I have a built in webcam (laptop) but recently, I tried to use the webcam and realized the shortcut was gone, I checked the webcam folder, which I never even open (I use webcam via task bar shortcut) and it's empty but then I open skype and it works perfectly so why doesn't it run as it used to? I need skype to use the webcam and I didn't need it before so why now?
Added (1). I have windows 7 if it helps to answer this.
I have a built in webcam (laptop) but recently, I tried to use the webcam and realized the shortcut was gone, I checked the webcam folder, which I never even open (I use webcam via task bar shortcut) and it's empty but then I open skype and it works perfectly so why doesn't it run as it used to? I need skype to use the webcam and I didn't need it before so why now? If you can still use the webcam with Skype, then it isn't the webcam that has the problem. It is the program that either came with the webcam or you installed to work with the webcam. The program/shortcut probably isn't located in the Webcam folder (I assume that the webcam folder is the one that stores the videos/pictures you capture with your webcam.). What you should probably look for is the webcam program. One quick thing you can do to make sure the program is still installed is to go to >>Control Panel>>Programs>>Programs and Features and scroll through the list to find your webcam program. You can also search it up on the start menu (which is simpler but won't give you as many details).
I'm guessing that it is probably still installed and the shortcut got deleted. I can't imagine how but perhaps you accidentally moved it to the recycling bin? Or unpinned it from the taskbar? Anyways, once you verify that the program is still installed, you can just recreate the shortcut or re-pin it to your taskbar.
To do that:
Go to the Start Menu>>All Programs. Scroll down through the folders to find your webcam folder. Please note that since it is a built-in webcam, it's folder might be in you computer manufacturer s folder (e.g. Lenovo, Dell, etc.). For example, my webcam is Lenovo YouCam, so it was located in the Lenovo folder. Open your webcam folder and you should see your webcam application. Now, simply right-click it and, when the list of options comes up, select "Pin to Taskbar". It should be pinned your taskbar and work alright.
If it is pinned but says that your webcam can't be found, try to go through the settings and make sure your webcam is selected to be used with the camera. Generally, two programs can't use the webcam at the same time. So, if you have Skype open with your webcam on, close Skype and/or the webcam portion of it and your webcam should show up in your webcam application.
BTW, if you don't find your webcam application for some reason and it was uninstalled or something, you could download/install a new one. If you don't want to do that but you still want to record video and take snapshots, you should be able to do that from Windows Live Movie Maker. There's an option with a webcam icon on the Home tab of Windows Live Movie Maker that is labeled "Webcam Video". It is pretty straightforward from there…
Anyways, Good Luck!