Ok I have a HP mini and me and my friend were messin around on video chats yesterday and now my webcam wont work. Please help? Its saying "Graph render fail". How do I fix this?

You need to make the mic you want to chat with 'Default'
XP
Plug in your webcam if it has mic
Control Panel (Classic View)
Open 'Sounds and Audio Devices' folder and click on the Audio tab - make your webcam mic the default device in the 'Sound recording window'
Open 'Volume' below the window to ensure the mic is not muted
Click 'Apply' and 'OK'
Restart your computer
Configure the webcam to your chat program

VISTA
Plug in the webcam
TEST SPEAKERS
Right click on speaker icon in System Tray or from Control Panel
Select "Playback Devices"
The speaker icon ( checked as working) and volume level graph should be visible
Right click on the volume graph and click "Test"
Left hand speakers followed by right hand should be heard

SET DEFAULT & TEST MIC
Click "Recording" tab.
Right click on the volume graph and select 'Show disabled devices' and 'Show disconnected devices'
To set required (webcam) mic as default - click on mic font to highlight and click "Properties"
In lower dropbox display "Use this device enable" click 'OK'
Click "Levels" tab and ramp up sliders ( adjust to suit later)
Return to "Recording". Test mic by speaking and make sure volume graph displays

Restart computer

CONFIGURE TO MESSENGER

Check by running through these settings

Plug in the webcam
TEST SPEAKERS
Right click on speaker icon in System Tray or from Control Panel
Select "Playback Devices"
The speaker icon ( checked as working) and volume level graph should be visible
Right click on the volume graph and click "Test"
Left hand speakers followed by right hand should be heard

SET DEFAULT & TEST MIC
Click "Recording" tab.
Right click on the volume graph and select 'Show disabled devices' and 'Show disconnected devices'
To set required (webcam) mic as default - click on mic font to highlight and click "Properties"
In lower dropbox display "Use this device enable" click 'OK'
Click "Levels" tab and ramp up sliders ( adjust to suit later)
Return to "Recording". Test mic by speaking and make sure volume graph displays

Restart computer

Make sure the webcam mic is set as default
TEST SPEAKERS
Right click on speaker icon in System Tray or from Control Panel
Select "Playback Devices"
The speaker icon ( checked as working) and volume level graph should be visible
Right click on the volume graph and click "Test"
Left hand speakers followed by right hand should be heard

SET DEFAULT & TEST MIC
Click "Recording" tab.
To set required (webcam) mic as default - click on mic font to highlight and click "Properties"
In lower dropbox display "Use this device enable" click 'OK'
Click "Levels" tab and ramp up sliders ( adjust to suit later)
Return to "Recording". Test mic by speaking and make sure volume graph displays

Restart computer and configure to your chat program

TEST SPEAKERS
Right click on speaker icon in System Tray or from Control Panel
Select "Playback Devices"
The speaker icon ( checked as working) and volume level graph should be visible
Right click on the volume graph and click "Test"
Left hand speakers followed by right hand should be heard

SET DEFAULT & TEST MIC
Click "Recording" tab.
To set required (webcam) mic as default - click on mic font to highlight and click "Properties"
In lower dropbox display "Use this device enable" click 'OK'
Click "Levels" tab and ramp up sliders ( adjust to suit later)
Return to "Recording". Test mic by speaking and make sure volume graph displays

Restart computer

Configure mic to chat program

You do not give your set-up (laptop or desktop etc)
You do not give your OS (XL or Vista etc)
You do not say what chat program you want to use

This is an example for setting up a laptop (with built in mic) and webcam (with built in mic) and Vista OS to Yahoo Messenger

TEST SPEAKERS
Right click on speaker icon in System Tray or from Control Panel
Select "Playback Devices"
The speaker icon ( checked as working) and volume level graph should be visible
Right click on the volume graph and click "Test"
Left hand speakers followed by right hand should be heard

SET DEFAULT & TEST MIC
Click "Recording" tab.
To set required (webcam) mic as default - click on mic font to highlight and click "Properties"
In lower dropbox display "Use this device enable" click 'OK'
Click "Levels" tab and ramp up sliders ( adjust to suit later)
Return to "Recording". Test mic by speaking and make sure volume graph displays

Restart computer

CONFIGURE TO MESSENGER

Open messenger - on top toolbar. Left click ( > ) Messenger > Preferences > Connection - Select 'no proxies' or 'connect direct to the internet' depending on the version of messenger you have
make sure your internet connection and country are correct in the lower two boxes > Apply > OK

Click ( > ) Messenger > Preferences > Video and Voice
Set webcam mic and speakers to show Default equipment
Open Video and Voice Setup to test audio equipment
Click 'Place a free test call'
Check box 'Allow USB devices to access Messenger'
Click 'Apply' click 'OK'

You do not say what OS you have but you need to check that the webcam mic is set as default.

Vista

TEST SPEAKERS
Right click on speaker icon in System Tray or from Control Panel
Select "Playback Devices"
The speaker icon ( checked as working) and volume level graph should be visible
Right click on the volume graph and click "Test"
Left hand speakers followed by right hand should be heard

SET DEFAULT & TEST MIC
Click "Recording" tab.
To set required (webcam) mic as default - click on mic font to highlight and click "Properties"
In lower dropbox display "Use this device enable" click 'OK'
Click "Levels" tab and ramp up sliders ( adjust to suit later)
Return to "Recording". Test mic by speaking and make sure volume graph displays

Restart computer

Configure to your chat program

If you have an earlier OS you may have to access your hardware from your Control Panel

Fuzzy pic ?
Try rotating the focus ring around the lens while the camera is running.
Some webcams are designed for USB 2.0 ports and older PC's have 1.1
If all else fails re-install latest software

http://support.creative.com/Products/Products.aspx?catid=218

Set your mic as default

TEST SPEAKERS
Right click on speaker icon in System Tray or from Control Panel
Select "Playback Devices"
The speaker icon ( checked as working) and volume level graph should be visible
Right click on the volume graph and click "Test"
Left hand speakers followed by right hand should be heard

SET DEFAULT & TEST MIC
Click "Recording" tab.
To set required (webcam) mic as default - click on mic font to highlight and click "Properties"
In lower dropbox display "Use this device enable" click 'OK'
Click "Levels" tab and ramp up sliders ( adjust to suit later)
Return to "Recording". Test mic by speaking and make sure volume graph displays

Restart computer

Configure to your chat program

Make sure the webcam mic is set as default
TEST SPEAKERS
Right click on speaker icon in System Tray or from Control Panel
Select "Playback Devices"
The speaker icon ( checked as working) and volume level graph should be visible
Right click on the volume graph and click "Test"
Left hand speakers followed by right hand should be heard

SET DEFAULT & TEST MIC
Click "Recording" tab.
To set required (webcam) mic as default - click on mic font to highlight and click "Properties"
In lower dropbox display "Use this device enable" click 'OK'
Click "Levels" tab and ramp up sliders ( adjust to suit later)
Return to "Recording". Test mic by speaking and make sure volume graph displays

Restart computer

You may be getting feedback from your speakers to your mic
Check by using a headset

Check and see if you have msn yahoo chat or any other chat programs running, if you do then one of them may be trying to set itself up for your web cam, if nothing else is up and running, reboot the computer then check system, devices and check on your drivers, sometimes when you shut the programs down they take out little tiny bits of code that the system needs. If this is the case just reinstall the drivers and carry on. Hope this helps.

Check your settings

BODY,.aolmailheader {font-size:10pt; color:black; font-family:Arial;} a.aolmailheader:link {color:blue; text-decoration:underline; font-weight:normal;} a.aolmailheader:visited {color:magenta; text-decoration:underline; font-weight:normal;} a.aolmailheader:active {color:blue; text-decoration:underline; font-weight:normal;} a.aolmailheader:hover {color:blue; text-decoration:underline; font-weight:normal;} TEST SPEAKERS Right click on speaker icon in System Tray Select "Playback Devices" The speaker icon ( checked as working) and volume level graph should be visible Right click on the volume graph and click "Test" Left hand speakers followed by right hand should be heard SET DEFAULT & TEST MIC Click "Recording" tab. Set required mic as default - click on mic font to highlight and click "Properties" In lower dropbox display "Use this device enable" click OK Similarly disable any other unwanted mic Click "Levels" tab and set slider to 80% ( adjust to suit later) Return to "Recording". Test mic by speaking and make sure volume graph displays CONFIGURE TO MESSENGER Open messenger - on top toolbar. Left click ( > ) Messenger > Preferences > Connection - Select 'no proxies' or 'connect direct to the internet' depending on the version of messenger you have
make sure your internet connection and country are correct in the lower two boxes > Apply > OK Click ( > ) Messenger > Preferences > Calling and Audio Set mic and speakers to show Default equipment Run call up assistant to test audio equipment > Apply > OK