LinuxQuestions.org - Enable my laptop webcam?

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Enable my laptop webcam?

I recently bought a new laptop and I can't figure out how to get the webcam working. It doesn't show up at all in hwinfo. My laptop manual says that the webcam is unpowered by default and I need to press Fn+F10 to power it on, but this doesn't do anything. Would linux be intercepting this key combo somehow and stopping it getting to the hardware? Is there some other explanation for what's going on?

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Hi and welcome to LQ canndrew.

What would help other members answer your question would be more information about the laptop model as well as what distribution and version of Linux you are running.

Right, sorry. It's a metabox laptop, I've attached the output of hwinfo. I'm running NixOS with kernel 4.4.31, I've attached my config as well.

It looks like the laptop is a rebranded Clevo P750DM2-G if that helps.

Quote:

Originally Posted by canndrew (Post 5633001)

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Hello and welcome to the forum :)

Not sure I can help here but since you've mentioned your laptop is brand new, it's possible that there has been no driver written yet for your webcam. What is the model and model number of your Metabox? Also, to get a better idea of your device, please open a terminal and post the results of these commands...

Code:

lspci -nnk

Code:

lsusb

Code:

lsmod

Regards...

Thanks ardvark71!

Code:

> lspci -nnk

00:00.0 Host bridge [0600]: Intel Corporation Skylake Host Bridge/DRAM Registers [8086:191f] (rev 07)

        Subsystem: CLEVO/KAPOK Computer Device [1558:7504]

lspci: Unable to load libkmod resources: error -12

00:01.0 PCI bridge [0604]: Intel Corporation Skylake PCIe Controller (x16) [8086:1901] (rev 07)

        Kernel driver in use: pcieport

00:14.0 USB controller [0c03]: Intel Corporation Sunrise Point-H USB 3.0 xHCI Controller [8086:a12f] (rev 31)

        Subsystem: CLEVO/KAPOK Computer Device [1558:7504]

        Kernel driver in use: xhci_hcd

00:16.0 Communication controller [0780]: Intel Corporation Sunrise Point-H CSME HECI #1 [8086:a13a] (rev 31)

        Subsystem: CLEVO/KAPOK Computer Device [1558:7504]

        Kernel driver in use: mei_me

00:17.0 SATA controller [0106]: Intel Corporation Sunrise Point-H SATA controller [AHCI mode] [8086:a102] (rev 31)

        Subsystem: CLEVO/KAPOK Computer Device [1558:7504]

        Kernel driver in use: ahci

00:1c.0 PCI bridge [0604]: Intel Corporation Sunrise Point-H PCI Express Root Port #1 [8086:a110] (rev f1)

        Kernel driver in use: pcieport

00:1c.6 PCI bridge [0604]: Intel Corporation Sunrise Point-H PCI Express Root Port #7 [8086:a116] (rev f1)

        Kernel driver in use: pcieport

00:1c.7 PCI bridge [0604]: Intel Corporation Sunrise Point-H PCI Express Root Port #8 [8086:a117] (rev f1)

        Kernel driver in use: pcieport

00:1d.0 PCI bridge [0604]: Intel Corporation Sunrise Point-H PCI Express Root Port #9 [8086:a118] (rev f1)

        Kernel driver in use: pcieport

00:1d.4 PCI bridge [0604]: Intel Corporation Sunrise Point-H PCI Express Root Port #13 [8086:a11c] (rev f1)

        Kernel driver in use: pcieport

00:1f.0 ISA bridge [0601]: Intel Corporation Sunrise Point-H LPC Controller [8086:a145] (rev 31)

        Subsystem: CLEVO/KAPOK Computer Device [1558:7504]

00:1f.2 Memory controller [0580]: Intel Corporation Sunrise Point-H PMC [8086:a121] (rev 31)

        Subsystem: CLEVO/KAPOK Computer Device [1558:7504]

00:1f.3 Audio device [0403]: Intel Corporation Sunrise Point-H HD Audio [8086:a170] (rev 31)

