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These problems surface most often when scanning:

• Grinding noises: Many scanners lock down their scanning mechanism during shipping.
• Lack of response from scanner or error message: When the scanner stops responding, the problem usually boils down to a simple cause: you haven’t scanned anything in the last few minutes.
• The “one-touch” button doesn’t work: Some scanners offer “one-touch” scanning that lets you push a button on the scanner’s case for automatic scans using a preset resolution setting.
• Not enough memory or space: Scanners can create monster-sized files. If your scanner complains about not having enough memory or hard drive space, you’re probably trying to scan at too high a resolution.

Installing a scanner works pretty much like installing a digital camera, but with one exception: Windows XP embraces most digital cameras as soon as they’re plugged in. Installing a scanner, by contrast, works better if you install the scanner’s bundled software before plugging in the scanner.

Following these steps to connect your scanner to your PC.

• Install the scanner’s installation software: Install the software before plugging in the scanner. That way Windows XP recognizes your new device as soon as you plug it in.
• Unlock the scanner, if necessary: To keep the UPS man from banging around a scanner’s large and sensitive lenses, most scanners come with a built-in mechanical locking mechanism inside that clenches all the delicate parts together tightly.
• Plug the scanner into the wall, and turn on its power switch: The scanner’s light turns on, and the scanner makes some reassuring power-on test noises.
• Connect the scanner’s cable to your PC.

Windows XP makes setting up Webcams fairly easy. When Windows XP recognizes the camera, it automatically passes that information along to your Webcam software. But when Windows XP doesn’t recognize your camera, you’re in trouble.

Fortunately, that rarely happens. Windows XP manages to say on good terms with most USB devices, recognizing them as soon as you plug them in. If it doesn’t recognize your webcam, you  probably need to install its latest driver — the piece of software that lets Windows XP and your Webcam communicate on cheery terms. Download the driver from the Webcam manufacturer’s Web site and run the driver’s installation program.

Most Webcams are really just video cameras. Your PC extracts a single image from that video stream every 30 seconds, and then sends that particular picture to your Web site for the rest of the world to see.

Webcams fall into the following general categories,

• Desktop Webcam: At the lowest end of the scale, small, often ball-shaped video cameras cost less than $50 at most computer or office supply stores.
• Digital Camcorder: If you already own a digital camcorder, connect it to your PC’s FireWire port to create a makeshift Webcam that’s a huge leap in quality from the desktop Webcam models.
• Network Webcam: Most Webcams remain tethered to your PC with a short USB or video cable.
• Wireless Webcams: Wireless Webcams remove the PC’s tether altogether, and convert the video to network signals, which the camera then transmits wirelessly to you PC.
• Viewer-controllable Webcams: The high-end of the scale. These cameras offer “point and zoom” control to let site visitors watch all angles of the action.