Hp wecbcam & live messenger

First uninstall the drivers and then download the latest bios update for your notebook from hp.com and then restart the computer.... then install the latest updated drivers for webcam from hp.com and check this will surely work.
If not then check for quickplay driver update too.
Another thing open task manager and then go to processes and check wethere you can find the webcam running or not if yes then right click and end the task , also check for the programs that might use webcam like if you have installed yahoo or skype messenger end the program task too.

take a look into the quick play window ...and see if the preview its marked ..cause if is not ...its shows a black screen ...if this isn't the problem ....just reinstall the driver and it will be as new...maybe that used to work with an additional program that ussually are installed with those cameras...and now it only has the driver working .....but reinstalling all the original programs from the instalation cd of the cam it will bring 'em back ...do not remove the drivers until you are sure you have them on cd..

just uninstall the old and reinstall the yahoo messenger ur problem will be solved 

At this stage I would say that the problem is with her system - You do not say what countries you are in but a free download/upload checker might prove this

similar to this - you can compare results

http://www.testmyspeed.com/

1. Press the QuickPlay button (normally located near the display) on the notebook PC to open the QuickPlay application. NOTE: If this takes you to DVDPlay instead of QuickPlay, then you are probably not using an HP Pavilion notebook and you do not have QuickPlay installed. You should skip this test and go to Test the webcam using YouCam instead. Alternately, click Start , type QuickPlay in the search field, and select QuickPlay when it becomes available to open the QuickPlay application.
2. Click icon, and double-click HP webcam in the Source column. The input from the webcam displays on the screen.
3. Click Record in the QuickPlay window to record a short webcam file, and then press Stop .
   • By default, the file is saved in a public folder, and the date is used as the name of the video file. For example: C:\Users\Public\Videos\HP Webcam\webcam_20070228_1540.mpg .
   • The saved file can be renamed and moved for use by QuickPlay or other media programs.
4. Double-click the name of the file in the playlist in the QuickPlay window to view the short Webcam file.
5. If you can view this file, this concludes this test. You should now test with YouCam.

If you have a third-part webcam, see HP Notebook PCs - Testing a Webcam in Vista with QuickPlay for additional information. Test the webcam using YouCam To verify that the webcam on an HP or Compaq computer that shipped with Microsoft Vista with Service Pack 1 installed is operating properly, perform the following YouCam test. This test verifies that the Webcam is working and can record or play video files.

1. Click Start , type you in the search field, and select Cyberlink YouCam from the resulting list. After a few seconds the program starts and the webcam image should be visible in the main viewing window.
2. Click in the main control bar to record a short webcam file, and then press Stop .
   • By default, the file is saved in the Documents folder, in a subfolder named YouCam, with a generic name based on the date. For example: Capture_20080327.wmv
   • To navigate to this folder, click Start , Computer , and then select Documents under Favorites, and then open the YouCam folder.
   • The saved file can be renamed and moved for use by YouCam or other media programs.
3. Double-click the name of the file in the playlist in the YouCam window to view the short webcam file.
4. This test verifies that the webcam is working and can record or play video files.

I hope this helps you, I don't have the same operating system. You can find all the information you are looking for at http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/document?docname=c01560721&lc=en&dlc=en&cc=us&product=3795310&lang=en#N565

see if you have the right software for the web cam

If your Notebook is installed with Vista, there is no option to start the Webcam directly without using any application.
However, you can try using the HP Webcam drivers which are for XP with which you will get a Preview window to use the webcam without using any application like Messengers etc..:
Download the above mentioned driver from the link below :
ftp://ftp.hp.com/pub/softpaq/sp35001-35500/sp35414.exe

Save the file in the Notebook and double click once the file is saved to install the drivers.
However, if you are unable to access the webcam using Quickplay application, I recommend you to try reinstalling the application by following the instructions below if the Recovery Partition is available and you are able to use the Recovery Manager application :
Click on Start and then on Control Panel in the window that appears, click on Classic View in the left pane.
Now, among the icons that are displayed, double click on Programs and Features icon and among the list that is displayed, click on HP Quickplay and click on Uninstall button on the top.
Now, follow the instructions available in the link below to reinstall Quickplay using Recovery Manager :
http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/document?cc=us&docname=c00834921&dlc=en&lc=en&jumpid=reg_R1002_USEN

You can also try downloading Cyberlink YouCam application which is provided for all latest Notebooks to access Webcam from the link below :
ftp://ftp.hp.com/pub/softpaq/sp39001-39500/sp39372.exe

Save the file into the Notebook and double click the file to install the application.
You can find the required instructions to use Cyberlink YouCam application to access the webcam of your notebook from the link below :
http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/document?docname=c01414839&cc=us&dlc=en&lc=en&jumpid=reg_R1002_USEN

Additionally, you can find the details about YouCam application from the link below :
http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/document?docname=c01415015&cc=us&dlc=en&lc=en&jumpid=reg_R1002_USEN

Hope the information helps...

You missing Quickplay software. Go to Hp Site and enter your product number. From driver section download quickplay and it will work fine. It will give U icon on desktop too.

it depend on the webcam software if it is available or not

if it is available then you can go to c:\program files\{the webcam program name}

if its not available then it will need a program to use something like (yahoo messenger or msn messenger).

cheers

I had this problem myself. After a LONG talk with an HP technician we finally sorted it out.

It was actually down to several programs trying to use the camera at the same time, mainly instant messengers, so the first thing to do is to shut down all instant messengers. If possible, from their preferences stop them running when the machine starts.

Once you've done that, try the HP Quickplay (any of the little buttons) and go to the camera from there. It should work. Sometimes a reboot is required if a particularly obstinate instant messenger has activated the camera but not turned it on, and won't release it.