How to Install a WebCam Instant in Windows 7

I have a Creative Lab WebCam Instant that I bought several years ago. I didn’t try it in Windows 7 until last week. When it was connected to a Windows 7 laptop, the installation failed because there was no driver available. I had some good experience with using Vista driver in Windows 7, so I searched for a Vista driver for the WebCam Instant. The only driver I could find was for XP; there was no Vista driver.

My final resort was to install the XP driver, and it worked. Here is what I did.

  1. Download the driver from this site. Both 32bit and 64bit are offered. I have only tested the 32bit driver. The name of the downloaded 32bit driver is WCIS_PCDrv_US_1_01_02_0729.EXE.
  2. Right click on the driver file and select Properties.
  3. Click on the Compatibility tab, and check Run this program in compatibility mode for: . Make sure Windows XP (Service Pack 2) is selected. Click on OK to close the dialog.
  4. Right click on the driver file and select Run as administrator.
  5. Follow the instructions to finish the installation.

I had a problem during installation, and the installation seemed hang toward the end. The WebCam Instant worked after I rebooted the machine. This was the first time I used a XP driver in Windows 7. Let us know your experience with installing a XP driver in Windows 7.


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24 Comments

  1. The only way I could get it to work on Windows 7 64bit was to extract the files from the x64 driver. To extract the files from the .exe I used a Wise Unpacker program that I freely downloaded. Just Google Wise Unpacker and you’ll find one. Some are command line only tools and some have GUI interface. Then after extraction you can just go to Device Manger and add the driver through there.

    • Thanks, Gus! I followed your suggestion and it worked like a charm on Win 7 64 bit! I used Universal Extractor for the Wise Unpacker.

  2. Thanks so much for this tip. My girlfriend is in the hospital two hours away and this was the only webcam we could find for her… these steps got it working instantly on Win7 x86. Now she can skype with all of her friends and family and myself as well! She’s very happy about it ๐Ÿ™‚

  3. Thanks! I forgot my new cam at a friends, and my girlfriend wants to Skype tonight. you saved me from having to tell her no :3.

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