Webcam not working anymore in WinXP

Hello
I have a Pavilion dv2500t, and downgraded from Vista to WinXP.
For some reason the integrated Webcam will not work anymore (it did work when I have just installed XP).
I installed various HP Webcam drivers, even the Vista one (as recommended on many threads dealing with similar issues).
Nothing worked. So I have decided to re-install Windows XP.
It still wont work! It`s as if something got messed up in the BIOS or the webcam firmware.
Now, whenever I click "USB VIdeo Device" (under My Computer) I get this error message:
"Creation of the video preview failed.
Please check the device connection and make sure that the device is not being used by another application or user."
Is there a solution that can make my webcam work again?
Thanks

 

Hi there

Are you sure you have wiped out the Pavilion OS? Did you do a clean install (i.e. completely formatted the hard disk on the notebook)?

The other thing to check is whether that webcam works on another PC with XP installed. Maybe it also does not work there? Then maybe its the webcam, not the laptop.

 

The weirdest thing has happened:
I am currently at a friend`s house, using my laptop without it being connected to the external monitor and my webcam suddenly works fine! (Windows Live, Hp webcam software, USB Image Device under my computer)
2 points to notice though: When connected to the monitor (a Dell 2007FP), the connection is via an HDMI-DVI cable, and my monitor also serves as a USB hub thus connected to one of the laptop`s USB sockets.
When I get back home I will report how things are going when connected to the monitor again (hopefully I will be able to put this sorry episode behind me).

 

I don`t have a clue to what's going on but the webcam is working perfectly right now (with the laptop connected to the external monitor).
This is good news of course ... I just wish I knew what was the problem in the first place and what was the solution, in case I will run into it again in the future.