Webcam not working with Flash player { or Skype }

TheInfamousJ · 11-27-2011, 05:56 PM

In light of the John Murga forums being down, though still available on Google Cache, I am going to move an important question here because the answer to this question will help me in my Puppying, greatly.

The original question that bears the same name stated:

http://i.imgur.com/FrFrk.png

{ Hi,
I am using puppy linux 5.2.5. Mozilla firefox 4, flash player 10. I am using an USB webcam from Logitech (pro 9000) . The webcam works fine with " Guvcview webcam viewer" application available with puppy linux 5.2.5. But it is not working when I am trying to access some website that require capturing of webcam using flash player (flash player as plugin for firefox browser) .

kindly suggest.

regards,
Pallab.}

While I am not using a Logitech webcam, I too have a webcam (Creative Vista Plus) that works just fine with Gucview webcam viewer and utterly fails in both Skype and Flash.

The odd thing is that until I upgraded to 5.2.5, I was able to use my webcam with Skype just fine. Not sure about Flash because the incompatibilities of Flash were the reason I upgraded.

Anyone have any idea what is going on and how to fix it? Or even perhaps a video chat program that I can use in place of Skype that will work? I have family living elsewhere that I very much would like to "see".

-J-

aus9 · 11-29-2011, 06:00 PM

are you the same person...me thinks not so try to avoid confusion and don't worry about other peoples's questions.

you have different hardware so show the output of

lsusb

2) when change occured....try going back into skype's settings and re-doing them

3) have you tried other chat applications?

you can google them....I have not tried but this looks ok
http://helpsite.org/gtalk-for-linux/

be aware that all chat stuff may require a setting in your router to enable a number of ports
so if it does not work the first time....google firewall and (yournew application) linux

TheInfamousJ · 11-29-2011, 06:58 PM

Quote:

are you the same person...me thinks not so try to avoid confusion and don't worry about other peoples's questions.

I am not the same person, but I have the same problem. I thought that showing a history of people with this problem would show that it could use resolution while also showing that it isn't hardware specific. I have a feeling that it is actually related to the addition of the Gucview webcam viewer program in current versions of Puppy.

Quote:

you have different hardware so show the output of

lsusb

Not sure what you expect to see from that, but ...

# lsusb
Bus 001 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0002
Bus 002 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0001
Bus 003 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0001
Bus 004 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0001
Bus 005 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0001
Bus 001 Device 002: ID 058f:6335
Bus 004 Device 002: ID 041e:4028

Quote:

2) when change occured....try going back into skype's settings and re-doing them

Already tried. It absolutely does not work. It sees/acknowledges the webcam is plugged in but when I click on "Test" the video remains a black rectangle.

Quote:

3) have you tried other chat applications?

you can google them....I have not tried but this looks ok
http://helpsite.org/gtalk-for-linux/

I can confirm that google talk also fails to show video. Same as does any online flash-based video chat even with appropriate plug ins. All of these programs acknowledge that my webcam is there and it is referred to properly by name in the settings, yet no command is sent to the camera to make it transmit (I can tell because when that is done the light on the camera illuminates).

Quote:

be aware that all chat stuff may require a setting in your router to enable a number of ports
so if it does not work the first time....google firewall and (yournew application) linux

There is no firewall blocking any ports nor does my router have a firewall on it.

aus9 · 11-30-2011, 06:27 PM

lsusb = 041e:4028

http://www.linux-usb.org/usb.ids

confirms its maker = 041e Creative Technology, Ltd....model 4028 Vista Plus cam [VF0090]

altho you said that model in your first post......a lot of ppl are mislead by some model names.

now you can check your output for lsmod

you are looking to see if you have at least these modules

http://www.mjmwired.net/kernel/Docum...inux/gspca.txt

gspca_main
gspca_pac207

and did you change your kernel in upgrading your puppy?

and is this a 32 bit or 64 based kernel?

