Webcam not working in current
 

Hi

I upgraded to current a couple of days ago and my webcam has stopped working, specifically in Skype and Kopete. It is a Logitech Communicate STX. In Skype it sees the device but when I test it it is just fuzz whereas Kopete does not see the device. Additionally I have tried the following command:

I was using the Gspca driver in 12.1 so after upgrading I attempted to upgrade this driver, it would not compile. After further digging it turns out that it is in the kernel now. To even further confuse me the mic on the cam works.

By running "dmesg | grep gspca" I get this:

gspca: main v2.2.0 registered
gspca: probing 046d:08ad
gspca: probe ok
gspca: probing 046d:08ad
gspca: probing 046d:08ad

Any ideas?

Thanks

The gspca driver in the -current kernel is not as feature-full as the one by Michel Xhaard (and it contains some bugs still that were resolved after 2.6.27.7).

The source of the gspcav1 driver does not build on 2.6.27 kernels without a patch, unfortunately.
I added a patch and built a package for (soon to be) Slackware 12.2's 2.6.27.7-smp kernel. I did not test if it works yet, but be my guest: http://www.slackware.com/~alien/slackbuilds/gspcav1/

Maybe you have to blacklist the in-kernel gspca_main module first. Please post your findings here.

Eric

thanks Eric i will give it a go tonight and post the results

This fixed it this is what I did

Blacklisted Modules
edited /etc/modprobe.d/blacklist
Added the line
"blacklist gspca_main"

Downloaded the gspca driver from
http://www.slackware.com/~alien/slac...486-1alien.tgz
Then installed the gspcav1-20071224_2.6.27.7_smp-i486-1alien.tgz

Then restarted the PC
And Skype and Kopete could see my webcam it all seems ok

Thanks alot Eric

I did the same on my new Slackware 12.2, but without success.

My webcam is:
0ac8:301b Z-Star Microelectronics Corp. ZC0301 Webcam

First I blacklisted gspca_main, but I saw that the gspca_zc3xx was still loaded automatically. So I blacklisted both gspca_main and gspca_zc3xx.

After that, restarting the computer, I saw that only the gspca module was loaded. But the webcam was not working. I tried with kopete. Kopete did not recognize the webcam. Same behaviour as it happens with gspca_main and gspca_zc3xx.

The webcam led is on, but I cannot use it.

What can I do?

I have the same web cam (Logitech Communicate STX, 046d:08d7) and had the same problem. Skype would show green garbage and kopete would show nothing (even though an lsusb would show my camera recognized).

I tried blacklisting only the gspca_main and had no luck. Then I blacklisted the gspca_zc3xx, too, and that seems to have worked for me. Skype now comes up and shows video, as does Kopete.

I don't know if it matters, but I blacklisted those two drivers in this order (at the end of my /etc/modprobe.d/blacklist):

Of course I also installed AlienBob's SlackBuild for the gspcav1 and installed. On first reboot, it looks like it works.

Thanks for the post, and much thanks to Alien Bob.

Greg

I have the Acer Orbicam on Slackware 12.2 with kernel version 2.6.28 and everything works with gspcav1 and Alien Bobs patch.
My usb webcam uses the driver gspca_vc032x. I blacklisted gspca_vc032x and gspca, as I don't need my web cam everytime I bootup. Thank you for the patch Alien Bob. My USB webcam was a nagging issue for me.

Noidea, you mentioned you upgraded from 12.1 to 12.2 and your cam had been working with 12.1. I am still using 12.0 and wonder if the cam you own would work without me having to upgrade to 12.1 or 12.2. I would like to get a webcam and use it with skype. Did you use 12.0 and your cam by any chance?
Thanks

I had my webcam working (several, actually) under 12.0 just fine. Use AlienBob's package for 12.0 and you should be okay.

Here's another thread that helped me out a bit (i.e. make sure you -- user -- is in the "video" group).

gregkedro-
thanks for the reply and info. I will look into it. Just curious, what type of cams were they?
thanks

1. Integrated webcam in an HP Pavilion (dv6626us).
2. Logitech QuickCam Communicate STX (the one I'm using now).
3. Logitech QuickCam Messenger (older, more simple model).

Greg

gregkedro-
again thanks for the speedy reply.... I received the logitech quickcam communicate mp from santa and I had installed alienbobs package....and didn't have any luck getting it to work (but I didn't have the pages that you suggested either). I ended up giving it to my father who has windows and it works ok for him. years ago i used my camcorder for a sorta web cam but I can't remember now if I was using slack 9.1 at the time or debian. I had recompiled the kernels for both and can't remember if that was what got it working. i have a couple of older digital cameras laying about. I'll have to look around to see if they could be used as a webcam. that would be nice...
have a good one...