recognizing web cams

i have installed a cheap webcam "wondereye" and even
though it works fine on yahoo messenger, i can't get the
pictures i take to go to the "my pictures" area. the
computer says the device is a scanner and scanner wizard
takes over and i can't post my pics or work with them.
they go to some scanner place (can you tell i am no
computer wiz). grrrrrrrr. i have never had a problem with
xp recognizing anything else and am very frustrated.
(the cam plugs into a usb port).