11.1 sound & webcam

tgbotg · #1 (**permalink**) 04-Jul-2009, 16:48

I recently upgraded to openSUSE 11.1 and have had the following issues with sound and my webcam.

For sound, no sound happens with certain programs like Kopete or Skype or normal system notifications whenever I am using Firefox. Whenever 11.1 starts up, it says that the "Intel ICH6 with unknown codec (Intel ICH6)" failed and it falls back to "default". I have installed from yast2 all the ALSA things I thought I might need. I started doing that primarily because I wanted the computer to recognize the built-in microphone (it still doesn't).

More importantly concerning the webcam, it is an HP Webcam. When I do lsusb in the terminal for the webcam it reads:

Bus 001 Device 004: ID 093a:2460 Pixart Imaging, Inc. Q-TEC WEBCAM 100

Again, I have tried installing from yast2 the appropriate drivers (gspcav1-kmp-debug, gspcav1-kmp-default, gspcav1-kmp-pae, gspcav1-kmp-xen) but I keep getting an error message, and I'm not sure what it means or how to resolve it.

#### YaST2 conflicts list - generated 2009-07-04 02:44:12 ####

nothing provides kernel(debug:drivers_media_video) = ff184eb11e30edba needed by gspcav1-kmp-debug-20071224_2.6.25.5_1.1-10.4.i586

[ ] do not install gspcav1-kmp-debug-20071224_2.6.25.5_1.1-10.4.i586

nothing provides kernel(default:drivers_usb_core) = 4460f5d7752dd946 needed by gspcav1-kmp-default-20071224_2.6.25.5_1.1-10.4.i586

[ ] do not install gspcav1-kmp-default-20071224_2.6.25.5_1.1-10.4.i586

nothing provides kernel(pae:drivers_usb_core) = e2c805a86dc5f62e needed by gspcav1-kmp-pae-20071224_2.6.25.5_1.1-10.4.i586

[ ] do not install gspcav1-kmp-pae-20071224_2.6.25.5_1.1-10.4.i586

nothing provides kernel(xen:vmlinux) = 83084c69820399d3 needed by gspcav1-kmp-xen-20071224_2.6.25.5_1.1-10.4.i586

[ ] do not install gspcav1-kmp-xen-20071224_2.6.25.5_1.1-10.4.i586

#### YaST2 conflicts list END ###

If anyone has any suggestions on how to resolve these issues, it will be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,
tgbotg

oldcpu · #2 (**permalink**) 04-Jul-2009, 22:11

Quote:

Originally Posted by tgbotg

For sound, no sound happens with certain programs like Kopete or Skype or normal system notifications whenever I am using Firefox. Whenever 11.1 starts up, it says that the "Intel ICH6 with unknown codec (Intel ICH6)" failed and it falls back to "default". I have installed from yast2 all the ALSA things I thought I might need. I started doing that primarily because I wanted the computer to recognize the built-in microphone (it still doesn't).

I do not use Kopete nor Skype. I do not know what you mean you you refer to "normal system notifications whenever I am using Firefox". What are Firefox system notifications?

Reference, falling back to default, this is a known bug. I believe a number of users have reported this. There are a more than a fewthreads here, where users have posted solutions that worked for them:

I think I've seen other "solutions" as well, but a quick search did not reveal it (I probably had the wrong search parameters).

Someone else may need to help you with your webcam. But if you are looking for tests for basic webcam functionality, there are some neat command line tests here (of which some, but definitely NOT all, may work): webcam & microphone command line fun .... - openSUSE Forums

tgbotg · #3 (**permalink**) 04-Jul-2009, 22:19

Thank you, I'll check those out immediately.

I may have been unclear with my statement. Whenever I am running Firefox, Kopete and Skype make no sounds. Also the system notifications do not make sounds, like the startup noise or whenever I unplug the laptop. When Firefox is not running these sounds occur normally. And I just restarted and there's no sound whatsoever. Great. Yeah, I'll definitely check out those threads.

oldcpu · #4 (**permalink**) 04-Jul-2009, 22:52

Quote:

Originally Posted by tgbotg

Thank you, I'll check those out immediately.