        Subsystem: CLEVO/KAPOK Computer Device [1558:7504]

        Kernel driver in use: snd_hda_intel

00:1f.4 SMBus [0c05]: Intel Corporation Sunrise Point-H SMBus [8086:a123] (rev 31)

        Subsystem: CLEVO/KAPOK Computer Device [1558:7504]

01:00.0 VGA compatible controller [0300]: NVIDIA Corporation Device [10de:1c60] (rev a1)

        Subsystem: CLEVO/KAPOK Computer Device [1558:7505]

        Kernel driver in use: nvidia

01:00.1 Audio device [0403]: NVIDIA Corporation Device [10de:10f1] (rev a1)

        Subsystem: CLEVO/KAPOK Computer Device [1558:7505]

        Kernel driver in use: snd_hda_intel

02:00.0 PCI bridge [0604]: Intel Corporation DSL6540 Thunderbolt 3 Bridge [Alpine Ridge 4C 2015] [8086:1578] (rev ff)

        Kernel driver in use: pcieport

03:00.0 PCI bridge [0604]: Intel Corporation DSL6540 Thunderbolt 3 Bridge [Alpine Ridge 4C 2015] [8086:1578] (rev ff)

        Kernel driver in use: pcieport

03:01.0 PCI bridge [0604]: Intel Corporation DSL6540 Thunderbolt 3 Bridge [Alpine Ridge 4C 2015] [8086:1578] (rev ff)

        Kernel driver in use: pcieport

03:02.0 PCI bridge [0604]: Intel Corporation DSL6540 Thunderbolt 3 Bridge [Alpine Ridge 4C 2015] [8086:1578] (rev ff)

        Kernel driver in use: pcieport

03:04.0 PCI bridge [0604]: Intel Corporation DSL6540 Thunderbolt 3 Bridge [Alpine Ridge 4C 2015] [8086:1578] (rev ff)

        Kernel driver in use: pcieport

6d:00.0 Ethernet controller [0200]: Qualcomm Atheros Killer E2400 Gigabit Ethernet Controller [1969:e0a1] (rev 10)

        Subsystem: CLEVO/KAPOK Computer Device [1558:7504]

        Kernel driver in use: alx

6e:00.0 SD Host controller [0805]: Realtek Semiconductor Co., Ltd. RTS5250 PCI Express Card Reader [10ec:5250] (rev 01)

        Subsystem: CLEVO/KAPOK Computer Device [1558:7504]

        Kernel driver in use: sdhci-pci

70:00.0 Network controller [0280]: Realtek Semiconductor Co., Ltd. RTL8723BE PCIe Wireless Network Adapter [10ec:b723]

        Subsystem: Realtek Semiconductor Co., Ltd. Device [10ec:b733]

        Kernel driver in use: rtl8723be

Code:

> lsusb

Bus 002 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0003 Linux Foundation 3.0 root hub

Bus 001 Device 002: ID 06cb:0078 Synaptics, Inc. 

Bus 001 Device 003: ID 0bda:b002 Realtek Semiconductor Corp. 

Bus 001 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0002 Linux Foundation 2.0 root hub

Code:

