HOWTO: Making ICM532 chipset based webcams work on breezy

[EnglishRob]

You're a star!

I've been trying to get my two webcam's working on Linux for ages. Both my cameras (Viewquest M318B and Chicony Twinklecam DC-2110) work now. Must admit, the brightness is a little high on the Viewquest camera but I can live with that for now.

Rob

[snigri]

Thank you very much Arnieboy!!!!

My PC-CAM-300 (Creative) is working very well on Gnomemeeting and Mercury.

Your instructions worrked perfectly.

snigri

[4plus2]

Nice instructions, got no errorrs and it worked for me too! Thanks.
I have the USB Z-Star VIMICRO ZC0301P webcam.

Just one question though. Is 20050906 the latest version or will this date need to be changed as time goes on?

[arnieboy]

Nice instructions, got no errorrs and it worked for me too! Thanks.
I have the USB Z-Star VIMICRO ZC0301P webcam.

Just one question though. Is 20050906 the latest version or will this date need to be changed as time goes on?

1) u generally wudnt need a later version if it already works for u cuz most future versions work on including chipsets thats dont work
2) if u are still interested in updates herez where to look:
http://mxhaard.free.fr/spca50x/Download/

[yhotg]

hi arnieboy
i followed your instructions long ago and was working without any kind of problem...
that's it, until today that i thought - folly me - "the cam's resolution is not good, maybe i'll update the driver..."

so, i tried and now don't have cam.

error message:

root@shlita:/home/yhotg/paquetes/webcam/spca5xx-20051105# sudo modprobe spca5xx
FATAL: Error inserting spca5xx (/lib/modules/2.6.12-9-386/kernel/drivers/usb/media/spca5xx.ko): Invalid module format

then i tried to re install the first one following all and every step of your howto again, but still same error, well almost :
root@shlita:/home/yhotg/paquetes/webcam/spca5xx-20050906# sudo modprobe spca5xx
FATAL: Error inserting spca5xx (/lib/modules/2.6.12-9-386/kernel/drivers/usb/media/spca5xx.ko): Invalid module format

Helppppp pls. uff

i already miss my cam, oh precious cam my preeecioussss


thanks

update after 3 hours

well, i had a fortuitous accident with the electricity and after rebooting I tried again the step by step howto and it did work again. amazing.
i don't know what was exactly the problem before, but i have my precious cam back.
so ...

[waffen]

Hello,

I have the same problem with a Genius VideoCAM Messenger and I try this instruction:

Some of you probably might have noticed ICM532 chipset based webcams freezing on breezy (for a comprehensive list refer to: http://mxhaard.free.fr/spca5xx.html ) when u turn on gnomemeeting or camorama. Herez the fix for that:
FOLLOW ALL THE STEPS! DONT TAKE SHORTCUTS IF U DONT KNOW WHAT U ARE DOING
U need to do the following first of all:

sudo apt-get install linux-headers-`uname -r` linux-restricted-modules-`uname -r` build-essential gcc-3.4

now do the following:

sudo passwd root

and set the root password if u already dont have one
now do the following

su
CC=gcc-3.4
export CC
exit
CC=gcc-3.4
export CC
wget http://mxhaard.free.fr/spca50x/Download/spca5xx-20050906.tar.gz
tar xvfz spca5xx-20050906.tar.gz
cd spca5xx-20050906
make
sudo modprobe -r spca5xx

And not found....

Above not make because I dont receipt any error message:
Never mind if the last command above throws up an error.

sudo rm -rf /lib/modules/`uname -r`/kernel/drivers/usb/media/spca5xx*
sudo make install
sudo modprobe spca5xx

Now u should be all set to use ur ICM532 chipset based webcam.

I found this page: http://genius-europe.com/service/faq/tuxcam.htm

but I dont know how install thats drivers

Any idea???

Thanks!!

[arnieboy]

I am not sure what problem u are facing because u havent mentioned that. Have u tried following the instructions step by step? The link that u sent didnt make any sense apart from giving the list of genius webcams.

[waffen]

Hello Arnieboy!!

my problem is in Gnomemeeting, I open a new thread for this: http://www.ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=93855

if you want read the details....please!

I make step by step your how to, the only lines then I not execute:

sudo rm -rf /lib/modules/`uname -r`/kernel/drivers/usb/media/spca5xx*
sudo make install
sudo modprobe spca5xx

because I dont receipt any error message...or I translate into spanish bad your sentence??:
"Never mind if the last command above throws up an error."

Thanks!!

I am not sure what problem u are facing because u havent mentioned that. Have u tried following the instructions step by step? The link that u sent didnt make any sense apart from giving the list of genius webcams.

[arnieboy]

Hello Arnieboy!!

my problem is in Gnomemeeting, I open a new thread for this: http://www.ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=93855

if you want read the details....please!

I make step by step your how to, the only lines then I not execute:

sudo rm -rf /lib/modules/`uname -r`/kernel/drivers/usb/media/spca5xx*
sudo make install
sudo modprobe spca5xx

because I dont receipt any error message...or I translate into spanish bad your sentence??:
"Never mind if the last command above throws up an error."

Thanks!!

lol.. this is a perfect case of "lost in translation"...
The following line

Never mind if the last command above throws up an error.

does NOT mean that you have to stop after that. it means, CARRY ON!
anyway, redo all the steps. but before that make sure u have deleted the spca5xx-20050906 directory from your home folder.

[waffen]

Jajajaja!! ok....

but now I receipt this error:

mario@laptop:~/spca5xx-20050906$ make
Building SPCA5XX driver for 2.5/2.6 kernel.
Remember: you must have read/write access to your kernel source tree.
make -C /lib/modules/`uname -r`/build SUBDIRS=/home/mario/spca5xx-20050906 CC=gcc-3.4 modules
make: *** /lib/modules/2.6.12-9-386/build: No existe el fichero o el directorio. Alto.
make: *** [default] Error 2

Im newbie in Linux and I apreciate your help...this error I dont remenber the appears the last time I execute....

lol.. this is a perfect case of "lost in translation"...
The following line

Never mind if the last command above throws up an error.

does NOT mean that you have to stop after that. it means, CARRY ON!
anyway, redo all the steps. but before that make sure u have deleted the spca5xx-20050906 directory from your home folder.