I may have been unclear with my statement. Whenever I am running Firefox, Kopete and Skype make no sounds. Also the system notifications do not make sounds, like the startup noise or whenever I unplug the laptop. When Firefox is not running these sounds occur normally. And I just restarted and there's no sound whatsoever. Great. Yeah, I'll definitely check out those threads.

The sound from firefox is dependant on the plugin you are using in firefox to provide sound.

The capability to play sound from multiple applications at the same time is dependant on the output audio module you have selected to use (and also the sound ending you have selected to use) with those applications.

In case you are curious, here is some openSUSE Linux sound theory: Sound-concepts - openSUSE

I'm currently on vacation in a different continent from where I normally live, and internet access is very limited, so I may not respond to any subsequent posts in a timely manner.

pdc_2 · #5 (**permalink**) 05-Jul-2009, 23:24

so the webcam needs a gspca driver; and gspca drivers were added to the 2.6.27 kernel, but alas that does not mean that things work;

the webcam shows up as Qtec 170 0x093a 0x2460 Qtec Webcam100 Pac207 Pac207 Yes gbrg spca5xx ****

on this website

http://mxhaard.free.fr/spca5xx.html

some suggest downloading the latest drivers from

v4l-dvb: Summary

download the bz2 file: if you need help on this, sing out ..

If you read here

HCL/Web Cameras - openSUSE

it is the OpenSuse advice on webcams: you have the gspca type:

you can see they talk about

Quote:

However, some applications still don't work very well together with the new drivers,

.. so ...

Quote:

a workaround is to preload a libv4l-compat library:

so for kopete you would type

Quote:

LD_PRELOAD=/usr/lib/libv4l/v4l1compat.so kopete

so there is a bit of homework for you;

so: Plan A is to try to get existing webcam working; when you have pulled out most of your hair, you can go to:

Plan B: is buy a new UVC one, as they are cheap, and SHOULD work

UVC Webcams - openSUSE

pdc_2 · #6 (**permalink**) 06-Jul-2009, 01:02

and this thread gives details of how to install the latest gspca drivers

How to install logitech Quickcam E2500 - openSUSE Forums

thanks to belal_mandurah for this

tgbotg · #7 (**permalink**) 07-Jul-2009, 04:34

Thanks for all your help. I may have figured out the sound issue, but I should point out the links provided earlier didn't help much. I discovered the SDB pages on this site and followed their advice. I apologize for asking a question that apparently already had an easy answer posted.

Yes, the first places I checked for the webcam were all the ones you provided, and I wasn't sure what to download from that "v4l-dvb" site or any of the others of similar ilk. I downloaded and tried the usual "make" then "make install" routine with less then stellar results. Below is what comes up, and I replaced my home directory with "$HOME". I am logged in as root.

Code:

# make                      
make -C $HOME/Desktop/v4l-dvb-c300798213a9/v4l                            
make[1]: Entering directory `$HOME/Desktop/v4l-dvb-c300798213a9/v4l'      
Updating/Creating .config                                                         
Preparing to compile for kernel version 2.6.27                                    
File not found: /lib/modules/2.6.27.23-0.1-default/build/.config at ./scripts/make_kconfig.pl line 32, <IN> line 4.                                                 
make[1]: *** No rule to make target `.myconfig', needed by `config-compat.h'.  Stop.                                                                                
make[1]: Leaving directory `$HOME/Desktop/v4l-dvb-c300798213a9/v4l'       
make: *** [all] Error 2                                                           

# make install              
make -C $HOME/Desktop/v4l-dvb-c300798213a9/v4l install                    
make[1]: Entering directory `$HOME/Desktop/v4l-dvb-c300798213a9/v4l'      

Removing obsolete files from /lib/modules/2.6.27.23-0.1-default/kernel/drivers/media/video:


Removing obsolete files from /lib/modules/2.6.27.23-0.1-default/kernel/drivers/media/dvb/cinergyT2:
cinergyT2.ko

