Thanks for buying our webcam. Although it should be quite straight-forward to install I realise there can be problems. I've written this short guide to help you install the product and to answer many of the popular questions asked about it.

To visit any part of the page specifically, please click on one of the following menu items:

Downloading drivers
Installing the webcam
Using with Skype and MSN
Windows Logo Testing
Picture issues
Sound quality issues
Other troubleshooting
Caring for your webcam

1. Downloads

Running Zip files : Download the file by clicking on the relevant link above and choosing 'save as'. Save the file somewhere on your computer, then when it's finished downloading, find the file. When you open it, you will be asked where you want to unzip the files to. Choose a folder, then unzip the files. Then run the setup file to begin installation.

XP / 2000 / 98 - the file is called SETUP.exe (it will probbaly just appear as SETUP)

Vista - the file is called ZC0301PLH_setup.exe

2. Installing the webcam

In case you missed any of the instructions on our leaflet, I'll explain again (this time in a little more depth)

2.1 Insert the CD.

You may have to click Start > My Computer > CD Rom Drive > Setup.exe

Next, you will see the welcome screen. Click NEXT at this point.

2.2 Wait for drivers to install.

2.3 Choose to restart your computer, then click finish. Your computer will restart.

2.4. Your computer will restart, then you need to plug the webcam in. Once you've done this, Windows will recognise the device

2.5. Windows then gives you the options for installing the device.

If this does not happen and you are worried about it, please click here to see my note.

You should see a screen similar to this:

2.6. Success! If you've got this far, the webcam is effectively installed. To get the sound working, you'll need to plug the microphone into the jack on your computer.

To launch the camera, click Start > Programmes > ViMicro USB PC Camera ZC301PL > Amcap

Alternatively, if you're using the desktop camera, click the button on top and this application should launch automatically.

Using with MSN and Skype

To initiate a webcam conversation with someone in MSN:

(i) Open MSN and login to your account.
(ii) Start a conversation with someone by double clicking their name
(iii) Click on the Start webcam button in the corner of your screen,
(iv) Wait for the other end to accept, then they should see your moving image in their MSN chat window.

To use the webcam with Skype,

(i) Open Skype and wait for it to connect,
(ii) To test the webcam, click Tools > Options > Video > Test Webcam

(iii) You should see your video in the window. If not, check the device is plugged in properly, and that no other applications are using the webcam.

Leave the webcam for a few seconds to adjust to the light.

(vi) If you want to use the webcam during chat, you should activate the 'start webcam automatically' setting. Go back to Tools > Options > Video > "start webcam automatically"

Then when you want to call someone, choose the person in your list you want to call and click on 'start video call' by their name

4. Windows Logo Testing

You may receive a message during the installation saying that it is unsafe to install the driver because it has not been tested by Windows. In practice, this simply means that Microsoft has not tested the drivers themselves. However, this is not to imply that they are unsafe. We've tested them on countless computers and have never had any compatibility issues. Since Microsoft cannot test every product that comes to market, you may well receive logo testing reminders for other products you receive.

5. Picture Issues

Your webcam may produce a picture like this when you first connect it. You'll need to focus it. To do this, rotate the rim of the lens clockwise (usually) fully. If the picture doesn't sharpen up, rotate anti-clockwise fully, then return to original position, all the time watching the picture on the screen. Do this slowly.

You should get a picture nearer to this. Woah, Ikea overload!

Other Factors:

• Sometimes, different USB ports produce a different picture. If you're not getting a good picture from one, try another. You may have to re-install the drivers for this to work.
• If you're not getting a picture at all and the webcam picture doesn't appear, there may have been a problem with the installation. You can uninstall the drivers by running setup.exe again from the CD. Then restart your computer and follow the installation steps again carefully.
• Much of the quality of image depends on the levels of light in your room. It will always help to sit in a well-lit room. Equally, too much light may impare the picutre quality.

6. Sound Quality Issues

Although built-in microphones are never really as good as their stand-alone counterparts, the ZC301PL webcam should be able to cope with conversations - you shouldn't have to shout to be heard.

If you're not getting any sound from your webcam you need to check a few things.

• Check the microphone is plugged in to the correct port (i.e. not the headphones socket)

Check the line-in volume is not muted, and that it is selected properly:

Start > Control Panel > Sounds > Microphone settings

Check that the Mic is selected (bottom) and that the volume is turned up to maximum.



You may only have the line-in option, which works on exactly the same principle. If you've got both, try with the other if the first doesn't work.

Alternatively...

Your computer might not be set up in this way, so I've included screen shots of the other way to enable microphone settings.

Open the sound control by double clicking on the small speaker icon in the bottom right hand corner of your screen.

Then click on Options > Properties

Select "Recording" and press OK. This opens the Recording control

Make sure the Microphone has "Select" checked, and turn the volume up to maximum. This will make sure windows detects microphone input.

Other Issues : Troubleshooting

Q : My webcam just won't show me a picture at all.

A: Always best to presume that your driver installation went wrong, to uninstall the driver and then re-install it. To do this, open setup.exe on the CD again, and follow the instructions. Restart your computer, then go back to the steps outlined in my installation guide here.

Q: I didn't get a step 3 in the installation process.

A: If you're not receiving the option to install the camera automatically or manually, it needn't be a problem. Sometimes, the webcam will install in the background and microsoft does not need any help. Try to test your camera to see if it's working, even if you get a message such as "There has been a problem installing this device" or "Hardware not found"

Q: I've got a picture but it's blurry.

A: You need to focus the picture by rotating the rim of the lens. If you turn the lens slowly clockwise, see if the picture sharpens up. If that doesn't work, try rotating the lens anti-clockwise.

Q: Why is the picture quality I'm getting not very good?

A: The camera responds best when it's in a well-lit environment. Try turning on lights, or sitting nearer a window. Although the camera has a built-in light adjuster it will always pick up more of the image if it's well-lit.

Q: I get the error "No Video Capture Hardware!" / "Graph Cannot Preview!"

A: It might be worth trying to re-install the drivers if you get this message. IF you run setup.exe again, the drivers will be uninstalled first. Then run it once more and the drivers will be re-installed. Re-start your computer and see if the error still occurs.

Occasionally if you've got other webcams installed or other programs that might be inteferring with the webcam, you may receive the "No video" message. I'd also recommend closing any potential programs that are inteferring with the webcam.

You might want to press [control + alt + delete] and bring up the processes menu. Usually closing the following programs enables the webcam to be launched in Amcap

- Domino.exe
- VMSnap1.exe
- vsnp2std.exe
- tsnp2std

This technique often solves the "Graph cannot preview" error.

Q: Device Not Recognised

A: If you've got the Device Not Recognised error (very unusual!) then there's probably a fault with the webcam. It's worth trying on a different computer if you can, but you may have to send this back for a replacement or refund.

Caring for your webcam

This is all pretty obvious, but lest you need reminding :

• Only wipe the lens with a clean, dry cloth
• Avoid getting the lens scratched
• Try not to drop the camera
• The stand on the desktop camera is quite delicate, do not force it into uncompromising positions.