Z-Star webcam and gspca_vc032x module

[maladict]

I have problems making the integrated webcam in my laptop work. Running lsusb yields

Bus 001 Device 004: ID 0ac8:c002 Z-Star Microelectronics Corp. Visual Communication Camera VGP-VCC1

In kubuntu 10.04, it worked loading the module gspca_vc032x, then running skype like this:

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

In 12.04, that just does not work anymore. The module loads, but running skype as above gives

ERROR: ld.so: object '/usr/lib/libv4l/v4l1compat.so' from LD_PRELOAD cannot be preloaded: ignored.

And the cam does not work. Cheese freezes and shows green horizontal lines.

Do you have an idea of what is going on? I find surprising this to stop working after upgrading from 10.04 to 12.04.

Thanks in advance!

[Snowhog]

I always tend to 'eliminate' potential causes. To that end, do you have a 12.04 LiveCD you can boot from and then test to see if the web cam works 'normally'? If it does, then we learn that it isn't 12.04, but likely something that you have installed from the upgraded 10.04 that is still present. That would potentially point to installed applications from 10.04 that came from third-party (non-ubuntu) repositories that 'conflict' with components in 12.04.

[maladict]

I must say that I did not upgrade. I made a clean "full format +install" (sorry for the lack of accuracy).

How can I test the webcam with the liveCD? I don't think there is any program to check

[tek_heretik]

I must say that I did not upgrade. I made a clean "full format +install" (sorry for the lack of accuracy).

How can I test the webcam with the liveCD? I don't think there is any program to check

You can install programs from the repository 'on the fly' so to speak, as long as you have a decent amount of physical memory, once you shut down the 'virtually' installed program disappears. Stay away from Cheese, doesn't work with even my Linux compatible webcam (I can't even get it to open, it crashes), try Camorama, Kamerka or Kamoso, they all work with my webcam. Kamoso has a video recording feature.

Edit: For some reason some webcam progs get put in the 'Graphics' section of the KDE programs menu, I had to hunt for them, assumed they would auto be put in 'Multimedia'.

[maladict]

I have tried with kamerka and it behaves as cheese does, it just shows green lines.

I have found something after some googling. The library vl41compat.so has been moved, so its new path is

/usr/lib/i386-linux-gnu/libv4l/v4l1compat.so

When trying to run skype or kamerka with "LD_PRELOAD" I do not get an error message anymore, but that does not make the camera work.

[tek_heretik]

Webcam Studio helped with my online chatroom issues (utilizing TokBox software), the only thing is, you have to go to the chat site first, then the Adobe configuration site and set the chat site to allow (mic and camera), then back to the chat site, kinda goofy but it works.

Webcam Studio Ubuntu download info: http://www.ws4gl.org/download/installing-on-ubuntu

Adobe configuration site: http://www.macromedia.com/support/do...manager06.html

I also had an issue with the sound, if I want to get rid of incoming sound distortion, I have to set the camera's sound to 'HDA Intel' to listen, and back to the webcam's mic to talk.

[maladict]

I've tried Webcam Studio Ubuntu and it does not work.

It looks like my webcam (Vc032x Vimicro, 0ac8:c002) is not supported in 12.04. There is some information on the subject here:

https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+s...ux/+bug/990749

Maybe I shall try a different kernel, or wait for the bug to be solved.

Thanks for the answers!