[all variants] HOWTO: Fix iSight in Hardy

[benanzo]

Unfortunately despite all the great improvements we've seen in Hardy, the iSights on our Apple Intel Macs got left a little out in the cold. First we're having problems getting the firmware to load, then after fixing that the stock uvcvideo.ko doesn't create a valid video chain which causes the camera not to work at all.

Below are the instructions to get your iSight up and running.

First, if you haven't already done it go ahead and add the Mactel PPA to your /etc/apt/sources.list. This is a good repo to find Mactel-specific fixes and features, including where we'll find the tools to fix our iSights.

# Mactel PPA
deb http://ppa.launchpad.net/mactel-support/ubuntu hardy main
deb-src http://ppa.launchpad.net/mactel-support/ubuntu hardy main

Next open a terminal and do:

$ sudo apt-get update
$ sudo apt-get install isight-firmware-tools

Go ahead and put the iSight firmware (AppleUSBVideoSupport) in /lib/firmware

Now we're going to use one of the utilities we just installed to extract the iSight firmware so it can be properly loaded:

$ sudo ift-extract -a /lib/firmware/AppleUSBVideoSupport

We're now done messing with the iSight firmware portion of the fix. Now test to see if your iSight works by doing:

$ sudo modprobe -r uvcvideo
$ sudo modprobe uvcvideo

If your camera works (test with Cheese or Ekiga) then you're done. Otherwise you might try compiling a new uvcvideo as detailed below:

$ sudo modprobe -r uvcvideo
$ sudo mv /lib/modules/$(uname -r)/ubuntu/media/usbvideo/uvcvideo.ko /lib/modules/$(uname -r)/ubuntu/media/usbvideo/uvcvideo.ko.orig
$ sudo apt-get install libusb-0.1-4 libusb-dev linux-headers-$(uname -r) subversion
$ svn co --revision 205 svn://svn.berlios.de/linux-uvc/linux-uvc/trunk uvcvideo-r205
$ cd uvcvideo-r205
$ make
$ sudo make install
$ sudo depmod -ae
$ sudo modprobe uvcvideo

If it worked then Cheese should autostart after that last command. If it doesn't then try starting Cheese by hand. If the camera still doesn't work go ahead and try rebooting. It is also possible that halting your machine (power off completely) then starting it up again instead of a simple reboot will fix the problem.

Good Luck!

[Dale Cooper]

I got no problem at all, I just followed the basic instructions and it worked instantly.

I own a MB C2D 2nd gen. Is this a problem with newer machines?

[benanzo]

I'm using a first-gen MacBook (1,1)

This howto is in response to the following two bugs:
https://bugs.launchpad.net/mactel-support/+bug/185634
https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+s...24/+bug/216310

[cyberdork33]

Originally Posted by benanzo Now we need to mess with the uvcvideo module so it will create a valid video chain when it's loaded. To do this we need to compile a new version of uvcvideo.

As far as I know, the version of uvcvideo in Hardy was working fine. (It is still working for me...) I think this might only affect certain models.

Also, going to try to get Dirk to replace the old iSight How-To in the FAQ.

[benanzo]

Originally Posted by cyberdork33 As far as I know, the version of uvcvideo in Hardy was working fine. (It is still working for me...) I think this might only affect certain models

That may be true since my iSight was working fine circa Alpha 3 but has stopped in Hardy final. I found that I could only get it to work again by compiling a new uvcvideo in addition to the firmware extraction bit.

But you're right, compiling a new module *may* not be necessary.

[exoticorn]

Thanks for the HOWTO.
One note for those following it, though: You should really try your isight after just the firmware extraction - I followed the whole HOWTO and my isight only worked in ekiga, not in cheese. I then reverted the uvcvideo.ko back to the original one and everything worked fine.

[benanzo]

Originally Posted by exoticorn Thanks for the HOWTO. One note for those following it, though: You should really try your isight after just the firmware extraction - I followed the whole HOWTO and my isight only worked in ekiga, not in cheese. I then reverted the uvcvideo.ko back to the original one and everything worked fine.

Good suggestion, I have updated the howto accordingly.

[guj4_n3b3sk4]

I have edited source.list file as it was said in 1st step of howto. I follow steps and when I do 3rd code box, here's what happens:

ugljesha@blackbox:~$ sudo ift-extract -a /lib/firmware/AppleUSBVideoSupport -f /lib/firmware/isight.fw 
** Message: Found Mac OS X.4 intel driver

** ERROR **: Unable to open /lib/firmware/lib/firmware/isight.fw for writing.
aborting...
Aborted

Where's the problem?

[mabovo]

Originally Posted by guj4_n3b3sk4 I have edited source.list file as it was said in 1st step of howto. I follow steps and when I do 3rd code box, here's what happens: ugljesha@blackbox:~$ sudo ift-extract -a /lib/firmware/AppleUSBVideoSupport -f /lib/firmware/isight.fw ** Message: Found Mac OS X.4 intel driver ** ERROR **: Unable to open /lib/firmware/lib/firmware/isight.fw for writing. aborting... Aborted Where's the problem?

Same here

mabovo@macbook:~$ sudo ift-extract -a /lib/firmware/AppleUSBVideoSupport -f /lib/firmware/isight.fw
** Message: Found Mac OS X.4 intel driver

** ERROR **: Unable to open /lib/firmware/lib/firmware/isight.fw for writing.
aborting...
Cancelado
mabovo@macbook:~$

Also running gstreamer-properties I got this:

mabovo@macbook:~$ gstreamer-properties
gstreamer-properties-Message: Skipping unavailable plugin 'artsdsink'
gstreamer-properties-Message: Skipping unavailable plugin 'v4lmjpegsrc'
gstreamer-properties-Message: Skipping unavailable plugin 'qcamsrc'
gstreamer-properties-Message: Skipping unavailable plugin 'esdmon'
mabovo@macbook:~$

- Not supported std output video device for autovideosink channel
- None device found std input video for v4l2 plugin

Do we need still blacklist isight_usb in Hardy ?

Can we set iSight be loaded with udev instead of hal ?

[cyberdork33]

Originally Posted by mabovo Same here mabovo@macbook:~$ sudo ift-extract -a /lib/firmware/AppleUSBVideoSupport -f /lib/firmware/isight.fw ** Message: Found Mac OS X.4 intel driver ** ERROR **: Unable to open /lib/firmware/lib/firmware/isight.fw for writing. aborting... Cancelado mabovo@macbook:~$

Try running the command without the last part:

sudo ift-extract -a /lib/firmware/AppleUSBVideoSupport

Originally Posted by mabovo Do we need still blacklist isight_usb in Hardy ?

I don't think it even exists

Originally Posted by mabovo Can we set iSight be loaded with udev instead of hal ?

The IFT dev said that there is a switch or something to force the use of udev, but as you know, there are problems using udev to do it. It should use hal.

mabovo, you have already done this part anyway... All you need to do is compile the newer uvcvideo module