Skype crash when I start my webcam

[dimitarc]

If I try to start my webcam in a call or if I try to press the test button in skype options it crashes. Just skype. After opening it again I it works fine until I do the same thing.

After opening skype in terminal this is what I get when I press the test button in Video Options:

Skype V4L: Failed to set picture format
Skype V4L: Could not find a suitable capture format
Starting the process...
Skype Xv: Xv ports available: 1
Skype XShm: XShm support enabled
Skype Xv: Using Xv port 84
Aborted


After searching some forums I found other people with the same problem but they fixed it with installing skype-static from medibuntu. I did the same, it did not help. I steel have the same problem.

I tried searching this forum for a solution for my problem but I did not found one. I hope someone will help me and I hope I did not missed the category for this thread.

All the best, Dimitar

[CyberCowboy]

If I try to start my webcam in a call or if I try to press the test button in skype options it crashes. Just skype. After opening it again I it works fine until I do the same thing.

After opening skype in terminal this is what I get when I press the test button in Video Options:

Skype V4L: Failed to set picture format
Skype V4L: Could not find a suitable capture format
Starting the process...
Skype Xv: Xv ports available: 1
Skype XShm: XShm support enabled
Skype Xv: Using Xv port 84
Aborted


After searching some forums I found other people with the same problem but they fixed it with installing skype-static from medibuntu. I did the same, it did not help. I steel have the same problem.

I tried searching this forum for a solution for my problem but I did not found one. I hope someone will help me and I hope I did not missed the category for this thread.

All the best, Dimitar

Confirmed as I'm getting the exact same problems in Intrepid, were you able to fix it?

[AmyRose]

In Intrepid, to fix this problem, I installed the libv4l-0 package and preload it with Skype like this:

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

[PouncingAnt]

Thanks! That advice was spot on for me!

[sparks40]

Is the following an environment variable and if so where does it get set, (i.e. the .profile file, etc.)?

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

TNX

[bradosav]

Guys, I'd really appreciate some help. Thanks.

The problem:
I've been trying to get my camera work in skype for a few weeks now. If i click on test or start my video, the program crashes.

The solution:
http://mrk.sed.pl/node/22 has a script that routes a gstreamer stream as a fake webcam into skype, appropriately called skype video hijacker. this is the script:

#!/bin/bash
#
# setup gstfakevideo preload to hijack calls made
# to /dev/video0
#
#This script runs Skype with libskype_dsp_hijacker.so "filter"
#It allows redefining of what devices Skype uses for
#microphone, speakers and mixer (especially microphone and
#speakers can use different devices)

# -- CONFIGURATION --

#default configuration when no option is specified

export HIJACKVIDEO="/dev/video0"
export GST_PIPE="videotestsrc is-live=true ! video/x-raw-yuv,width=640,height=480,framerate=10/1 ! videoscale ! ffmpegcolorspace ! vertigotv ! ffmpegcolorspace"

function help {
cat <<EOT

Redirect Skype video to gstreamer pipeline

Usage: $0 [pipeline definition, gst-launch syntax]

Edit the script for full flexibility

EOT
}


case "$1" in
-h|--help) help; exit;;
# broken
--video)
export HIJACKVIDEO="$2"
shift
shift
;;
esac

export GST_PIPE="$*"

test -n "$GST_PIPE" || unset GST_PIPE

prefix=/usr/local
exec_prefix=${prefix}

#prefer use of libskype_dsp_hijacker from current directory
if test -f ./libgstfakevideo.so; then
libdir=.
else
libdir=${exec_prefix}/lib
fi

LD_PRELOAD=${libdir}/libgstfakevideo.so
if test -f /lib/libdl.so.2; then
LD_PRELOAD=$LD_PRELOAD:/lib/libdl.so.2
fi
export LD_PRELOAD

# ! video/x-raw-yuv,width=320,height=240,format=(fourcc)YV12 ! identity"
# invoke the program with the args given

exec skype



The problem with the solution:

The author is very brief on the instructions and i don't have the knowledge to supplement. Skype doesn't crash, but instead displays a test image: vertical colored bars and a snowy field. When I run the script from the terminal, output is this:

$ ./gstfakevideo
gst.c create_pipeline (155): pipeline created
gst.c create_pipeline (159): pipeline linked
gst.c shim_ioctl (201): request=80685600 nr 0
gst.c shim_ioctl (313): result=-1 error=515 Unknown error 515

gst.c shim_ioctl (201): request=803c7601 nr 1
gst.c shim_ioctl (208): VIDIOCGCAP
gst.c shim_ioctl (313): result=0 error=0 Success

gst.c shim_ioctl (201): request=80685600 nr 0
gst.c shim_ioctl (313): result=-1 error=515 Unknown error 515

gst.c shim_ioctl (201): request=803c7601 nr 1
gst.c shim_ioctl (208): VIDIOCGCAP
gst.c shim_ioctl (313): result=0 error=0 Success

gst.c shim_ioctl (201): request=800e7606 nr 6
gst.c shim_ioctl (236): VIDIOCGPICT
gst.c shim_ioctl (313): result=0 error=0 Success

gst.c shim_ioctl (201): request=400e7607 nr 7
gst.c shim_ioctl (243): VIDIOCSPICT depth:24, colorspace:15
gst.c shim_ioctl (313): result=0 error=0 Success

gst.c shim_ioctl (201): request=80207609 nr 9
gst.c shim_ioctl (255): VIDIOCGWIN
gst.c shim_ioctl (313): result=0 error=0 Success

gst.c shim_ioctl (201): request=4020760a nr 10
gst.c shim_ioctl (259): VIDIOCSWIN
gst.c shim_ioctl (313): result=0 error=0 Success

Starting the process...
Skype Xv: Xv ports available: 1
Skype XShm: XShm support enabled
Skype Xv: Using Xv port 84


What I have:
The webcam works very well in ekiga using a v4l2 plugin.
My hardware drivers app shows GSPCA ZC03xx/VC3xx USB Camera Driver enabled and in use.

My system
Ubuntu 8.04 running a 2.6.24-21-generic kernel
Skype version 2.0.0.72
The newest available UVC driver pack installed a few days ago from http://linuxtv.org/hg/~pinchartl/uvcvideo/file/0280330fd4a0 (http://linuxtv.org/hg/%7Epinchartl/uvcvideo/file/0280330fd4a0)




could someone please help?!?

Thanks

P.S.
I installed libv4l to try one of the suggestions above. i guess the v4l1compat.so resides in /usr/local/lib/libv4l on 8.04, but camera doesn't work, even with that path. the output:
$ env LD_PRELOAD=/usr/lib/libv4l/v4l1compat.so skype
ERROR: ld.so: object '/usr/lib/libv4l/v4l1compat.so' from LD_PRELOAD cannot be preloaded: ignored.

[SGAZ]

In Intrepid, to fix this problem, I installed the libv4l-0 package and preload it with Skype like this:

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

Thanks AmyRose! Creative Webcam NX and Skype worked under 8.04 but totally failed under 8.10. This solution fixed it right up!

[ftmichael]

In Intrepid, to fix this problem, I installed the libv4l-0 package and preload it with Skype like this:

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

This worked beautifully for me too, with my Logitech QuickCam Chat. I edited the entry in my Applications menu so it runs that command instead of just skype when I click it. Thanks so much!

[sandy8925]

Thanks a lot man! I was having the same problem with Skype video and this fixed it.

[MockY]

Thanksk,
this was unfortunately needed in Jauty as well.
However, this fixed the problem with the vertical green lines. Now I hope it fixed the crashing issues as well.

[cas118]

Using the env command in Jaunty is having no joy for me.

Shame.

