I have problems using the soundcard (input-) and webcam on my HP Pavillon DV6 (AMD Turion Dual Core) unknown webcam and ATI SBxxx Azalia soundcard.

Using skype or voicerecorder, I manage to get voice input / output.

The problem arises when trying the video using the build-in webcam (e.g. SKYPE - Test Video):

When I try to open the Pulse audio Vol control I get an error message telling: [...] "Connection failed"

A second trial after stopping skype allows to open the Pulsaudio mixer, but: The input devices completely disappear (no microphone) from the pulseaudio vol.mixer.

Additional problem: headphone and mic jacks do not work (output, input).

Additional investigations: using an external Webcam with microphone after the dysfunction of the internal peripherals works perfectly well, i.e. webcam is correctly mounted an useable the webcam micro shows in the input device list and can be used in skype.

Any ideas what's going wrong?

the model you posted does not have a cam or I missed it I think you have the dv 6 cto about a 2006 model. install libv4l1 and then edit your launcher commands to read this for ubutu lucid read this for you rpm addicts.
this for slackware 13.1 here

this is why your new v4l2 cam works. and the older v4l1 will not

Please be kind and always give us the Linux distro you are using.
and if it is a built in hardware open a terminal and type lspci and post it with the question.

cool tutorial for skype

How to ask a question in this forum

Thanks for your reply,

but no, the laptop is brandnew and has an internal webcam.
My problem is actually not with the cam - it works.
But with, I don't really know, either the soundcard (HW not properly supported) and /or pulse audio.
In Resume: after startup skype works (micro and sound), but w/o the cam.
If now I give the video a try (video options in skype), I get a failure message from the pulsaudio saying sthg like, "device error, failed to connect". After this the microphone is gone from the input devices, and I fail to get it back w/o rebooting.

I seriously believe that the soundcard is not correctly supported by Pulseaudio ...

When I get a chance I'll post more H/W info here.

And sorry, the Distro used is Linux Mint 9.0, i.e. Ubuntu Luicid

I read this sorry You will have to define Resume sorry in linux that could mean after a hibernation suspend to ram suspend to hard drive.
I will sue Hibernate. the reason is the tham has been shut down and the link to /dev/video0
has been broken so you need to kill the program and restart it inorder to creat the link with the hardware.