I tried Googling for my answer, not sure if anyone here would know...

With the latest version of Windows Live Messenger (I think it's v.8.1), is it now impossible to do anything webcam-wise, other than Start a Video Call? I didn't have this problem before I signed in one day and it prompted me to "get the latest version of Messenger" so I did. Since then, I don't seem to have the ability to simply Start Sending my Webcam or Invite Contact to Start Sending Webcam, just the stupid Video Call. Sometimes there are times when we only want one webcam on, not both. And I hate that it automatically starts audio on the Video Call. I usually don't want that. I suppose I could just disable the mic, but I'd really rather have the option to simply send webcam. Am I blind or is this gone?

According to this help page: http://help.live.com/help.aspx?project=w...eoorwebcams.htm ,I should be able to, but when I mouse over Video it only gives me the option to Start a Video Call or Get a Webcam (which I have... when I selected that, thinking maybe I needed to reset it up or something, it simply took me to a page about the benefits of using a webcam with messenger). Any thoughts?

I can't really help you with Windows Live Messenger but I had a similar sort of problem with Yahoo Messenger a while ago. I think it was due to Vista and non-compatiblity issues but I solved it by going online and finding the older version of Yahoo Messenger. It worked perfectly. You could find the previous version of Windows Messenger and install it. It worked before in the way you wanted so it should again...I would think.. but I am no computer whiz. Good luck!

Oh dear... I got caught by that Windows Live Messenger too. It's totally useless and doesn't have all sorts of things that previous versions had. For example it won't even let you check who has added you to their Messenger, a free gift to stalkers if ever there was one because if you don't know they're there you can't block them.

Worse still, uninstalling the thing isn't easy as it leaves all sorts of bits and pieces on your computer and you can't install an older version with them in place as it simply refuses to write over newer software. I used a free trial version of a proper piece of software that uninstalls everything and shows you where the bits and pieces are so you can delete them too. You have to delete Windows Live at the same time but you can put that back if you need it... though I've never been sure what it's for, lol. Anyway, I uninstalled the new Messenger, then found a previous version and installed that.

I don't know if I'm allowed to link to the software I used, perhaps one of the Mods would say? If that's not allowed and/or if you like, I can PM you with the details GG.

I can't help with the problem because I don't use Windows Live Messenger. It's installed but not set up at all (my friends/family use Skype, which also includes an instant messaging function). Regarding what Windows Live is: It isn't a single program. It's a collection of free extra programs from Microsoft.

http://explore.live.com/windows-live-essentials?os=other

If you choose to accept Windows Live Essential via Windows Update, there is a stage during installation to choose the individual programs that you want. I use three of them. These are:

Windows Live Photo Gallery (photo managing/viewing software).
Windows Live Mail (e-mail program).
Microsoft Silverlight. Some sites need it for showing visual content.

So, some useful things in Windows Live Essentials ..for me anyway.

Thanks flopsy, I guess I'll just live with it. It's not that big of a deal, I suppose in most cases if I am viewing someone's webcam I wouldn't mind them viewing me too much, I just preferred having the option! And I really see no reason why they would remove it. Oh well, at the rate that they put out new versions, perhaps soon enough that option will be back.

If I wanted to, could I temporarily uninstall the webcam? Not from the whole computer but from Messenger? Or does it 'know' I have one and I can't undo that? (It's built-in to my laptop, not one that I can simply detach from the computer).

If there isn't a way to to turn the camera on and off in Messenger, it could be done in Device Manager. Find the webcam in the device list, right-click on it and choose 'Disable'. Enable it in the same way.

That sounds easy! thanks