[ubuntu] Daru2 Webcam won't turn on

[elusivespoon]

I'm on a Daru2 running Ubuntu 9.04 and no program can detect my webcam. If I press the P2 button nothing changes. The output of `lsusb` remains the same. I read in a related post that Kubuntu might cause problems in keymappings. Some time ago I did install a KDE program which resulted in enough of KDE getting installed that I now have the Kubuntu startup screen, so that could be the issue. How can I reset the keymappings if necessary to get the webcam working?

[thomasaaron]

We don't support Kubuntu. However, the first step is to determine if Kubuntu is actually the problem.

I would boot from a live Ubuntu CD, go to a terminal and run lsusb, then press P2 and run lsusb again to see if the output is any different.

[elusivespoon]

Booted from the LiveCD, and after pressing P2 `lsusb` did list the webcam. So apparently it is a problem with configuration somewhere. Any suggestions on how to move forward?

[Mr. Farlops]

I seem to be having the same problem but I'm under Ubuntu 8.04.

I think I did this to myself though. My theory is that I may have mapped some other system function to the P2 key and thus broke whatever config file is supposed to point the way to the camera driver when I run lsusb.

Now, if I run lsusb before and after pressing P2, I still don't see the camera listed. Can Thomas or anyone tell me where to look to hook these things back together again?

[thomasaaron]

elusivespoon, was the live CD you tested from a Kubuntu CD or an Ubuntu CD?

[elusivespoon]

No clue. I would guess ubuntu, but I can't find the CD. I'm hoping to upgrade to 9.10 sometime soon, so maybe I'll have some luck there.

[elusivespoon]

Just did a fresh install of 9.10, and my webcam is working fine.

[elusivespoon]

Originally Posted by elusivespoon Just did a fresh install of 9.10, and my webcam is working fine.

Check that. It's rather flaky. Sometimes pressing P2 will cause the camera to show up in the output of `lsusb` and when it does, it only occasionally is detected by software.

Edit: after more testing it's pretty much unusable. Can't even guarantee it will work after a fresh boot. If it's working Skype kills it when used on a call (which is pretty much the only reason to use my webcam). And otherwise it stops working pretty quickly on it's own.

[thomasaaron]

Shoot me an email (support...at...) and I'll provide further instructions. We'll probably need to bring it in.