> lsmod

Module                  Size  Used by

af_packet              40960  8

joydev                20480  0

mousedev              20480  0

msr                    16384  0

snd_hda_codec_hdmi    49152  1

snd_hda_codec_realtek    69632  1

snd_hda_codec_generic    65536  1 snd_hda_codec_realtek

arc4                  16384  2

i915                1134592  0

rtl8723be            122880  0

btcoexist              53248  1 rtl8723be

nvidia_drm            45056  1

rtl8723_common        20480  1 rtl8723be

nvidia_modeset        757760  6 nvidia_drm

rtl_pci                40960  1 rtl8723be

rtlwifi                94208  2 rtl_pci,rtl8723be

drm_kms_helper        110592  2 i915,nvidia_drm

mac80211              520192  3 rtl_pci,rtlwifi,rtl8723be

drm                  290816  5 i915,drm_kms_helper,nvidia_drm

nls_iso8859_1          16384  1

x86_pkg_temp_thermal    16384  0

intel_powerclamp      16384  0

nls_cp437              20480  1

btusb                  40960  0

coretemp              16384  0

intel_gtt              20480  1 i915

btrtl                  16384  1 btusb

mxm_wmi                16384  0

vfat                  20480  1

btbcm                  16384  1 btusb

agpgart                32768  2 drm,intel_gtt

i2c_algo_bit          16384  1 i915

cfg80211              462848  2 mac80211,rtlwifi

crct10dif_pclmul      16384  0

efi_pstore            16384  0

fb_sys_fops            16384  1 drm_kms_helper

crc32_pclmul          16384  0

fat                    65536  1 vfat

syscopyarea            16384  1 drm_kms_helper

btintel                16384  1 btusb

pstore                20480  2 efi_pstore

zlib_deflate          28672  1 pstore

snd_hda_intel          32768  5

bluetooth            335872  5 btbcm,btrtl,btusb,btintel

evdev                  24576  23

aesni_intel          167936  0

input_leds            16384  0

snd_hda_codec          90112  4 snd_hda_codec_realtek,snd_hda_codec_hdmi,snd_hda_codec_generic,snd_hda_intel

aes_x86_64            20480  1 aesni_intel

psmouse              106496  0

lrw                    16384  1 aesni_intel

alx                    36864  0

gf128mul              16384  1 lrw

glue_helper            16384  1 aesni_intel

mac_hid                16384  0

rfkill                20480  3 cfg80211,bluetooth

ablk_helper            16384  1 aesni_intel

sysfillrect            16384  1 drm_kms_helper

mei_me                24576  0

cryptd                20480  2 aesni_intel,ablk_helper

sysimgblt              16384  1 drm_kms_helper

efivars                20480  1 efi_pstore

serio_raw              16384  0

mdio                  16384  1 alx

snd_hda_core          49152  5 snd_hda_codec_realtek,snd_hda_codec_hdmi,snd_hda_codec_generic,snd_hda_codec,snd_hda_intel

mei                    65536  1 mei_me

shpchp                32768  0

snd_hwdep              16384  1 snd_hda_codec

tpm_crb                16384  0

thermal                20480  0

nvidia_uvm            708608  0

nvidia              11427840  85 nvidia_modeset,nvidia_uvm

battery                16384  0

i2c_hid                20480  0

wmi                    16384  1 mxm_wmi

hid                  106496  1 i2c_hid

intel_lpss_acpi        16384  0

intel_lpss            16384  1 intel_lpss_acpi

pinctrl_sunrisepoint    28672  0

snd_pcm_oss            45056  0

i2c_core              49152  6 drm,i915,i2c_hid,drm_kms_helper,i2c_algo_bit,nvidia

fjes                  28672  0

pinctrl_intel          20480  1 pinctrl_sunrisepoint

snd_mixer_oss          24576  1 snd_pcm_oss

video                  36864  1 i915

snd_pcm                86016  5 snd_pcm_oss,snd_hda_codec_hdmi,snd_hda_codec,snd_hda_intel,snd_hda_core

tpm_tis                20480  0

tpm                    36864  2 tpm_crb,tpm_tis

button                16384  1 i915

snd_timer              28672  1 snd_pcm

acpi_pad              24576  0

ac                    16384  0

processor              32768  0

snd                    65536  20 snd_hda_codec_realtek,snd_pcm_oss,snd_hwdep,snd_timer,snd_hda_codec_hdmi,snd_pcm,snd_hda_codec_generic,snd_hda_codec,snd_hda_intel,snd_mixer_oss

