LinuxQuestions.org - webcam not detected by Ubuntu 8.04 on Dell Inspiron 1420 Laptop

I don't know precisely but I can get you started. First let's see if it's showing up in your hardware information. Open System -> Administration -> System Log -> Syslog or Messages (either one should show if a device is plugged in). Here's what it looks like in messages when I plug in my webcam:

Code:

Dec 15 01:44:36 amd64-desktop kernel: [62938.182205] usb 3-2: new full speed USB device using uhci_hcd and address 3

Dec 15 01:44:36 amd64-desktop kernel: [62938.260018] usb 3-2: configuration #1 chosen from 1 choice

Dec 15 01:44:36 amd64-desktop kernel: [62938.356247] Linux video capture interface: v2.00

Dec 15 01:44:36 amd64-desktop kernel: [62938.388679] usbcore: registered new interface driver snd-usb-audio

Dec 15 01:44:36 amd64-desktop kernel: [62938.389623] /build/buildd/linux-ubuntu-modules-2.6.24-2.6.24/debian/build/build-generic/media/gspcav1/gspca_core.c: USB GSPCA camera found.(ZC3XX) 

Dec 15 01:44:37 amd64-desktop kernel: [62938.653043] usbcore: registered new interface driver gspca

Dec 15 01:44:37 amd64-desktop kernel: [62938.653047] /build/buildd/linux-ubuntu-modules-2.6.24-2.6.24/debian/build/build-generic/media/gspcav1/gspca_core.c: gspca driver 01.00.20 registered

Dec 15 01:44:41 amd64-desktop pulseaudio[6215]: alsa-util.c: Device hw:1 doesn't support 44100 Hz, changed to 16000 Hz.

Dec 15 01:44:41 amd64-desktop pulseaudio[6215]: alsa-util.c: Device hw:1 doesn't support 2 channels, changed to 1.

And here's my syslog:

Code:

Dec 15 01:44:36 amd64-desktop kernel: [62938.182205] usb 3-2: new full speed USB device using uhci_hcd and address 3

Dec 15 01:44:36 amd64-desktop kernel: [62938.260018] usb 3-2: configuration #1 chosen from 1 choice

Dec 15 01:44:36 amd64-desktop NetworkManager: <debug> [1229323476.547748] nm_hal_device_added(): New device added (hal udi is '/org/freedesktop/Hal/devices/usb_device_46d_8da_noserial'). 

Dec 15 01:44:36 amd64-desktop kernel: [62938.356247] Linux video capture interface: v2.00

Dec 15 01:44:36 amd64-desktop kernel: [62938.388679] usbcore: registered new interface driver snd-usb-audio

Dec 15 01:44:36 amd64-desktop kernel: [62938.389623] /build/buildd/linux-ubuntu-modules-2.6.24-2.6.24/debian/build/build-generic/media/gspcav1/gspca_core.c: USB GSPCA camera found.(ZC3XX) 

Dec 15 01:44:37 amd64-desktop kernel: [62938.653043] usbcore: registered new interface driver gspca

Dec 15 01:44:37 amd64-desktop kernel: [62938.653047] /build/buildd/linux-ubuntu-modules-2.6.24-2.6.24/debian/build/build-generic/media/gspcav1/gspca_core.c: gspca driver 01.00.20 registered

Dec 15 01:44:37 amd64-desktop NetworkManager: <debug> [1229323477.592650] nm_hal_device_added(): New device added (hal udi is '/org/freedesktop/Hal/devices/usb_device_46d_8da_noserial_if0'). 

Dec 15 01:44:37 amd64-desktop NetworkManager: <debug> [1229323477.656577] nm_hal_device_added(): New device added (hal udi is '/org/freedesktop/Hal/devices/usb_device_46d_8da_noserial_if2'). 

Dec 15 01:44:37 amd64-desktop NetworkManager: <debug> [1229323477.716153] nm_hal_device_added(): New device added (hal udi is '/org/freedesktop/Hal/devices/usb_device_46d_8da_noserial_if1'). 

Dec 15 01:44:39 amd64-desktop kernel: [62939.447432] /build/buildd/linux-ubuntu-modules-2.6.24-2.6.24/debian/build/build-generic/media/gspcav1/gspca_core.c: init isoc: usb_submit_urb(0) ret -28

Dec 15 01:44:41 amd64-desktop NetworkManager: <debug> [1229323481.207216] nm_hal_device_added(): New device added (hal udi is '/org/freedesktop/Hal/devices/usb_device_46d_8da_noserial_video4linux'). 

Dec 15 01:44:41 amd64-desktop NetworkManager: <debug> [1229323481.218102] nm_hal_device_added(): New device added (hal udi is '/org/freedesktop/Hal/devices/usb_device_46d_8da_noserial_if1_sound_card_0'). 

Dec 15 01:44:41 amd64-desktop NetworkManager: <debug> [1229323481.256532] nm_hal_device_added(): New device added (hal udi is '/org/freedesktop/Hal/devices/usb_device_46d_8da_noserial_if1_sound_card_0_alsa_capture_0'). 

Dec 15 01:44:41 amd64-desktop NetworkManager: <debug> [1229323481.287297] nm_hal_device_added(): New device added (hal udi is '/org/freedesktop/Hal/devices/usb_device_46d_8da_noserial_if1_sound_card_0_oss_pcm_0'). 

Dec 15 01:44:41 amd64-desktop NetworkManager: <debug> [1229323481.319304] nm_hal_device_added(): New device added (hal udi is '/org/freedesktop/Hal/devices/usb_device_46d_8da_noserial_if1_sound_card_0_oss_pcm_0_0'). 

Dec 15 01:44:41 amd64-desktop NetworkManager: <debug> [1229323481.351362] nm_hal_device_added(): New device added (hal udi is '/org/freedesktop/Hal/devices/usb_device_46d_8da_noserial_if1_sound_card_0_oss_mixer__1'). 

Dec 15 01:44:41 amd64-desktop NetworkManager: <debug> [1229323481.420427] nm_hal_device_added(): New device added (hal udi is '/org/freedesktop/Hal/devices/usb_device_46d_8da_noserial_if1_sound_card_0_alsa_control__1'). 

Dec 15 01:44:41 amd64-desktop pulseaudio[6215]: alsa-util.c: Device hw:1 doesn't support 44100 Hz, changed to 16000 Hz.

Dec 15 01:44:41 amd64-desktop pulseaudio[6215]: alsa-util.c: Device hw:1 doesn't support 2 channels, changed to 1.

Also, you can type:

Code:

amd64@amd64-desktop:~$ lsusb 

Bus 005 Device 002: ID 050d:705c Belkin Components 

Bus 005 Device 001: ID 0000:0000  

Bus 004 Device 001: ID 0000:0000  

Bus 003 Device 003: ID 046d:08da Logitech, Inc. QuickCam Messanger

Bus 003 Device 002: ID 046d:c402 Logitech, Inc. Marble Mouse (2-button)

Bus 003 Device 001: ID 0000:0000  

Bus 002 Device 001: ID 0000:0000  

Bus 001 Device 001: ID 0000:0000

And as you can see the device is properly detected. Granted, this is a webcam that is specifically sold for Skype and I have Skype on my machine so it works perfectly. Can you verify that your machine is detecting the hardware?
As you can see, the device is put