---------- Post added 01-12-11 at 08:27 ----------

lsusb = 041e:4028

http://www.linux-usb.org/usb.ids

confirms its maker = 041e Creative Technology, Ltd....model 4028 Vista Plus cam [VF0090]

altho you said that model in your first post......a lot of ppl are mislead by some model names.

now you can check your output for lsmod

you are looking to see if you have at least these modules

http://www.mjmwired.net/kernel/Docum...inux/gspca.txt

gspca_main
gspca_pac207

and did you change your kernel in upgrading your puppy?

and is this a 32 bit or 64 based kernel?

aus9 · 11-30-2011, 06:28 PM

oh the reason for the 32 v 64 is this section
No video with GSPCA webcams

https://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php...work_for_Skype

TheInfamousJ · 11-30-2011, 06:38 PM

You will be happy to know

Code:

# lsmod
Module                  Size  Used by
gspca_pac207            4204  0 
gspca_main             16038  1 gspca_pac207
videodev               27339  1 gspca_main
v4l1_compat             9930  1 videodev
parport_pc             19055  0 
ppdev                   4090  0 
parport                20387  2 parport_pc,ppdev
i915                  183740  2 
drm_kms_helper         17823  1 i915
drm                   106327  3 i915,drm_kms_helper
i2c_algo_bit            3539  1 i915
i2c_core               11497  5 videodev,i915,drm_kms_helper,drm,i2c_algo_bit
iptable_mangle          1189  0 
iptable_nat             2666  0 
nf_nat                 10083  1 iptable_nat
ipt_REJECT              1485  1 
nf_conntrack_ftp        4020  0 
nf_conntrack_irc        2359  0 
iptable_filter           958  1 
xt_state                 895  4 
nf_conntrack_ipv4       7063  7 iptable_nat,nf_nat
nf_conntrack           36999  6 iptable_nat,nf_nat,nf_conntrack_ftp,nf_conntrack_irc,xt_state,nf_conntrack_ipv4
nf_defrag_ipv4           755  1 nf_conntrack_ipv4
ip_tables               7321  3 iptable_mangle,iptable_nat,iptable_filter
fan                     2478  0 
arc4                     962  2 
ecb                     1377  2 
snd_hda_codec_realtek   165209  1 
ath5k                 105381  0 
snd_hda_intel          14978  0 
mac80211               99898  1 ath5k
ath                     6106  1 ath5k
snd_hda_codec          38539  2 snd_hda_codec_realtek,snd_hda_intel
cfg80211               90319  3 ath5k,mac80211,ath
atl1e                  21739  0 
snd_pcm_oss            26845  0 
snd_mixer_oss           9963  1 snd_pcm_oss
snd_pcm                45385  3 snd_hda_intel,snd_hda_codec,snd_pcm_oss
snd_seq_dummy            907  0 
snd_seq_oss            18888  0 
snd_seq_midi            3156  0 
snd_rawmidi            11924  1 snd_seq_midi
snd_seq_midi_event      3592  2 snd_seq_oss,snd_seq_midi
snd_seq                32379  6 snd_seq_dummy,snd_seq_oss,snd_seq_midi,snd_seq_midi_event
snd_timer              11986  2 snd_pcm,snd_seq
snd_seq_device          3601  5 snd_seq_dummy,snd_seq_oss,snd_seq_midi,snd_rawmidi,snd_seq
snd                    30859  11 snd_hda_codec_realtek,snd_hda_intel,snd_hda_codec,snd_pcm_oss,snd_mixer_oss,snd_pcm,snd_seq_oss,snd_rawmidi,snd_seq,snd_timer,snd_seq_device
soundcore               3403  1 snd
serio_raw               2928  0 
snd_page_alloc          4645  2 snd_hda_intel,snd_pcm
pcspkr                  1179  0 
fbcon                  27736  70 
tileblit                1509  1 fbcon
font                    6916  1 fbcon
bitblit                 3514  1 fbcon
softcursor               805  1 bitblit
shpchp                 21148  0 
intel_agp              19189  1 
agpgart                18904  2 drm,intel_agp
battery                 7164  0 
thermal                 9263  0 
video                  14642  1 i915
output                  1120  1 video
evdev                   5517  1 
button                  3522  1 i915
eeepc_laptop            9692  0 
sparse_keymap           1723  1 eeepc_laptop
hwmon                    957  1 eeepc_laptop
led_class               1733  2 ath5k,eeepc_laptop
pci_hotplug            18286  2 shpchp,eeepc_laptop
processor              24987  2 
ac                      2143  0 
fuse                   42549  0 
aufs                  110466  1 
nls_iso8859_1           2937  0 
nls_cp437               4465  0 
usb_storage            29717  0 
usbhid                 18009  0 
squashfs               15984  2 
uhci_hcd               15444  0 
ehci_hcd               25830  0 
usbcore                91279  7 gspca_pac207,gspca_main,usb_storage,usbhid,uhci_hcd,ehci_hcd

that I do have those modules. But, of course I would have those modules because the Gucview webcam viewer works.

I did not change anything in the kernel but am using Puppy 5.2.5 as it was distributed. I'm not using any of the derivatives. Due to that, there were no options given for a 32 vs 64 bit kernel, but I'm assuming that I'm using the 32 bit kernel since that is my processor.

aus9 · 11-30-2011, 06:59 PM

ok so try this from the wiki link

1) For i686, install v4l-utils, userspace tools and conversion library for Video 4 Linux, and

2) run Skype with

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

then if it works you can follow the last bit...if it works

now not sure what your puppy packages are called here are some deb names to try

v4l-utils

v4l-conf (already installed on mine)

libv4l-0 (should have it already and the next one)
libv4lconvert0

fuse (for userspace but there may be more)

aus9 · 11-30-2011, 07:04 PM

if after installing all those packages you have no video try this

start guvcview

in a terminal run MY example of output

Code:

lsof /dev/video0
COMMAND   PID   USER   FD   TYPE DEVICE SIZE/OFF  NODE NAME
guvcview 3276 name    CHR   81,0          57188 /dev/video0
guvcview 3276 name   6u   CHR   81,0      0t0 57188 /dev/video0

now stop guvcview and repeat the command....nothing should be using /dev/video0
if there is....thats the issue....use the command
top

or

htop

to see the PID and kill the PID before starting skype.

good luck

TheInfamousJ · 11-30-2011, 07:10 PM

I already have V4L installed as it is necessary to make the Gucview webcam viewer work.

That said, this was the first time I ran Skype from the command line. I went in to the preferences and was met with this screen:

http://i.imgur.com/kyGKc.png

As you can see, the video is a black rectangle. So I clicked on "Test".

This caused the video light on my webcam to flash for 1/2 second and then the Skype screen changed to

http://i.imgur.com/o1042.png

now with a white box where there was previously a black box.

The new piece of information is that in the terminal window, this appeared:

Code:

socket(): Address family not supported by protocol

I hope this means something or can help, somehow. Once again Gucview does work and works quite well, so it has to be something on the software side with Skype and/or Flash.

TheInfamousJ · 11-30-2011, 07:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aus9

if after installing all those packages you have no video try this

start guvcview

I started Gucview and as you can see - http://imgur.com/p1mA1 - it is working with my webcam to produce a picture. My output was also much longer than yours.

Code:

# guvcview
guvcview 1.4.4
Cannot connect to server socket err = No such file or directory
Cannot connect to server socket
jack server is not running or cannot be started
video device: /dev/video0 
Init. Creative WebCam Vista Plus. (location: usb-0000:00:1d.1-2)
{ pixelformat = 'RGB3', description = 'RGB3' }
{ discrete: width = 176, height = 144 }
	Time interval between frame: 
{ discrete: width = 352, height = 288 }
	Time interval between frame: 
{ pixelformat = 'BGR3', description = 'BGR3' }
{ discrete: width = 176, height = 144 }
	Time interval between frame: 
{ discrete: width = 352, height = 288 }
	Time interval between frame: 
{ pixelformat = 'YU12', description = 'YU12' }
{ discrete: width = 176, height = 144 }
	Time interval between frame: 
{ discrete: width = 352, height = 288 }
	Time interval between frame: 
{ pixelformat = 'YV12', description = 'YV12' }
{ discrete: width = 176, height = 144 }
	Time interval between frame: 
{ discrete: width = 352, height = 288 }
	Time interval between frame: 
checking format: 859981650
fps is set to 0/0
drawing controls

VIDIOC_G_EXT_CTRLS failed
   using VIDIOC_G_CTRL for user class controls
fps is set to 1/1
Checking video mode 176x144@32bpp : OK

After stopping Guvcviewer, nothing is using the web cam device.

I have a feeling that everything that is going on is due to is socket error that keeps popping up all over the place and must somehow be something that has changed in between my previous Puppy version 4.2.1 and the current Puppy version 5.2.5. Something is clearly missing/broke/linked wrong/upgraded but not in all the right places or something. I was hoping that someone could figure out what that was.

aus9 · 12-01-2011, 06:38 AM

pls be explicit

you did run from the command line skype...using the option (2) from post 7 right?

if so you are not alone
http://murga-linux.com/puppy/viewtop...df098554c26e41

2) now to get serious eh?

I suggest you use what ever package system puppy uses and remove all skype from your pc. Especially any configs
then
download the static BETA edition http://www.skype.com/intl/en/get-sky...omputer/linux/

now the step by step stuff

the download is a bz2 file I assume you know how to unpack it?

now use root powers to move the entire folder (thats unpacked) into say
/usr/share but don't rename from static so you know what you have is not puppy ok?

now go there and move the skype (executable) to /usr/bin...note is lowercase
and
move the desktop icon to /home/yourname/Desktop....................note its Skype

icons...being lazy I open /home/yourname/Desktop/Skype with a text editor as a non-root user and change icon path to read

Icon=/usr/lib/skype_static-2.2.0.35/icons/SkypeBlue_16x16.png
save and test the icon

3) WHAT AM I HOPING FOR sorry for the shout

you may be right and puppy is garbage....actually the default of root is not what I would recommend but thats for you to decide

if this static version with zero depends....hopefully works then you know it was puppy version that stank of dog poo
if this still fails you know puppy may be at fault and I will desist and hope a puppy person helps you

good luck

---------- Post added 01-12-11 at 20:38 ----------

pls be explicit

you did run from the command line skype...using the option (2) from post 7 right?

if so you are not alone
http://murga-linux.com/puppy/viewtop...df098554c26e41

2) now to get serious eh?

I suggest you use what ever package system puppy uses and remove all skype from your pc. Especially any configs
then
download the static BETA edition http://www.skype.com/intl/en/get-sky...omputer/linux/

now the step by step stuff

the download is a bz2 file I assume you know how to unpack it?

now use root powers to move the entire folder (thats unpacked) into say
/usr/share but don't rename from static so you know what you have is not puppy ok?

now go there and move the skype (executable) to /usr/bin...note is lowercase
and
move the desktop icon to /home/yourname/Desktop....................note its Skype

icons...being lazy I open /home/yourname/Desktop/Skype with a text editor as a non-root user and change icon path to read

Icon=/usr/lib/skype_static-2.2.0.35/icons/SkypeBlue_16x16.png
save and test the icon

3) WHAT AM I HOPING FOR sorry for the shout

you may be right and puppy is garbage....actually the default of root is not what I would recommend but thats for you to decide

if this static version with zero depends....hopefully works then you know it was puppy version that stank of dog poo
if this still fails you know puppy may be at fault and I will desist and hope a puppy person helps you

good luck

aus9 · 12-01-2011, 06:40 AM

oops the icon path should read usr/share my typo

TheInfamousJ · 12-01-2011, 07:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aus9

pls be explicit

you did run from the command line skype...using the option (2) from post 7 right?

I did as you said.

Quote:

I suggest you use what ever package system puppy uses and remove all skype from your pc. Especially any configs

Done.

Quote:

download the static BETA edition http://www.skype.com/intl/en/get-sky...omputer/linux/

now the step by step stuff

the download is a bz2 file I assume you know how to unpack it?

now use root powers to move the entire folder (thats unpacked) into say
/usr/share but don't rename from static so you know what you have is not puppy ok?

now go there and move the skype (executable) to /usr/bin...note is lowercase
and
move the desktop icon to /home/yourname/Desktop....................note its Skype

icons...being lazy I open /home/yourname/Desktop/Skype with a text editor as a non-root user and change icon path to read

Icon=/usr/lib/skype_static-2.2.0.35/icons/SkypeBlue_16x16.png
save and test the icon...

Did all of this and tried with three different versions of Skype. It is not a Skype issue. None of the versions of Skype worked. And besides, fixing Skype would not fix the Flash issue, which is also happening.

Quote:

you may be right and puppy is garbage...if this still fails you know puppy may be at fault and I will desist and hope a puppy person helps you

I had already diagnosed this as a Puppy-specific issue which is why I posted my problem in the Puppy Linux sub-forum. Thank you for your time.

J_Rey · 04-04-2012, 05:41 PM

For the record I had issues months ago with Skype & Google voice & video chat plugin not working with the type of Video 4 Linux used and I used the LD_PRELOAD workaround to fix it. After verifying it worked I just edited the command that runs when selecting via the menu and I forgot about it till now. I don't remember the syntax off-hand or have time to check it now but it looks right.