HP built-in webcam issue

English Hardware
1

Hi there,

the built-in webcam of my HP-Compaq 6830s laptop is not working (or so do i think). The tests i have made:

  • kopete -> settings -> video => my webcam appears here but the preview is a green screen
  • gqcam, issues error messages and displays a black screen
  • cheese displays a multicolor pattern with a snowy screen

Here is the result of lsusb

Bus 001 Device 003: ID 04f2:b083 Chicony Electronics Co., Ltd

This webcam is not listed, neither on the UVC list, nor on the Gspca/Spca5xx driver list. What can i do then?

2

Sorry, i forgot to mention my configuration:

Laptop: HP Compaq 6830s
openSUSE version: 11.1
Desktop: KDE 4

Should I try to install one of the two drivers listed on the SDB (UVC or Gspca/Spca5xx)? If yes, which one has the best odds to work ?

3

It is a uvcvideo device. Try using the cam with amsn, or luvcview

Or perhaps

mplayer tv:// -tv driver=v4l2 -vo xv

4

correct! I installed lucview and it works fine. Skype wlso works correctly. That’s enough for me :D.

Does it mean that one cannot use cheese or gqview or kopete woth my webcam, or is there some setup process to make it work?

Thanks bruce

5

Sorry for the double posting, 10 min limit exceeded!

I’ve searched for uvcvideo-kmp-default in YAST but couldn’t find it… How can I install uvc as the default webcam driver for all apps?

I also sent a mail to linux-uvc.berlios.de mailing list for them to add my webcam to their list.

6

I see you’re on KDE, but I had the same problem in gnome and it was because of gstreamer, I had to downgrade gstreamer to the last version, and all worked!

If you are using cheese, you have had to install gstreamer I would imagine.

I don’t know how to downgrade in KDE, but try that and see if cheese starts working…

Good Luck!

7
  • brassgeek wrote, On 01/12/2009 07:26 PM:

> Does it mean that one cannot use cheese or gqview or kopete woth my
> webcam, or is there some setup process to make it work?

I have a built in UVC cam in my notebook too, and while it worked in luvcview, Kopete showed only a green or black screen.
This seems to have been a bug in KDE, since it works fine with the Kopete from the KDE4.2 beta.

Uwe

8

Could you please tell me what version of gstreamer you got to make it work?

That’d mean there’s nothing more to do except wait for new releases of kopete.
I’m still bothered cause I don’t have “uvcvideo-kmp-default” installed and I can’t find it anywhere in YasT. Does it matter?

9
  • brassgeek wrote, On 01/13/2009 08:46 AM:

> I’m still bothered cause I don’t have “uvcvideo-kmp-default” installed
> and I can’t find it anywhere in YasT. Does it matter?

You said the cam works in luvcview, so it sure doesn’t matter.

Uwe

10

As far as the particular gstreamer version, I don’t remember. I don’t have a webcam at the moment, that was an HP DV series laptop.

I suggest downgrading one at a time, anyway, however. This way you have the latest WORKING version, and aren’t reverting too far.

Yast should make it pretty easy to downgrade, in Gnome you would just select the “Currently Available,” icon on bottom right and select an older package…worked like a charm

sorry I can’t be of more assistance, Good Luck!