...settings...control panel...internet options...under general tab...goto settings button...then view objects. Now look for Yahoo webcam upload wrapper. If you don't see it download it here...if you see it right click it and update it. If you think it is corrupt or not functioning...delete it and get a fresh one by viewing yourself here.

webcam upload wrapper  

Check webcam viewer wrapper    

Yahoo requires a webcam viewer wrapper to view webcams in Java chat. To check if you have this goto...start...settings...control panel...internet options...under general tab...goto settings button...then view objects. Now look for Yahoo webcam viewer wrapper. If you see it right click it and update it. If you think it is corrupt or not functioning...delete it here.

To get a webcam viewer wrapper, log out of yahoo messenger and login at http://chat.yahoo.com/  join a room and view a webcam. (this will install the wrapper)

Webcam drivers

To update your webcam drivers select your manufactures below and look for downloads. 

Logitech            Veo                    Intel

Phillips              Creative             Other