sony vaio webcam windows 7

Hi win7novice and welcome to SF! :)
It was this driver that you tried to install? Remember to follow the installation guidelines.

win7novice said:

I should add that prior to my installation of Windows 7, my computer was running XP, not vista. Should I then be downloading the driver for the camera in XP and trying to run it in the compatibility mode?

Thanks,

No... try the way described below:

How do I install webcam drivers for the Windows® 7 operating system?

Windows 7 operating system drivers for the built-in Motion Eye® camera are not available on the Sony® eSupport Web site. The drivers for the camera are included in the operating system and should install automatically when the operating system is installed. These are referred to as Microsoft® in-box drivers.
NOTE: For some VAIO® computers, Arcsoft® WebCam Companion® and Magic-I™ Visual Effects software updates for the Windows 7 operating system are available. Check for availability online through the Drivers & Software link on this page.
If the webcam drivers do not install or work properly, follow the procedure below to reinstall the drivers:

• Click the Start button and then click Control Panel .
• In the Control Panel window, click System and Security .
• In the System and Security window, under System , click Device Manager .
• In the Device Manager window, click the arrow next to Imaging Devices to expand the selection.
• Under Imaging Devices , click to select Sony Visual Communications Camera .

NOTE: It also could be listed as USB Imaging Device, USB Video device or Unknown device.

• On the menu bar, click Action and then click Uninstall .
• In the Confirm Device Uninstall window, click the OK button.
• On the menu bar, click Action and then click Scan for hardware changes .
• Click the Close button.
• Restart the computer.

If the camera drivers still are not installed or working properly, follow the procedure below to manually install the driver:

• Follow steps 1-3 from above to open Device Manager .
• Click to select the camera device driver.

NOTE: It may be listed as Sony Visual Communications Camera, USB Imaging Device, USB Video device or Unknown device.

• On the menu bar, click Action and then click Update Driver Software.
• In the Update Driver Software window, click Browse my computer for driver software .
• Under Search for driver software in this location , click the Browse... button.
• In the Browse For Folder window, navigate to the C:\Windows\System32\drivers folder and then click the OK button.
• In the Update Driver Software window, verify Include subfolders is checked and then click the Next button.
• Click the Close button.
• Restart the computer.

Source

win7novice said:

Thanks for the detailed instructions. I cannot find any item listed under device manager that pertains to the webcam. The webcam completely disappeared during my windows 7 install. Is there a way to add it to the list first?

Thanks for the continued help

Go to Device Manager, right click the item that represents the name of your computer and click "Scan for hardware changes". If the camera does not appear, redo the process but click on "Add legacy hardware". In the window that opens, click Next... Next... Let us know the results.

win7novice said:

I tried to scan for the hardware in device manager as suggested; nothing resembling a webcam showed up. Then I added the option for legacy hardware but again it did not detect any new hardware. There is an option to manually add hardware, but I do not know the name of the manufacturer. Any other ideas?

Thanks for the help,

Please use the Windows capture tool and post images from your device manager, with the following items expanded: "USB controllers"and "system devices".