soundcore              16384  1 snd

loop                  28672  0

cpufreq_ondemand      16384  0

kvm_intel            163840  0

kvm                  454656  1 kvm_intel

irqbypass              16384  1 kvm

efivarfs              16384  1

ip_tables              24576  0

x_tables              28672  1 ip_tables

ipv6                  360448  58

autofs4                32768  2

ext4                  524288  1

crc16                  16384  2 ext4,bluetooth

mbcache                20480  1 ext4

jbd2                  94208  1 ext4

sd_mod                40960  3

ahci                  36864  2

libahci                28672  1 ahci

xhci_pci              16384  0

xhci_hcd              126976  1 xhci_pci

libata                192512  2 ahci,libahci

sdhci_pci              28672  0

sdhci                  32768  1 sdhci_pci

usbcore              180224  3 btusb,xhci_hcd,xhci_pci

mmc_core              102400  2 sdhci,sdhci_pci

atkbd                  24576  0

libps2                16384  2 atkbd,psmouse

scsi_mod              204800  2 libata,sd_mod

crc32c_intel          24576  0

led_class              16384  2 sdhci,input_leds

usb_common            16384  1 usbcore

i8042                  28672  0

rtc_cmos              20480  0

serio                  20480  9 serio_raw,atkbd,i8042,psmouse

dm_mod                102400  0

Edit: This is probably to do with my nvidia graphics card, not the webcam.

I've just updated to kernel 4.8 to see if that fixes the problem. It doesn't, and now the screen brightness buttons have stopped working aswell. However I've noticed that dmesg is giving me lots of ACPI warnings on bootup:

Code:

[    3.937897] ACPI Warning: \_SB.PCI0.PEG0.PEGP._DSM: Argument #4 type mismatch - Found [Buffer], ACPI requires [Package] (20160422/nsarguments-95)

[    3.937929] ACPI Warning: \_SB.PCI0.PEG0.PEGP._DSM: Argument #4 type mismatch - Found [Buffer], ACPI requires [Package] (20160422/nsarguments-95)

[    3.937959] ACPI Warning: \_SB.PCI0.PEG0.PEGP._DSM: Argument #4 type mismatch - Found [Buffer], ACPI requires [Package] (20160422/nsarguments-95)

[    3.937987] ACPI Warning: \_SB.PCI0.PEG0.PEGP._DSM: Argument #4 type mismatch - Found [Buffer], ACPI requires [Package] (20160422/nsarguments-95)

[    3.938082] ACPI Warning: \_SB.PCI0.PEG0.PEGP._DSM: Argument #4 type mismatch - Found [Buffer], ACPI requires [Package] (20160422/nsarguments-95)

[    3.938102] ACPI Warning: \_SB.PCI0.PEG0.PEGP._DSM: Argument #4 type mismatch - Found [Buffer], ACPI requires [Package] (20160422/nsarguments-95)

[    3.938122] ACPI Warning: \_SB.PCI0.PEG0.PEGP._DSM: Argument #4 type mismatch - Found [Buffer], ACPI requires [Package] (20160422/nsarguments-95)

[    4.355184] ACPI Warning: \_SB.PCI0.PEG0.PEGP._DSM: Argument #4 type mismatch - Found [Buffer], ACPI requires [Package] (20160422/nsarguments-95)

[    4.355248] ACPI Warning: \_SB.PCI0.PEG0.PEGP._DSM: Argument #4 type mismatch - Found [Buffer], ACPI requires [Package] (20160422/nsarguments-95)

[    4.355301] ACPI Warning: \_SB.PCI0.PEG0.PEGP._DSM: Argument #4 type mismatch - Found [Buffer], ACPI requires [Package] (20160422/nsarguments-95)

[    4.355352] ACPI Warning: \_SB.PCI0.PEG0.PEGP._DSM: Argument #4 type mismatch - Found [Buffer], ACPI requires [Package] (20160422/nsarguments-95)

[    4.355403] ACPI Warning: \_SB.PCI0.PEG0.PEGP._DSM: Argument #4 type mismatch - Found [Buffer], ACPI requires [Package] (20160422/nsarguments-95)

[    4.355454] ACPI Warning: \_SB.PCI0.PEG0.PEGP._DSM: Argument #4 type mismatch - Found [Buffer], ACPI requires [Package] (20160422/nsarguments-95)

[    4.355505] ACPI Warning: \_SB.PCI0.PEG0.PEGP._DSM: Argument #4 type mismatch - Found [Buffer], ACPI requires [Package] (20160422/nsarguments-95)

[    4.355556] ACPI Warning: \_SB.PCI0.PEG0.PEGP._DSM: Argument #4 type mismatch - Found [Buffer], ACPI requires [Package] (20160422/nsarguments-95)

[    4.355607] ACPI Warning: \_SB.PCI0.PEG0.PEGP._DSM: Argument #4 type mismatch - Found [Buffer], ACPI requires [Package] (20160422/nsarguments-95)

[    4.355658] ACPI Warning: \_SB.PCI0.PEG0.PEGP._DSM: Argument #4 type mismatch - Found [Buffer], ACPI requires [Package] (20160422/nsarguments-95)

[    4.355709] ACPI Warning: \_SB.PCI0.PEG0.PEGP._DSM: Argument #4 type mismatch - Found [Buffer], ACPI requires [Package] (20160422/nsarguments-95)

[    4.355760] ACPI Warning: \_SB.PCI0.PEG0.PEGP._DSM: Argument #4 type mismatch - Found [Buffer], ACPI requires [Package] (20160422/nsarguments-95)

[    4.355810] ACPI Warning: \_SB.PCI0.PEG0.PEGP._DSM: Argument #4 type mismatch - Found [Buffer], ACPI requires [Package] (20160422/nsarguments-95)

[    4.355861] ACPI Warning: \_SB.PCI0.PEG0.PEGP._DSM: Argument #4 type mismatch - Found [Buffer], ACPI requires [Package] (20160422/nsarguments-95)

[    4.355912] ACPI Warning: \_SB.PCI0.PEG0.PEGP._DSM: Argument #4 type mismatch - Found [Buffer], ACPI requires [Package] (20160422/nsarguments-95)

[    4.355989] ACPI Warning: \_SB.PCI0.PEG0.PEGP._DSM: Argument #4 type mismatch - Found [Buffer], ACPI requires [Package] (20160422/nsarguments-95)

[    4.356058] ACPI Warning: \_SB.PCI0.PEG0.PEGP._DSM: Argument #4 type mismatch - Found [Buffer], ACPI requires [Package] (20160422/nsarguments-95)

[    4.407189] ACPI Warning: \_SB.PCI0.PEG0.PEGP._DSM: Argument #4 type mismatch - Found [Buffer], ACPI requires [Package] (20160422/nsarguments-95)

[    4.651989] ACPI Warning: \_SB.PCI0.PEG0.PEGP._DSM: Argument #4 type mismatch - Found [Buffer], ACPI requires [Package] (20160422/nsarguments-95)

[    4.652070] ACPI Warning: \_SB.PCI0.PEG0.PEGP._DSM: Argument #4 type mismatch - Found [Buffer], ACPI requires [Package] (20160422/nsarguments-95)

[    4.652135] ACPI Warning: \_SB.PCI0.PEG0.PEGP._DSM: Argument #4 type mismatch - Found [Buffer], ACPI requires [Package] (20160422/nsarguments-95)

[    4.652181] ACPI Warning: \_SB.PCI0.PEG0.PEGP._DSM: Argument #4 type mismatch - Found [Buffer], ACPI requires [Package] (20160422/nsarguments-95)

Seems like it could be related...

Hmmm, booting back into the old kernel I still get the same warnings. However if I run acpi_listen and then press Fn+F8/F9 to change the screen brightness it shows something happening, but only on the old kernel where the brightness buttons work, not on the new one where they don't:

Code:

> acpi_listen

video/brightnessdown BRTDN 00000087 00000000

video/brightnessup BRTUP 00000086 00000000

The webcam button doesn't show anything happening on either kernel.

Hi....

