ISight just won't work in Skype - at my wits end!

Question

Hi,
I've spent days reading forums and trying to figure out how to get iSight working in Skype. Hopefully someone can help before I throw the whole lot in the bin!!!
Ok, I'm working on a Macbook Pro 4.1 with Mac OS X 10.5.8. All my software is up to date. I'm running the latest version of Skype 2.8.0.659 but I had the same problem with the previous version. I also can't run iSight with Microsoft Messenger.
The problem is that although iSight seems to work, I can't use it. i.e., Skype has nothing to allow me to turn on a video call. There's a greyed out "Full Screen Video" under the view menu, but that's the only reference to video under the menus. Nothing under call, and no icons on the Skype panel. Under Skype preferences/video, the camera clearly works, as I can see myself, I have 'Enable Skype Video' ticked and 'Start my video automatically' although i'd rather be able to pick when it turns on. Anyway, despite all that, no joy.
So far, I've reset the PRAM and NVRAM, I've made sure that all software is up to date, I've made sure that iChat (which I had set up but never used) is switched off. Mmm, trying to remember what else I did. I'm not sure if when I updated Skype the earlier version was overwritten, but I can't figure out the Mac version of "Add/Remove Software" to try to remove any unnecessary stuff.
Now I have no idea what else to do.... Oh, in Skype I can see other peoples webcams, but cant open mine, but in Microsoft Messenger I can't see theirs or open mine. I get a message telling me that I don't have the latest version of Microsoft Messenger, although I believe that I do.
Really beginning to regret buying a Mac..... Please help someone!!!!!

Answer 1

beyondthepalepr wrote:
... how to get iSight working in Skype.
... run iSight with Microsoft Messenger.
... the Mac version of "Add/Remove Software" to try to remove any unnecessary stuff.
  Really beginning to regret buying a Mac..... Please help ...
Welcome to Discussions, beyondthepalepr
... how to get iSight working in Skype.
If you have not already considered every suggestion here, take a look at this thread:
  http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?messageID=9976728
It appears that you have already discovered Apple's iSight troubleshooting suggestions:
  http://support.apple.com/kb/HT2090
If iSight works with applications other than Skype in every user account you test, Skype is your problem so you do not need to worry about your Mac or its iSight. In this case, check Skype's comprehensive Help, Troubleshooting, and KnowledgeBase pages for help from other Skype users:
  http://www.skype.com/help/guides/
(This Skype page even offers help on "Upgrading and uninstalling" that explains that you do not need to separately "remove" the previous Skype version.)
Skype even offers its own Mac OS X "Community forums" for Skype-specific problems:
  http://forum.skype.com/index.php?showforum=15
The Mac Skype users who post there may have already solved the same problem you face. You will likely get faster (and perhaps better?) answers to Skype-specific questions in a dedicated Skype Discussions forum rather than this Apple forum.
... run iSight with Microsoft Messenger.
Alternatives for your consideration at this post:
  http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?messageID=9575249&#9575249
... the Mac version of "Add/Remove Software" to try to remove any unnecessary stuff.
As explained in some of the articles linked here, Mac OS X does this differently than Windows®:
  http://www.google.com/search?btnG=1&pws=0&q=uninstallMac+OSapplication
The usual way to uninstall an app you no longer want is to use the "Uninstaller" that comes with apps that need one. Other apps give you instructions for which specific folders and files to delete to properly uninstall their software. Although some people use them, a separate uninstaller generally is not needed for OS X. (I have never needed to use one.)
To uninstall or upgrade any OS X application, carefully follow the developer's instructions. To prevent problems with your Mac's software, do NOT merely drag things to the trash except in strict compliance with instructions from the developer or someone whose OS X expertise you trust.
As a relatively new Mac user, you may find this info useful:
  http://www.apple.com/support/switch101/   and
  http://www.apple.com/support/mac101/
Really beginning to regret buying a Mac..... Please help ...
If you decide to keep your Mac but you continue to have problems that you cannot resolve with the documentation that came with your Mac, the Help menus in the apps you are using, or by searching or posting in Discussions, you may find some training to be helpful. If the retailer who sold you your Mac cannot help you, you may want to consider Apple's "One to One" membership:
  http://store.apple.com/us/browse/campaigns/onetoone
Of course, if you want other ideas, we will try to offer specific suggestions in response to your detailed questions.
EZ Jim
G5 DP 1.8GHz w/Mac OS X (10.5.8) PowerBook 1.67GHz (10.4.11)   iBookSE 366MHz (10.3.9)  External iSight