046d:0896 [Acer Aspire 5630] Orbicam not working on Ubuntu 14.04

[thicot]

Webcam Logitech Orbicam (046d:0826) does not work on a newly installed lubuntu 14.04. Machine is an Acer Aspire 5630 with integrated webcam.

I have tried with no success guvcview and skype. Each time, video display remains black and no led on webcam.

ProblemType: Bug
DistroRelease: Ubuntu 14.04
Package: linux-image-3.13.0-27-generic 3.13.0-27.50
ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 3.13.0-27.50-generic 3.13.11
Uname: Linux 3.13.0-27-generic i686
ApportVersion: 2.14.1-0ubuntu3.2
Architecture: i386
CurrentDesktop: LXDE
Date: Sun Jun 1 21:20:59 2014
EcryptfsInUse: Yes
InstallationDate: Installed on 2014-05-29 (3 days ago)
InstallationMedia: Lubuntu 14.04 LTS "Trusty Tahr" - Release i386 (20140416.2)
ProcKernelCmdLine: BOOT_IMAGE=/boot/vmlinuz-3.13.0-27-generic root=UUID=d8a36955-2ebd-48b4-9724-e4e5e1effdf9 ro quiet splash vt.handoff=7
SourcePackage: linux
UpgradeStatus: No upgrade log present (probably fresh install)
dmi.bios.date: 10/25/2006
dmi.bios.vendor: Acer
dmi.bios.version: V3.01
dmi.board.name: Grapevine
dmi.chassis.vendor: Acer
dmi.chassis.version: N/A
dmi.modalias: dmi:bvnAcer:bvrV3.01:bd10/25/2006:svnAcer:pnAspire5630:pvrV3.01:rvnAcer:rnGrapevine:rvrN/A:cvnAcer:ct10:cvrN/A:
dmi.product.name: Aspire 5630
dmi.product.version: V3.01
dmi.sys.vendor: Acer

[Brad Figg (brad-figg)]

This change was made by a bot.

[Joseph Salisbury (jsalisbury)]

Did this issue occur in a previous version of Ubuntu, or is this a new issue?

Would it be possible for you to test the latest upstream kernel? Refer to https://wiki.ubuntu.com/KernelMainlineBuilds . Please test the latest v3.15 kernel[0].

If this bug is fixed in the mainline kernel, please add the following tag 'kernel-fixed-upstream'.

If the mainline kernel does not fix this bug, please add the tag: 'kernel-bug-exists-upstream'.

If you are unable to test the mainline kernel, for example it will not boot, please add the tag: 'kernel-unable-to-test-upstream'.
Once testing of the upstream kernel is complete, please mark this bug as "Confirmed".

Thanks in advance.

[0] http://kernel.ubuntu.com/~kernel-ppa/mainline/v3.15-rc8-utopic/

[thicot (tcoton)]

BIOS has been updated to latest available

output of the command is:

V3.60
08/12/2008

Nothing has change, camera still does not work.

[thicot (tcoton)]

kernel-bug-exists-upstream

upstream kernel v3.15-rc8-utopic tested with no success. Camera still unavailable whether with guvcview or with skype.

[penalvch (penalvch)]

thicot, could you please unplug all USB devices from your computer, plug in only the problematic USB device, immediately place the following in a terminal and attach the uncompressed results:
lsusb -v > lsusb-v.log

[thicot (tcoton)]

The camera is integrated as it is a notebook and there was no devices connected at all from the beginning.

I am doing another fresh install at the moment...

[penalvch (penalvch)]

thicot, despite the camera being integrated, it still utilizes USB for functioning, and we would still need https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/linux/+bug/1325412/comments/7 .

[thicot (tcoton)]

Ok, I thought that this log was already sent by the debug tool. Please find the log attached.

Just for your information, after another fresh install, the camera still does not work.

[penalvch (penalvch)]

thicot, could you please test the latest mainline kernel via http://kernel.ubuntu.com/~kernel-ppa/mainline/v3.15-utopic/ and advise to the results?

[thicot (tcoton)]

I have installed latest version available 3.15-0-031500-generic and result is not convincing.

First time I launched guvcview, nothing happened as usual, no video window and no camera working. Program closed

I then launched Skype which did exactly the same apart of the camera led which was "on" this time but no video working. When I quit Skype, the led shut down then shortly blinked after ca. 15 sec.

Back to guvcview, the camera worked straight away. So, I closed it and started Skype and video did not work.

When I quit and open Skype again, it does not work anymore neither with guvcview.

Back to Skype, the LED is "on" but no video... (on /dev/video0). I quit Skype, restart it and this time no video and no LED...

Reboot-----> Skype = no video nor LED --> Quit

Guvcview = no video nor LED --> Quit

Skype = LED but no video --> Quit (LED blink when closing video options)

Guvcview = video fully working -->Quit

Skype = no video nor LED.... --> Quit

Guvcview = the same --> Quit

Skype = LED but no video --> Quit (LED blink when closing video options)

Guvcview = video working --> Quit

Skype = no video nor LED --> Quit

Guvcview = video working --> Quit

Skype = LED but no video --> Quit (LED blink when closing video options)

Skype = no video nor LED --> Quit

So it looks too random for a normal human to use the webcam!

[penalvch (penalvch)]

thicot, the issue you are reporting is an upstream one. Could you please report this problem through the appropriate channel by following the instructions _verbatim_ at https://wiki.ubuntu.com/Bugs/Upstream/kernel ?

Please provide a direct URL to your e-mail to the mailing list once you have made it so that it may be tracked.

Thank you for your understanding.

[thicot (tcoton)]

Christopher,

the original report is about a normal installation of Lubuntu 14.04 and as requested, I installed an upstream kernel on testing purpose. I am a normal user who just would like to help going forward with an annoying issue with Ubuntu.

The original issue is still on Ubuntu 3.13.0-27.50-generic 3.13.11 and upstream kernel (2 versions ahead) proved that, somewhere in the code there is something blocking normal use of the Orbicam. Does it really make sense to open so many reports in different places?

[penalvch (penalvch)]

thicot:

>"Christopher, the original report is about a normal installation of Lubuntu 14.04 and as requested, I installed an upstream kernel on testing purpose."

This is already obvious to anyone reading this report.

>"I am a normal user who just would like to help going forward with an annoying issue with Ubuntu."

If you want to help, you would want to follow the directions previously advised to you in https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/linux/+bug/1325412/comments/13 .

>"The original issue is still on Ubuntu 3.13.0-27.50-generic 3.13.11 and upstream kernel (2 versions ahead) proved that, somewhere in the code there is something blocking normal use of the Orbicam."

See above.

>"Does it really make sense to open so many reports in different places?"

As the vast majority of upstream developers aren't looking at this report, but the appropriate upstream mailinglist, e-mailing them would only increase the likelihood of your bug being addressed as soon as possible. Would that make sense?

[thicot (tcoton)]

@Christopher,

I have written to the upstream mailing list (<email address hidden>), in the hope it is the right one. Shall I paste here the original message?

email used : tcoton-(at)-free.fr replace "-(at)- " by appropriate character.

[penalvch (penalvch)]

thicot, I would send it to linux-usb.