Removing obsolete files from /lib/modules/2.6.27.23-0.1-default/kernel/drivers/media/dvb/frontends:

Installing kernel modules under /lib/modules/2.6.27.23-0.1-default/kernel/drivers/media/:
/sbin/depmod -a 2.6.27.23-0.1-default
make -C firmware install
make[2]: Entering directory `$HOME/Desktop/v4l-dvb-c300798213a9/v4l/firmware'
  CC  ihex2fw
Installing firmwares at /lib/firmware: vicam/firmware.fw cp: cannot stat `vicam/firmware.fw': No such file or directory
dabusb/firmware.fw cp: cannot stat `dabusb/firmware.fw': No such file or directory
dabusb/bitstream.bin cp: cannot stat `dabusb/bitstream.bin': No such file or directory
ttusb-budget/dspbootcode.bin cp: cannot stat `ttusb-budget/dspbootcode.bin': No such file or directory
cpia2/stv0672_vp4.bin cp: cannot stat `cpia2/stv0672_vp4.bin': No such file or directory
av7110/bootcode.bin cp: cannot stat `av7110/bootcode.bin': No such file or directory
make[2]: [install] Error 1 (ignored)

make[2]: Leaving directory `$HOME/Desktop/v4l-dvb-c300798213a9/v4l/firmware'
make[1]: Leaving directory `$HOME/Desktop/v4l-dvb-c300798213a9/v4l'

#

Based on the errors and the lack of webcam working I'm guessing it didn't work, so how can I fix it? I did download what I could from YaST2 of 'libv4l', but I'm not sure what you (pdc_2) mean by typing in that preload thing for Kopete. Where would I type it in? In the Konsole? If so, under what directory? And if for Skype, would I simply replace "kopete" with "skype"? Would I have to do this every time I want to use it, or restart?

Now I realize there's an issue with playing DVDs, but that's another whole can of worms. What I will say here is that one DVD I have is not recognized as being in the drive when it clearly is. This may be a hardware issue. Is 11.1 just not wanting to recognize my disc?

Again, thanks for the replies and the help. And I still appreciate any further comments.

Thanks!

oldcpu · #8 (**permalink**) 07-Jul-2009, 11:02

Quote:

Originally Posted by tgbotg

..., and I wasn't sure what to download from that "v4l-dvb" site or any of the others of similar ilk. I downloaded and tried the usual "make" then "make install" routine

Rather than try recompiling a package that someone else has already spent the time and effort compiling, did you first check to see if some one else has compiled it?

Do a search for "v4l" under webpin, and see what you get:
Webpin

tgbotg · #9 (**permalink**) 09-Jul-2009, 03:15

Once again, thanks for all your help. I managed to get the webcam working, but I have to do this

Code:

bash -c 'export LD_PRELOAD=/usr/lib/libv4l/v4l1compat.so skype' &

each time I open the program. On that link, How to install logitech Quickcam E2500 - openSUSE Forums mentioned earlier, it says this:

Quote:

- you can do an application luncher with this command so you don't type the command in all the time.

I'm not quite sure what that means.

For the sound card, I followed the advice here: SDB:Muted Sound Card - openSUSE
But it still doesn't work when I restart. Do you guys have any suggestions?

Also, I still am not sure why some of my DVDs are not even recognized by the OS, but others are. But these same DVDs are recognized if I restart with the DVD already in the drive. Note, I'm not asking for help on playing DVDs. This isn't the right forum for that, after all.

Thanks!

oldcpu · #10 (**permalink**) 09-Jul-2009, 10:00

Quote:

Originally Posted by tgbotg

For the sound card, I followed the advice here: SDB:Muted Sound Card - openSUSE
But it still doesn't work when I restart. Do you guys have any suggestions?

Instead of following the advice in that URL, when you restart your pc, type: su -c 'rcalsasound restart' and enter root password when prompted. Restart your mixer and test your sound.

If that works, then to have it run each time you restart your PC, you can edit your PC's file /etc/init.d/boot.local adding as a last line the following: