I could be wrong, but don't think it's a physical problem. This seems more like a conflict with drivers and/or services.
Try this:

- Uninstall the software.
- Get a webcam software that works with most webcams... you might try the free one here.

If that program lets you access your webcam and it seems to be operating correctly, then the specific software for your webcam is what's causing the problem, and we can go from there.

If that program (or another one like it) doesn't yield success, you might look into bringing the laptop in to a repair shop.

Cool, thanks. I'll download that when I get home tonight as the Internet connection at school is painstakingly slow.

Before you do anything, and I know this seems like a stupid idea but... well, experience.
Try just plugging it into another USB port and see what happens.
There might be nothing wrong with your usb port, but sometimes drivers suddenly work again when you plug something into another port. You might want to change it back again afterwards, might still work. I've had this problem throughout the years with many different PC's and loads of different hardware like scanners, webcams, keyboards. I've given up trying to find out what causes it :D.

The webcam is built in to the laptop, though. I would try it on another computer if I could, but I can't take it out. I'm going to try that software that Freebase linked to and see if that does anything.

Yea man, it's totally built in to her laptop.
(I knew that from reading her previous comments.)
:D

This has probably been asked before and I feel sort of silly for asking but how does one get a .gif to animate in their avatar and/or how do you resize your avatar to something bigger than the allotted 80 x 80?

Find an animated .gif online and use it as your signature. For larger avatars, make a request HERE.

If you have an animated .gif that you'd like to use as your avatar but it's larger than the size restrictions listed in the Avatar Requests thread, HERE is a free program you can use to resize the .gif without losing the animation. After you resize it, simply upload it to a hosting service and use the direct link when you request your avatar change.

What's the best/cheapest way to get my laptop cleaned inside? It's overheating and it will blow my graphics card if I don't sort it soon. I am not going to pay the money stealing Indian down the street charge $280 just to open the damn thing.

How much is it overheating by, what does the card load at? Video cards run quite hot.

90 degrees Celsius. I have a program that monitors it.