Sony Vaio VGN-FE21M webcam (VGP-VCC1) not working in 12.04

[sicco1]

The Sony 'motion eye' webcam built-in the Vaio VGN-FE21M laptop doesn't work in Ubuntu 12.04 32bit. I also tried live discs of 11.10 and 11.04, but cheese didn't recognize the webcam there either.

According to the lsusb info I have a 0ac8:c002 Z-Star Microelectronics Corp. Visual Communication Camera VGP-VCC1 webcam:

Bus 001 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0002 Linux Foundation 2.0 root hub
Bus 002 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0001 Linux Foundation 1.1 root hub
Bus 003 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0001 Linux Foundation 1.1 root hub
Bus 004 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0001 Linux Foundation 1.1 root hub
Bus 005 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0001 Linux Foundation 1.1 root hub
Bus 001 Device 004: ID 054c:0281 Sony Corp. 
Bus 001 Device 005: ID 0ac8:c002 Z-Star Microelectronics Corp. Visual Communication Camera VGP-VCC1
Bus 002 Device 002: ID 046d:c030 Logitech, Inc. iFeel Mouse
Bus 004 Device 002: ID 044e:300c Alps Electric Co., Ltd Bluetooth Controller (ALPS/UGPZ6)

When I run Cheese the following lines are added when checking dmesg:

[ 1071.486601] gspca_main: ISOC data error: [14] len=0, status=-71
[ 1071.686580] gspca_main: ISOC data error: [13] len=0, status=-71
[ 1071.786597] gspca_main: ISOC data error: [13] len=0, status=-71
[ 1071.818572] gspca_main: ISOC data error: [23] len=0, status=-71
[ 1071.887557] video_source:sr[2613]: segfault at 4 ip 0038bc4c sp af2cedf0 error 4 in libgstreamer-0.10.so.0.30.0[33d000+e3000]
[ 1072.018576] gspca_main: ISOC data error: [23] len=0, status=-71
[ 1072.118578] gspca_main: ISOC data error: [22] len=0, status=-71

I know about the R5U87x Userspace Tools, which seems to support similar webcams, but it doesn't support my version (VGP-VCC1) and installing it thus failed.

Does anyone know how to fix this/proceed in any way or should I file a bug? My problem seems to be similar to this bug, but unlike it I didn't have any installation problems when upgrading from 11.10 to 12.04.

[forkandles]

This link is for Mint but it should work with Ubuntu and it may help you:

http://community.linuxmint.com/tutorial/view/219

[sicco1]

Thank you for the advice, but sadly it doesn't fix my problem.

[forkandles]

This will fix it.

Save yourself a lot of time and heartache, go on ebay and buy a cheap webcam such as the Logitech E3500 which works perfectly on most Linux systems, including Ubuntu 12.04.

I have just tested my old E3500 in 12.04 and everything works fine.

I once spent 5 days trying to get a MS Windows webcam (something like a MS LifeCam VX-1000) to work in Linux before the pain became too much and I bought a nice cheap Logitech E3500.
It solved the problem at a stroke. Don't waste any more time trying to get the built-in webcam to work.

[sicco1]

This is an option yes, but I still would like to fix the built-in webcam. I won't be bringing such an external webcam with me when travelling with the laptop, so I still need the built-in webcam to work.

[forkandles]

This person managed to get his identical webcam (Z star 0ac8:c002) working in Kubuntu 10.04 so there is hope for you.

http://www.kubuntuforums.net/showthr...les-on-startup

[sicco1]

Thanks for the continuing advice! I already found that thread and tried the suggested fix, but it didn't work.

[AlanR8]

I had/have a Sony Vaio VGN, can't remember the model but the webcam was the bane of my life. I did get it working and have kept the thread addresses I used to use so give them a go but be warned they are quite old now.

Let us know how you get on.

http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=1544564

http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=968381

[sicco1]

Thank you AlenR8. I also found those threads already and they fix their webcams using R5U87x Userspace Tools. This works for webcam models VGP-VCC2 till VGP-VCC9, but not for my VGP-VCC1. Your laptop is a VGN-FZ21S which has a VCC8.

[sicco1]

I might be on to something. I think the GSPCA driver should support my webcam as it is shown in this list and this one. Sadly enough, the GSPCA information for 12.04 in launchpad doesn't list my model. I got to go now, but I'll be diving into this later tonight.