Could you also post the results of this command...

Code:

dmesg | less

Although I could be missing it, I'm not seeing anything in the results you've provided. You can also install "inxi" from your package manager and post the results from this command...

Code:

inxi -F

More information on this program can be found here. :)

Regards...

Thanks again! I've attached dmesg output. inxi gives me:

Code:

> inxi -F

System:    Host: ballzo Kernel: 4.4.32 x86_64 (64 bit) Desktop: Awesome 3.5.9

          Distro: NixOS 17.03.git.b69f568M (Gorilla)

Machine:  Device: laptop System: Notebook product: P7xxDM2(-G)

          Mobo: Notebook model: P7xxDM2(-G) UEFI: American Megatrends v: 1.05.01 date: 07/13/2016

Battery    BAT0: charge: 54.4 Wh 100.0% condition: 54.4/54.0 Wh (101%)

CPU:      Quad core Intel Core i7-6700K (-HT-MCP-) cache: 8192 KB 

          clock speeds: max: 4200 MHz 1: 3493 MHz 2: 4193 MHz 3: 3973 MHz 4: 4000 MHz 5: 4000 MHz 6: 4000 MHz

          7: 4000 MHz 8: 3964 MHz

Graphics:  Card: NVIDIA Device 1c60

          Display Server: X.org 1.18.4 driver: N/A Resolution: 273x75

Audio:    Card-1 NVIDIA Device 10f1 driver: snd_hda_intel Sound: ALSA v: k4.4.32

          Card-2 Intel Sunrise Point-H HD Audio driver: snd_hda_intel

Network:  Card-1: Qualcomm Atheros Killer E2400 Gigabit Ethernet Controller driver: alx

          IF: enp109s0 state: down mac: 80:fa:5b:34:30:25

          Card-2: Realtek RTL8723BE PCIe Wireless Network Adapter driver: rtl8723be

          IF: wlp112s0 state: up mac: 4c:bb:58:fc:e3:fc

Drives:    HDD Total Size: 1000.2GB (19.8% used)

          ID-1: /dev/sda model: INTEL_SSDSCKKW01 size: 1000.2GB

Partition: ID-1: / size: 916G used: 185G (22%) fs: ext4 dev: /dev/sda2

          ID-2: /boot size: 1021M used: 125M (13%) fs: vfat dev: /dev/sda1

Sensors:  None detected - is lm-sensors installed and configured?

Info:      Processes: 165 Uptime: 20:03 Memory: 2073.5/64394.4MB Init: systemd Client: Shell (zsh) inxi: 2.3.4

Note that if the webcam is disabled in hardware then I don't expect it will show up through any of these tools. At this point I need to figure out why the Fn+F10 key combo isn't working - but I have no idea how this is handled by the OS/kernel (other than that it's probably something to do with ACPI) so I don't know where to start.

Quote:

Originally Posted by canndrew (Post 5633650)

Hi...

Thank you for supplying the information I requested. Unfortunately, as before, unless I'm missing something, I'm not seeing any entries regarding your webcam. It might be worth taking a look in your BIOS to see if there are any entries that allow you to enable/disable it. Other than that, at this point, I's be curious to see if you have these same issues using another distribution. Fedora might be a good choice for your hardware. :)

Regards...

> It might be worth taking a look in your BIOS to see if there are any entries that allow you to enable/disable it.

Eh, I already tried that. Do you have any idea what drivers are associated with making hotkeys work on laptops? It's possible my laptop just isn't supported yet, but if that's the case I'd like to do what I can to help get it supported.

Quote:

Originally Posted by canndrew (Post 5633669)

Do you have any idea what drivers are associated with making hotkeys work on laptops? It's possible my laptop just isn't supported yet, but if that's the case I'd like to do what I can to help get it supported.

Hi...

I have no idea. This would be a question for one of NixOS's developers, whom you might be able to contact via IRC here. :)

Regards...

Fn+F10

Fn key is not key-mapped. It is hardware - it does not even show up using xev