Howto Get Eyetoy Webcam working for Ubuntu

[Captain_Glen]

I can't get my eye toy to work.

I get this error:

glen@glen-desktop:~$ sudo modprobe ov51x-jpeg
FATAL: Error inserting ov51x_jpeg (/lib/modules/2.6.24-19-generic/extra/ov51x-jpeg.ko): Unknown symbol in module, or unknown parameter (see dmesg)

and when I run dmesg:

glen@glen-desktop:~$ dmesg | grep ov
[    0.000000] Linux version 2.6.24-19-generic (buildd@terranova) (gcc version 4.2.3 (Ubuntu 4.2.3-2ubuntu7)) #1 SMP Wed Aug 20 22:56:21 UTC 2008 (Ubuntu 2.6.24-19.41-generic)
[    0.000000] BIOS-provided physical RAM map:
[    0.000000] Movable zone start PFN for each node
[    0.000000]   Movable zone: 0 pages used for memmap
[    0.000000] Nvidia board detected. Ignoring ACPI timer override.
[    0.000000] If you got timer trouble try acpi_use_timer_override
[    0.000000] ACPI: IRQ9 used by override.
[    0.000000] ACPI: IRQ14 used by override.
[    0.000000] ACPI: IRQ15 used by override.
[   36.955212] cpuidle: using governor ladder
[   36.955213] cpuidle: using governor menu
[   50.704771] ov51x_jpeg: disagrees about version of symbol video_devdata
[   50.704773] ov51x_jpeg: Unknown symbol video_devdata
[   50.704935] ov51x_jpeg: disagrees about version of symbol video_unregister_device
[   50.704936] ov51x_jpeg: Unknown symbol video_unregister_device
[   50.704999] ov51x_jpeg: disagrees about version of symbol video_device_alloc
[   50.705001] ov51x_jpeg: Unknown symbol video_device_alloc
[   50.705030] ov51x_jpeg: disagrees about version of symbol video_register_device
[   50.705032] ov51x_jpeg: Unknown symbol video_register_device
[   50.705130] ov51x_jpeg: disagrees about version of symbol video_usercopy
[   50.705132] ov51x_jpeg: Unknown symbol video_usercopy
[   50.705173] ov51x_jpeg: disagrees about version of symbol video_device_release
[   50.705175] ov51x_jpeg: Unknown symbol video_device_release
[   50.716340] ov51x_jpeg: disagrees about version of symbol video_devdata
[   50.716345] ov51x_jpeg: Unknown symbol video_devdata
[   50.716507] ov51x_jpeg: disagrees about version of symbol video_unregister_device
[   50.716509] ov51x_jpeg: Unknown symbol video_unregister_device
[   50.716571] ov51x_jpeg: disagrees about version of symbol video_device_alloc
[   50.716573] ov51x_jpeg: Unknown symbol video_device_alloc
[   50.716601] ov51x_jpeg: disagrees about version of symbol video_register_device
[   50.716603] ov51x_jpeg: Unknown symbol video_register_device
[   50.716701] ov51x_jpeg: disagrees about version of symbol video_usercopy
[   50.716702] ov51x_jpeg: Unknown symbol video_usercopy
[   50.716727] ov51x_jpeg: disagrees about version of symbol video_device_release
[   50.716729] ov51x_jpeg: Unknown symbol video_device_release
[   50.725204] ov51x_jpeg: disagrees about version of symbol video_devdata
[   50.725209] ov51x_jpeg: Unknown symbol video_devdata
[   50.725370] ov51x_jpeg: disagrees about version of symbol video_unregister_device
[   50.725372] ov51x_jpeg: Unknown symbol video_unregister_device
[   50.725434] ov51x_jpeg: disagrees about version of symbol video_device_alloc
[   50.725436] ov51x_jpeg: Unknown symbol video_device_alloc
[   50.725465] ov51x_jpeg: disagrees about version of symbol video_register_device
[   50.725467] ov51x_jpeg: Unknown symbol video_register_device
[   50.725564] ov51x_jpeg: disagrees about version of symbol video_usercopy
[   50.725566] ov51x_jpeg: Unknown symbol video_usercopy
[   50.725591] ov51x_jpeg: disagrees about version of symbol video_device_release
[   50.725593] ov51x_jpeg: Unknown symbol video_device_release
[  497.332820] ov51x_jpeg: disagrees about version of symbol video_devdata
[  497.332830] ov51x_jpeg: Unknown symbol video_devdata
[  497.333014] ov51x_jpeg: disagrees about version of symbol video_unregister_device
[  497.333017] ov51x_jpeg: Unknown symbol video_unregister_device
[  497.333089] ov51x_jpeg: disagrees about version of symbol video_device_alloc
[  497.333092] ov51x_jpeg: Unknown symbol video_device_alloc
[  497.333125] ov51x_jpeg: disagrees about version of symbol video_register_device
[  497.333128] ov51x_jpeg: Unknown symbol video_register_device
[  497.333234] ov51x_jpeg: disagrees about version of symbol video_usercopy
[  497.333237] ov51x_jpeg: Unknown symbol video_usercopy
[  497.333266] ov51x_jpeg: disagrees about version of symbol video_device_release
[  497.333269] ov51x_jpeg: Unknown symbol video_device_release
[ 1135.420501] ov51x_jpeg: disagrees about version of symbol video_devdata
[ 1135.420508] ov51x_jpeg: Unknown symbol video_devdata
[ 1135.420688] ov51x_jpeg: disagrees about version of symbol video_unregister_device
[ 1135.420690] ov51x_jpeg: Unknown symbol video_unregister_device
[ 1135.420761] ov51x_jpeg: disagrees about version of symbol video_device_alloc
[ 1135.420763] ov51x_jpeg: Unknown symbol video_device_alloc
[ 1135.420796] ov51x_jpeg: disagrees about version of symbol video_register_device
[ 1135.420798] ov51x_jpeg: Unknown symbol video_register_device
[ 1135.420905] ov51x_jpeg: disagrees about version of symbol video_usercopy
[ 1135.420907] ov51x_jpeg: Unknown symbol video_usercopy
[ 1135.420936] ov51x_jpeg: disagrees about version of symbol video_device_release
[ 1135.420938] ov51x_jpeg: Unknown symbol video_device_release