I get the following
ERROR: ld.so: object '/usr/lib/libv4l/v4l1compat.so' from LD_PRELOAD cannot be preloaded: ignored.
Gtk-Message: Failed to load module "canberra-gtk-module": /usr/lib/gtk-2.0/modules/libcanberra-gtk-module.so: wrong ELF class: ELFCLASS64
ALSA lib ../../../src/pcm/pcm.c:2165:(snd_pcm_open_conf) Cannot open shared library /usr/lib32/alsa-lib/libasound_module_pcm_bluetooth.so
ALSA lib ../../../src/pcm/pcm.c:2165:(snd_pcm_open_conf) Cannot open shared library /usr/lib32/alsa-lib/libasound_module_pcm_bluetooth.so
ALSA lib ../../../src/pcm/pcm.c:2165:(snd_pcm_open_conf) Cannot open shared library /usr/lib32/alsa-lib/libasound_module_pcm_bluetooth.so
ALSA lib ../../../src/pcm/pcm.c:2165:(snd_pcm_open_conf) Cannot open shared library /usr/lib32/alsa-lib/libasound_module_pcm_bluetooth.so
ALSA lib ../../../src/pcm/pcm.c:2165:(snd_pcm_open_conf) Cannot open shared library /usr/lib32/alsa-lib/libasound_module_pcm_bluetooth.so
ALSA lib ../../../src/pcm/pcm.c:2165:(snd_pcm_open_conf) Cannot open shared library /usr/lib32/alsa-lib/libasound_module_pcm_bluetooth.so
Skype V4L: Failed to set picture size (320x240)
Skype V4L: Failed to set picture size (324x248)
Skype V4L: Failed to set picture size (352x288)
Skype V4L: Failed to set picture size (160x120)
Skype V4L: Failed to set picture size (176x144)
Skype V4L: Failed to set picture size (640x480)
Skype V4L: Failed to set picture size (1024x576)
Skype V4L: Failed to find suitable capture size for 320x240
Skype V4L: Could not find a suitable capture format
Starting the process...
Skype Xv: Xv ports available: 31
Skype XShm: XShm support enabled
Skype Xv: Using Xv port 281
Aborted

[Neville Grech]

Same thing exactly is happening to me when I upgraded to Jaunty...

[cool_penguin]

Bravo !! Thank you so much. Editing the entry for Skype in the main menu from "skype" to "env LD_PRELOAD=/usr/lib/libv4l/v4l1compat.so skype" did the trick.

I can now use my Logitech QuickCam Deluxe for notebook perfectly well with skype.

Have a great day.

Cheers,
Harish

[cool_penguin]

Oops !! Forgot to mention that I did this on a fresh install of Jaunty.

[e.m.fields]

Hey guys - for those of us using this solution on ***64-bit Skype***:

The solution here -> http://www.eoinmurphy.org/2009/04/26/logitech-webcam-skype-under-ubuntu/ worked for me:
Note: I am using 64-bit Ubuntu so I installed the skype package from here.
I was getting the following error when launching skype

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

and had to install the 32-bit v4l libraries.

sudo apt-get install lib32v4l-0

As a result I had to modify /usr/local/bin/skype to reflect this. So rather than

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

I had

LD_PRELOAD=/usr/lib32/libv4l/v4l1compat.so /usr/bin/skype

Hopefully this will provide some solutions.

On that subject - I'm thinking we need a more organized / centralized system for getting * Solutions * filtered of this chaotic jungle of forum posts into a format easier to sift through.

Realistically - every problem we solve isn't going to end up in the wiki.

I think this is the #1 thing holding ubuntu/linux back - the ease & speed with which the community can solve problems and then disseminate that information. If every time I have a problem I have to sift through 2 hours of webforums, something could be made more efficient.

Open call for criticism / responses?
- fields

[alexandre_bastien]

Thanks for the hint with skype 64 bits. It worked for me. I'm using an old VIJE Talk Webcam from SavitMicro. It is recognized as a Z-Star Microelectronics Corp. ZC0302 Webcam. I'm using Ubuntu 9.10 64 bits.

By the way I agree so much with you. I really think that we should develop something that would be inbetween bug report and the wiki. Maybe a centralized place where we could find proved workaround for particular systems. For myself, I keep a detailed procedure of every workaround that worked properly for me since I started using Linux (6 years ago). But, there's no where for me to post these. They are not general enough to go on the wiki, and they already got a bug report associated with them.