Integrated webcam stops after 10 seconds -- Installing Philips SPC715NC

[DomNewToLinux]

Hi, Im a new linux (ubuntu 9.04) user...just switched from Vista to Ubuntu...
Never programmed so I am totally lost, whenever I come across some issues with my HP G60-235.

The issue is with my webcams...I have a built in webcam, that only works the first 10 seconds I use it everytime after a reboot...so to use it I have to basically reboot my laptop every 15 secs or so.

So I got a Philips SPC715NC and tried to install it. I read an article on installing it but got totally lost because I just have NO clue what they are talking about. (exept for downloading and "de-tar-ring")

Could anyone please help me with those webcams? Will they work on my machine?
Thanks a lot in advance!

Thanks for your help! (=
PS-step for step would be great!

[DomNewToLinux]

Ok, I found something about the Philips Cam in another forum that said they downloaded the latest GSPCA and just followed the instructions in Readme and now the cam works...

So I downloaded the latest GSPCA and read through the Readme...unfortunately I really don't know how to do any of what's in the readme! Can you help me, please?! It says:

Well, first you need to compile the driver (see below), then you need to make
sure that the v4l infrastructure is set up and then load the driver. After
you've done that, any v4l enabled application, such as spcaview, gqcam, xawtv,
gnomemeeting, camE etc should work.
Supported kernel versions
=========================
The driver should compile and run successfully against most stable versions of
the official Linux 2.6.x kernel upto version 2.6.11

Compiling it
============
The driver module can be built without modifying your kernel source tree.

Before trying to compile the driver, ensure that you've configured your
kernel, and updated the dependencies:
'make [config|menuconfig|xconfig]; make dep'.

Make sure, when compiling the driver, you use the same version of compiler as
was used to compile your kernel. Not doing so can create incompatible binaries.

as root
goes to gspcav1 directory and run:
./gspca_build

if all goes right the module is compiled and load in memory
if not, errors messages can be found in kgspca.err You should post this file to the maintainer
or in the sourceforge project bugs report.

please, what do I have to do? Could you post the commands? Thx
PS-I tried make config but got so lost I just exited the terminal...

[Rubberman]

Ubuntu 9.04 uses a (much) newer kernel than the 2.6.11 latest compatible mentioned in the Philips README that you posted. Don't use it. Since the builtin camera works at first, then the driver for it is installed and working. However, the fact that it quits after a few seconds is indicative of either a driver or firmware problem. You might have to download updated firmware for the device and try again. That said, have you updated your ubuntu system yet, or are you running the system as installed?

[DomNewToLinux]

Well I installed the usual updates, that show up every other day...if that's what you mean. I've been using Ubuntu for a month, now. My kernel version is 2.6.28.14 (the latest from /usr/src/linux-kernel*)

Where can I get a firmware update for my cam? First of all I should know the model and firmware version, right? Do you know where I can find it (doesn't say anything in the product specifications...)?

Thanks so much for you help, man.

[Rubberman]

You might find an update on the camera manufacturer's web site, or you might have to download an updated Windows XP driver from HP and extract the firmware for that. Also, check out this site for drivers/firmware/info: http://mxhaard.free.fr/spca5xx.html

[DomNewToLinux]

ok, seems like it's a HP webcam-101. I downloaded the latest XP driver...how do I extract the firmware out of the driver?

Edit: I was able to extract the sp33544.exe file, but don't know where to find the driver

[Rubberman]

It might be an HP camera, but the chip set is someone else's. That's what we need to know. Try executing the following commands as root and post the output here: lspci and lsusb
I don't know if the camera is a USB device or not - it probably is, but the lspci command will show us the required information if not, and lsusb will if it is.

