For those who bought HP Pavilion (running on Vista doesn't matter what model), you will notice that your webcam only works "once".

I had my share of headache trying to solve this problem, I tried googling it up and it seems HP doesn't have a solution for this annoying bug.

I came across this forum and I tried it's suggestion.

http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=149463

Guess what? It works perfectly for me.

My model is HP Pavilion tx1221au.

After applying the fix, I can use the webcam for MSN Live Messenger, Skype, QuickPlay, etc anytime I want.


Here are the exact steps I took.

1. Downloaded the file. Go to > http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=149463
2. Unzipped it to a folder on my desktop.
3. Ran the "Setup.exe" file in the folder that got unzipped.
4. Went through the installer until it got to the end and then let it restart my computer.
5. Waited for my computer to restart.
6. It popped up something saying it was installing the drivers for my webcam. Waited until it was done.
7. Opened the Control Panel.
8. Opened the Device Manager.
9. Find my webcam under "Imaging Devices". I noticed it was listed as "HP Pavilion Webcam" despite having just installed the Acer drivers.
10. Right-clicked on my webcam and chose "Update Driver Software..."
11. Chose "Browse my computer for driver software"
12. Chose "Let me pick from a list of device drivers on my computer"
13. Unchecked the "Show compatible hardware" checkbox.
14. Scrolled down to the Chicony manufacturer.
15. Chose the "Acer Crystal Eye webcam.
16. Told it to install anyway when it asked me a question about installing that driver.
17. Waited for the driver to be installed.
18. Noted that my webcam was now listed as an Acer Crystal Eye webcam in Device Manager.

I am facing the same problem,
omg, they use Acer driver to rectify HP notebook bug

Nyxator,
yuruse webcam "once" = use for 1 IM at a time only? like if i use the webcam for skype den i can't use it for YM?

I am also using TX1221AU. so far i only the webcam on skype only.

I am on TX1221AU too, my webcam can't even be detected by MSN and Skype messenger,
When i went to Device Manager, everying seems installed properly.

mine also tx1221au.

the acer driver is working well now. shame on you, HP!!! a fantastic laptop, bad webcam driver....

Thanks TS,
The Acer driver is now working flawlessly with my HP webcam

Is this fix just for TX models? Can one of you explain in slightly more detail on what the problem was?

Thanks.

Do you own a TX series or DV series HP notebook ?