no the device will not run without a driver. a driver is the software that tells windows how to run the device. so no driver, no way for windows to know what to do with it.
changing to an older/newer driver often helps as bugs get fixed in a version while another is introduced. swapping drivers may avoid the bug avoiding you and only introduces one that does not effect your system. if windows installed the driver natively or from windows update site, try one direct from the webcam site. or other way around. uninstall the one from the webcam and see what windows installs.
last option will be to check the error report or mini-dump file and see what could be causing the crash. often a constant driver crash is related to something else...