Webcam/TV Card problem

[britishrailway]

I have a Pinnacle PCTV Rave card operating on Pro software (works perfectly ok and allows enhanced function of the Pro card which I also have in another computer) but have a problem when I pulg in my USB webcam (Logitech QuickCam Zoom).
Without the webcam plugged in everything works fine but plug in the webcam and the PCTV software has problems - if I open the Tools menu all is well until I try to access the Audio tab at which point the program has an error and needs to shut down - all other tabs can open ok.
Also when capturing the audio is very indistinct and has the sound of the webcam microphone superimpossed over it.
I have tried disabling the webcam in Device Manager but nothing changes - as long as the webcam is plugged in this happens, unplug it and all is ok.
System effected is an Athlon XP 2.2gig, windows XP Pro, 40gig HDD with 256 meg RAM.
Pinnacle software (which is notably poor) has been updated with the very latest download from Pinnacle website.
I also suffer some dropped frames on this computer (dont on my Pentium 4 2.66gig with 512meg RAM)
Have tried iuVCR which gives a more stable capture (no dropped frames) but the quality of capture is not MPeg (AVI) - what can anyone reccommend to me to use to replace the Pinnacle software.
Thankyou all in advance for your kind help - this forum is a great help to find answers.

[nick1977]

Although I can't solve the problem, I can confirm you are not alone!
Although my setup is very different to yours, I also have a problem with my webcam. If I leave it plugged in I drop a frame about every 20 seconds, whereas when it's uplugged I go about 7 or 8 minutes before dropping a single 1.
Don't know why this is, but I just leave the webcam unplugged when capturing.

Nick

[britishrailway]

Thanks Nick,

Its good to know that its not something to do with my system !.
I have so far adopted your idea and left the webcam unplugged and will probably move it to my no.3 machine (No.1 is P4 mentioned and No.2 is Athlon) - No.3 is P3/1gig and does not have tv card so wont suffer problem - they are all on a LAN with ICS enabled so I can use webcam from No.3. At the end of the day probably the best way round the problem.
Any thoughts on software that is better than the Pinnacle and will allow Mpeg2 captures for DVD quality burning.

[SIRCOOKS]

windows xp does not like two capture devices, i had the same problem, and decided to just stick with my tv card. im sorry to say you will have to get rid of one of them man, holla back