Urgent assistanace please

[Flyiñg Ñuñ 2°15 + on desktop]

For this dithering, IT dyslexic old dodderer with Skype and webcam.
I haven't used Skype for several years and following an hours chat on
the 'phone with son in Oz this morning decide to get it going again. I
had a couple of accounts and have a record of the Skypename and
passwords I have for both, but both are giving trouble: .
Account 1, won't let me sign in by telling me each time I try, simply
that it cannot connect to Skype. There are no further details as to why
and as far as I can see no action I can take other than to set up a new
account. I tried that and signed in, but now it is refusing to allow
me to sign in and again just stating that it 'Cannot connect to Skype'.
This applies to both accounts.
I've tried updating the Skype software but during the installation
process it hangs and tells me that it 'The older version of Skype 7.2
cannot be removed. Contact your technical support group.'

Account 2. I can sign in OK and am able to check the microphone
settings which are fine, but when I try to set up the Video settings it
tells me 'Skype couldn't find a webcam' and gives me 3 options(a) Find
out more about video calls, (b) Buy a webcam from the Skype shop' and
(c) Need help? I have a 'Creative' Live! Cam Chat HD (VF0700) both
registered and installed. Checking through device manager, in Imaging
Devices that webcam is shown as being installed and working properly,
but I cannot find anyway of checking. The webcam is suppose to simply
plug in and play, but I cannot find any indication that it is working
other than the green LED on the webcam comes on intermittently. Where
do I find the image it produces? I've no idea where to look.
Any ideas will be welcome thanks.
--
Heard melodies are sweet but those Unheard are sweeter
flyi...@tiscali.co.uk FN 2º15+. Mungo Brandybuck of Buckland