Microsoft LifeCam VX-3000 Web Cam

Having read an excellent and lengthy review about this product by another contributor, I now realise that you need to have a bit of computer 'nouse' in order to use this cam. I bought one three weeks ago and still haven't been able to install it correctly on my Vista-based laptop (yes, I've followed all the instructions...)Worse still, since attempting to install LifeCam my Skype application has crashed miserably (that was why I bought the cam in the first place - to chat with, and see, my daughter and grandson). It seems to want me to install Windows Live Messenger all the time, so being a reasonable chap, I tried to comply; only to find that there were no activation codes to go with the download. So now, three weeks later, I'm #25 the poorer and have lost my (free) Skype to boot!