[DomNewToLinux]

ok, with the Philips Cam and a wireless mouse connected I get for lspci as root:

00:00.0 Host bridge: Intel Corporation Mobile 4 Series Chipset Memory Controller Hub (rev 07)
00:02.0 VGA compatible controller: Intel Corporation Mobile 4 Series Chipset Integrated Graphics Controller (rev 07)
00:02.1 Display controller: Intel Corporation Mobile 4 Series Chipset Integrated Graphics Controller (rev 07)
00:1a.0 USB Controller: Intel Corporation 82801I (ICH9 Family) USB UHCI Controller #4 (rev 03)
00:1a.1 USB Controller: Intel Corporation 82801I (ICH9 Family) USB UHCI Controller #5 (rev 03)
00:1a.2 USB Controller: Intel Corporation 82801I (ICH9 Family) USB UHCI Controller #6 (rev 03)
00:1a.7 USB Controller: Intel Corporation 82801I (ICH9 Family) USB2 EHCI Controller #2 (rev 03)
00:1b.0 Audio device: Intel Corporation 82801I (ICH9 Family) HD Audio Controller (rev 03)
00:1c.0 PCI bridge: Intel Corporation 82801I (ICH9 Family) PCI Express Port 1 (rev 03)
00:1c.1 PCI bridge: Intel Corporation 82801I (ICH9 Family) PCI Express Port 2 (rev 03)
00:1d.0 USB Controller: Intel Corporation 82801I (ICH9 Family) USB UHCI Controller #1 (rev 03)
00:1d.1 USB Controller: Intel Corporation 82801I (ICH9 Family) USB UHCI Controller #2 (rev 03)
00:1d.2 USB Controller: Intel Corporation 82801I (ICH9 Family) USB UHCI Controller #3 (rev 03)
00:1d.7 USB Controller: Intel Corporation 82801I (ICH9 Family) USB2 EHCI Controller #1 (rev 03)
00:1e.0 PCI bridge: Intel Corporation 82801 Mobile PCI Bridge (rev 93)
00:1f.0 ISA bridge: Intel Corporation ICH9M LPC Interface Controller (rev 03)
00:1f.2 SATA controller: Intel Corporation ICH9M/M-E SATA AHCI Controller (rev 03)
00:1f.3 SMBus: Intel Corporation 82801I (ICH9 Family) SMBus Controller (rev 03)
00:1f.6 Signal processing controller: Intel Corporation 82801I (ICH9 Family) Thermal Subsystem (rev 03)
01:00.0 Ethernet controller: Realtek Semiconductor Co., Ltd. RTL8101E/RTL8102E PCI Express Fast Ethernet controller (rev 02)
02:00.0 Ethernet controller: Atheros Communications Inc. AR242x 802.11abg Wireless PCI Express Adapter (rev 01)

for lsusb:

Bus 002 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0002 Linux Foundation 2.0 root hub
Bus 008 Device 002: ID 0471:0330 Philips
Bus 008 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0001 Linux Foundation 1.1 root hub
Bus 007 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0001 Linux Foundation 1.1 root hub
Bus 006 Device 002: ID 046d:c51b Logitech, Inc.
Bus 006 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0001 Linux Foundation 1.1 root hub
Bus 005 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0001 Linux Foundation 1.1 root hub
Bus 004 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0001 Linux Foundation 1.1 root hub
Bus 003 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0001 Linux Foundation 1.1 root hub
Bus 001 Device 003: ID 04f2:b091 Chicony Electronics Co., Ltd
Bus 001 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0002 Linux Foundation 2.0 root hub
Bus 001 Device 002: ID 0bda:0158 Realtek Semiconductor Corp. Mass Stroage Device

[Rubberman]

Ok. You have 2 USB webcams on your system. The HP is the entry named Chicony, and the Philips is as named. Since you have 2 cameras, the system doesn't know which to use. The device names should be /dev/video0 and /dev/video1. Since the HP is builtin, it's likely /dev/video0, but not necessarily unless you leave the Philips camera disconnected until the system is booted up. Either should work, but as you noted the builtin camera stops after a short operational period.

So, we need to see which works better for you. If you can disable the HP camera in the system BIOS, do so. If not, hopefully it won't interfere too much with the external camera. Try that and let me know if you were able to disable it in the system bios.

[DomNewToLinux]

At least now we know that the integrated Cam is a Chicony...
I wasnt able to disable it in Bios...I had surprisingly few options (never looked into the BIOS on this Laptop before)