I just had to install Ubuntu 9.1 on my Dell Studio, how do i use the webcam?
 

So this laptop was given to me by my girlfriend's sister because it "died." They took it to the Geek Squad and they pretty much did nothing. Since she had told them she would buy a new laptop, they gave up on it. I read their forms that they gave her back and they noted down several times that she was buying a new laptop-this is how I knew they gave up. I was asked to see what I could do with it, so I installed Ubuntu and it runs perfectly. Because she had a new laptop, she just gave this Dell Studio to me.

My question is what do I need to install to get the camera to work? There is no tab for it in the Applications menu and I am at a loss.

Any input would be great!

Is there specific reason you choose 9.1 ? I think if you opt for a later version that should recognize the device.
http://www.ubuntu.com/desktop/get-ubuntu/download

never mind.

So what type of disk should i get to download Ubuntu onto?

What it is...

The previous poster, makeTaller, is right, unless this is a particularly old Dell, you might have better luck with a newer version of linux. If you want Ubuntu, it is version 10.10.

After you have a linux distribution installed, open a terminal, use the command "lsusb" and look for the listing of the webcam. There should be a double number with a ":". The first part is the identifier of the maker, the second of the model.

Then type the command "lsmod" to see if any module is being loaded for the webcam and use Google with the make and model number to see what module or driver, if any, there is to support it. If the right module is already loaded, you are in luck, otherwise search the internet by the make and model of your webcam for help. Webcam support in linux is not guaranteed and solutions for configuring any webcam with a given linux distribution can be different.

If the webcam is configured, it still needs something to put it to use. If you use Ubuntu, you can download the "cheeze" package to test for function. Remember to smile if you see yourself.

You will download it to your hard drive, then you will burn the iso image to CD. It's all explained in the link posted by makeTaller.

So it didn't install, :(

it came up with a page that stated it couldn't mount.

Which it...

Do you mean that the webcam won't mount or that you have trouble with booting Ubuntu? Please be more specific.

http://www.linuxquestions.org/linux/...Ask_a_Question

while booting Ubuntu. It started out loading a purple page that said Ubuntu, and the next page it transitioned to said it couldn't mount and said to type help for command prompts.

Try sudo apt-get install cheese in the command terminal

Did it come up with the "unable to mount" error when you when you were trying to boot to the install CD or after you went through an installation and tried to boot into the new system?

If the install choked and if your sister had already had problems with the computer, it could be that it's just broke and can't be saved. It's a machine. Machines can wear out.

Then, again, you did say "it runs perfectly." So the issue seems to be what changed.

The more information you can provide, including the exact wording of error messages and detailed descriptions of what you have tried, the easier it will be for others to help you. Too much information is better than too little information.

If you have a digital camera, you could try taking pictures of the screens to help remember the error messages.

Try to check...

Boot the CD again, and when you seen the purple splash screen. you should notice a man and keyboard icon. Quickly press enter, a menu will appear, and there will be a post to check the CD for integrity.

You begin by checking that you don't have a poorly burned disk, then you can see if there are other problems.