Webcam Troubles

[Stupot]

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.

[Leon]

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.

[Stupot]

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:



Does it look safe to delete them to you?
Should I just go ahead and delete both 'Lifecam' folders?

[monkey0506]

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.

[Leon]

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).

[Stupot]

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. :-)

[monkey0506]

One program I highly recommend for keeping these "old" keys out of your registry is CCleaner. 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? Not that I would condone doing anything like that of course.

[Mantra of Doom]

Another good program for getting rid of things that just won't uninstall is the Microsoft Windows Installer Cleanup Utility available here. It works wonders when Vista decides to block installing with its silly UAC.