ASUS Transformer Book T101HA-GR029T - Webcam not working

[pgfeller]

Hi all,

I've installed Ubuntu Mate Release 19.10 (64-bit, Kernel Linux 5.3.0-46-generic x86_64) on my ASUS Transformer Book (T101HA-GR029T). Almost everything works out of the box. The only thing not working is the webcam. It would be very nice if that would work as well. I try to post the relevant information about my system below (let me know if something else is required):

> lspci

00:00.0 Host bridge: Intel Corporation Atom/Celeron/Pentium Processor x5-E8000/J3xxx/N3xxx Series SoC Transaction Register (rev 36)
00:02.0 VGA compatible controller: Intel Corporation Atom/Celeron/Pentium Processor x5-E8000/J3xxx/N3xxx Integrated Graphics Controller (rev 36)
00:03.0 Multimedia controller: Intel Corporation Atom/Celeron/Pentium Processor x5-E8000/J3xxx/N3xxx Series Imaging Unit (rev 36)
00:0a.0 Non-VGA unclassified device: Intel Corporation Device 22d8 (rev 36)
00:0b.0 Signal processing controller: Intel Corporation Atom/Celeron/Pentium Processor x5-E8000/J3xxx/N3xxx Series Power Management Controller (rev 36)
00:14.0 USB controller: Intel Corporation Atom/Celeron/Pentium Processor x5-E8000/J3xxx/N3xxx Series USB xHCI Controller (rev 36)
00:1a.0 Encryption controller: Intel Corporation Atom/Celeron/Pentium Processor x5-E8000/J3xxx/N3xxx Series Trusted Execution Engine (rev 36)
00:1c.0 PCI bridge: Intel Corporation Atom/Celeron/Pentium Processor x5-E8000/J3xxx/N3xxx Series PCI Express Port #1 (rev 36)
00:1f.0 ISA bridge: Intel Corporation Atom/Celeron/Pentium Processor x5-E8000/J3xxx/N3xxx Series PCU (rev 36)
01:00.0 Network controller: Qualcomm Atheros QCA9377 802.11ac Wireless Network Adapter (rev 31)

> lsusb

Bus 002 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0003 Linux Foundation 3.0 root hub
Bus 001 Device 004: ID 0b05:183d ASUSTek Computer, Inc. ASUS HID Device 
Bus 001 Device 003: ID 13d3:3501 IMC Networks 
Bus 001 Device 002: ID 058f:6387 Alcor Micro Corp. Flash Drive
Bus 001 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0002 Linux Foundation 2.0 root hub

hw-probe output available @ https://linux-hardware.org/?probe=9b6660e48d

It might be that the device is not PCI nor USB ... I suspect I2C - but I do not know.

Any help what I might do to make this working would be highly appreciated (I would even try to build a patched kernel).

thanks and kind regards,
Patrik

[CelticWarrior]

Sorry, bad news.

Like what happens with many others crappy "bay trail"/"cherry tail" based hardware, some devices, namely the webcam, are not supported. Whether they will be or not in the future only time will tell.

[oldfred]

This kernel will not be in 20.04 unless you manually install it. Perhaps in 20.10?

Linux Kernel 5.7 finally fixes some Bay Trail & Cherry Trail issues
https://www.phoronix.com/scan.php?pa...Trail-Touch-57
Bay Trail issues, boot parameter required
http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=2314964

[pgfeller]

Thank you both for your reply ... bad luck indeed - but there seems to be hope according to oldfred - I'm quite new to those things - but I like the OS already; why not to try to compile my own kernel - will at least give it a try .

[oldfred]

You do not have to compile it, but use a ppa to download it for Ubuntu.
You still may have issues as part of creating a distribution is making sure every application works and or has to be recompiled to work with newer kernel.

Never tried to change kernel.
https://kernel.ubuntu.com/~kernel-ppa/mainline/

[pgfeller]

I was able to upgrade the kernel to 5.7.0-RC1 and the device still boots - the touchscreen is a bit messed up - but nothing I could not fix with xinput & randr; unfortunately the camera still does not work. I will go back to the supported kernel to be on the safe side. So I assume I have to live with the broken camera.

Many thanks for your help - much appreciated!

[mörgæs]

Which applications have you used for testing the camera?

[pgfeller]

Hi mörgæs,

I've used "Cheese" to check if the camera was recognized. Is there another application that I should try?

kind regards,
Patrik

[mörgæs]

Yes, guvcview.

[pgfeller]

I tried guvcview on kernel 5.3.0-46 & 5.7.0-RC1; unfortunately with both kernels the application does not start. It displays a message box "Gucview error - no video device found". Does not sound promising .