[Kasami]

Ok so I have a problem with lines through my video if I want to do anything outside of Cheese, I have heard that this may happen due to the set resolution being too small.

The first screenshot is from cheese at the resolution of 640 x 480, makes a good image.

The second screenshot is from cheese at the resolution of 320 x 240, this is basically what I get on aMSN or Stickam when I try to use the cam with them.

Would permanantly setting my cam's res to 640 x 480 help at all? If so how can I do it, I'm pretty sure it's possible I just can't remember where I saw the command.

[wlbragg]

billyg

Mine webcam is working now with you tip

What tip are you referring to? Share with us!

[Chris Sharman]

Ho hum - really hoped this would have got easier by 9.04. Just upgraded 8.04>8.10>9.04. The little red light is on all the time now. Camorama crashes "Unable to capture image", and turns out the little red light temporarily. xawtv also disables the red light, but does display the image - with pink horizontal stripes (the first time), and pink & green (subsequently). Device Manager's gone too, so I guess this guide needs revision. I've been trying to get this thing working for 4 or 5 versions now ...

[Kasami]

Ho hum - really hoped this would have got easier by 9.04. Just upgraded 8.04>8.10>9.04. The little red light is on all the time now. Camorama crashes "Unable to capture image", and turns out the little red light temporarily. xawtv also disables the red light, but does display the image - with pink horizontal stripes (the first time), and pink & green (subsequently). Device Manager's gone too, so I guess this guide needs revision. I've been trying to get this thing working for 4 or 5 versions now ...

Device Manager Should be under the menu "System". I can't get Camorama working either. Cheese works really well. Xawtv's pink lines are due to it setting the resolution too low. There is a way to up the resolution.

On a quick test hitting J while having XawTV open will take a pic of full resolution and dump it into your home folder. I'll keep looking though.

--EDIT--

Ok found the easiest way. Open XawTV and press E, this will cause a "Chanel Config" Screen to pop up. Make the station ID webcam or something you can remember then press add then save. Then open the .xawtv file that will appear in your home folder with a text editor change their size demensions to 640 x 480. Save it then open Xawtv, resize the window and you should have no more stripes.

[nanotube]

Ho hum - really hoped this would have got easier by 9.04. Just upgraded 8.04>8.10>9.04. The little red light is on all the time now. Camorama crashes "Unable to capture image", and turns out the little red light temporarily. xawtv also disables the red light, but does display the image - with pink horizontal stripes (the first time), and pink & green (subsequently). Device Manager's gone too, so I guess this guide needs revision. I've been trying to get this thing working for 4 or 5 versions now ...

you might have to install package "gnome-device-manager"

[Kopasakis]

i have the problem where the video will show but i will have a series of lines in skype i read somewhere that it might be a resolution issue can anyone help, i don't seem to have the problem in cheese just skype

[andersja]

i have the problem where the video will show but i will have a series of lines in skype i read somewhere that it might be a resolution issue can anyone help, i don't seem to have the problem in cheese just skype

@Kopasakis: Try the Linux forum on the Skype websites:

http://forum.skype.com/index.php?showforum=194

guidelines how to report tech problems in Skype forums:
http://forum.skype.com/index.php?act...ce&f=194&id=16

Also check release notes to see if your problem is mentioned:
https://developer.skype.com/LinuxSkype/ReleaseNotes

Last but not least, check their bug system "Jira" (Skype equivalent of Launchpad.net):
https://developer.skype.com/jira/
https://developer.skype.com/SkypeGarage/ReportIssue

[Kopasakis]

so its been a week and jira has been no help, anyone have any suggestions? the green lines don't show up in cheese unless you drop the resolution to 320 x 240 does anyone know a way to possibly remove that problem by allowing me to see a 320x240 resolution (which skype works on) or possibly go through a hack to allow me to use the 640 x 480 that the camera does work on?

[Zer0 Suii]

so its been a week and jira has been no help, anyone have any suggestions? the green lines don't show up in cheese unless you drop the resolution to 320 x 240 does anyone know a way to possibly remove that problem by allowing me to see a 320x240 resolution (which skype works on) or possibly go through a hack to allow me to use the 640 x 480 that the camera does work on?

Seriously. A lot of people claim they have a working Skype with Eyetoy on Ubuntu then they never tell us anything. Some of us actually have urgent matters to attend to. I'd like to know how to get this frickin' think working! Every time I find something that is a really close call, I have to do something with an "i2c something" file and it's never there.

If that doesn't hlep, I can't get permission to my filesystem at all. I'm really getting angry after wasting 2 full days taking off from work so I can install a great, 5$ webcam that works great with a crappy system like Windows. Why won't it work on this? I know there's a resolution problem. But someone on Windows got it fixed. And Linux, esp. Ubuntu is made by many VERY smart people. Why can't someone just figure this one problem out??