A while ago my computer gave me problems not long after having installed my webcam. I was forced to restore my computer to an earlier time before I installed the webcam...
but now, when I try to install the webcam again, it thinks it is already there and gives me this message:
"This software version is already installed on this system. To re-install this software, you must remove it first, and then run Setup again
from the installation media. For information about removing a program, see Windows Help."
The thing is... it is not in my add/remove programs list and there are no files on my computer apart from some readme thing that got left behind. How can I remove something that is not there?
How do I tell my computer to let me install the webcam again without thinking it is already installed?
Thanks.
[edit]
If it helps, the model is LifeCam vx-1000. And I'm using it on Vista... on my Advent 5301 Laptop... wearing a red Stranglers T-Shirt and thinking about making a cup of tea.
Sounds to me there's a registry key left behind (not uncommon). You can start regedit and try looking in HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\ and your Product or Model name here. Delete that entry (the product or modelname) and try again. It could also be under HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software etc. Alternatively you can start a search (F3) within regedit and search for the product/model. If this results in entries, delete them.
Please keep in mind that editing the registry can have undesired effects when deleting the incorrect entries. So make a backup of the registry first or if in doubt let an experienced user perform the action (so you can blame someone ;-) ).
There are also registry cleaners that perform the task for you but I haven't got experience with these under Vista. Hope this helps a bit.
Thanks Leon.
I've had a look in the registry, and there are indeed some leftover Lifecam entries.
I haven't touched them yet, because I really don't know what I'm talking about, but what I've done is complied a list of all the entries under each of the folders they can be found in:
(http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f349/Captain_Stu/AGS/regeditlifecam.png)
Does it look safe to delete them to you?
Should I just go ahead and delete both 'Lifecam' folders?
Looks safe to me to delete everything. I've done some muddling in the registry in the past myself; however I don't have any formal knowledge so it's possible that there is something you should know/do prior to just deleting them.
You can delete them. Just make sure you've made a backup first. Alternatively you can export just these keys prior to deleting (right click on the key and export).
Leon, you are indeed the ultimate solutions guy.
I exported those files to a folder in My Docs and deleted them from the registry. Then ran the CD again, and it was like brand new, and my webcam finally works again, as if I only bought it yesterday.
Cheers guys. :-)
One program I highly recommend for keeping these "old" keys out of your registry is CCleaner (http://www.ccleaner.com/). It is great at finding old dead keys in your registry and will clean them out for you. Could be useful for full access trial programs with a time limit...uninstall, clean the registry, reinstall? :D Not that I would condone doing anything like that of course. :=
Another good program for getting rid of things that just won't uninstall is the Microsoft Windows Installer Cleanup Utility available here (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/290301). It works wonders when Vista decides to block installing with its silly UAC.