turn on the camera

[Patrick Dupre]

Hello,

How do I turn on the camera of the laptop?

===========================================================================
 Patrick DUPRÉ                                 | | email: [e-mail]
 Laboratoire interdisciplinaire Carnot de Bourgogne
 9 Avenue Alain Savary, BP 47870, 21078 DIJON Cedex FRANCE
 Tel: [phone]
===========================================================================

[Patrick Dupre]

I get:

This is xawtv-3.106, running on Linux/x86_64 (5.8.4-200.fc32.x86_64)
xinerama 0: 1920x1080+0+0
vid-open-auto: failed to open a capture device
vid-open: could not find a suitable videodev
no video grabber device available
> Hello,
>
> How do I turn on the camera of the laptop?
>
> ===========================================================================
>  Patrick DUPRÉ                                 | | email: [e-mail]
>  Laboratoire interdisciplinaire Carnot de Bourgogne
>  9 Avenue Alain Savary, BP 47870, 21078 DIJON Cedex FRANCE
>  Tel: [phone]
> ===========================================================================
> _______________________________________________
> users mailing list -- [e-mail]
> To unsubscribe send an email to [e-mail]
> Fedora Code of Conduct: https://docs.fedoraproject.org/en-US/project/code-of-conduct/
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[George N. White III]

On Sat, 5 Sep 2020 at 06:08, Patrick Dupre  wrote:
> Hello,
>
> How do I turn on the camera of the laptop?

https://appuals.com/enable-disable-webcam-linux/

Laptop cameras are often USB devices.   Some laptops disable cameras (for
security)
with obscure function keys or possibly BIOS settings.  Since laptops are
power-challenged,
they usually turn the camera off when it is not being used. You should see
a USB camera
device with lsusb if the camera is active.   You can search for the linux
module using the
USB ID's.   Searching for linux configuration reports for your laptop model
may give useful
details.   A recent model laptop may not yet have a linux camera driver.

https://wiki.ubuntu.com/SkypeWebCams has a long list of cameras (including
integrated
laptop models)  that are known to work in linux.

[George N. White III]

On Sat, 5 Sep 2020 at 08:05, Patrick Dupre  wrote:
> Thank for the feedback.
>
> lsusb does not any camera
>
> This my laptop (4 year old)
> QE62 6QD-670XFR (apache pro)

Made by MSI, see https://forum.ubuntu-fr.org/viewtopic.php?id=1976971&p=4
 says

Après 2-3 galère, idem Ubuntu 18.10 installé sur un MSI GP62 6QF.

Tout est fonctionnel:
- La caméra, qu'il faut activer avec Fn+F6 ===> Il faut l'activer pour
avoir le micro intégré (sur Windows le pilote gère les 2, donc rien
d'anormal).
- Les fonctions Fn essentielles comme le rétro éclairage du clavier, le
volume du son et l'éclairage de la dalle
- Le trackpad
Google translation pour les Anglais:

After 2-3 galley[sic], ditto Ubuntu 18.10 installed on an MSI GP62 6QF.

Everything is functional: - The camera, which must be activated with Fn-F6
- It must be activated to have the microphone integrated (on Windows the
driver manages the 2, so nothing abnormal).

- Essential Fn functions such as keyboard backlighting, volume of sound and
slab lighting - Trackpad

[George N. White III]

On Sat, 5 Sep 2020 at 08:37, Patrick Dupre  wrote:
> Thank for the suggestion.
>
> Unfortunately, I do not see any difference
> fn+f6 does not seem to  generate the right sequence

Do other Fn keys work as expected?  Does you system have a
Fn Lock key?   Did you check for the USB device?  Fn+F6  may
not do anything if the camera has been disabled in the BIOS.  The
drivers may not load automatically, and may not even be installed
without further work.

The steps are:

1. turn on camera (BIOS and/or Fn key)
2. what is the USB device info (vendor and product ID's)?
3. which kernel module supports your camera?
4. is the module included in Fedora?

[Roger Heflin]

Install "guvcview", if you have a camera and it supports it then it
should find it.  It should support any uvc compatible camera and
almost all of the last 6 years of cams have been uvc.

if fn-f1 is caught by gnome that implies that maybe fn-f1 == f1 and
that non-fn presses may going to the bios.

I have seen laptops default to function keys to the bios and fn-f1 =
function key to os, often the default is setable in the bios.

On Sat, Sep 5, 2020 at 10:18 AM Patrick Dupre  wrote:
> The only fn+fx which worked is fn+f1 (help of gnome).
>
> It is a built in camera
> HD type (30fps@720p)
>
> I tried to check from the bios, but I cannot find a camera.
>
> Subject: Re: turn on the camera
> On Sat, 5 Sep 2020 at 08:37, Patrick Dupre  wrote:
> > Thank for the suggestion.
> >
> > Unfortunately, I do not see any difference
> > fn+f6 does not seem to  generate the right sequence
>
> Do other Fn keys work as expected?  Does you system have a
> Fn Lock key?   Did you check for the USB device?  Fn+F6  may
> not do anything if the camera has been disabled in the BIOS.  The
> drivers may not load automatically, and may not even be installed
> without further work.
>
> The steps are:
> turn on camera (BIOS and/or Fn key)
> what is the USB device info (vendor and product ID's)?
> which kernel module supports your camera?
> is the module included in Fedora?
>
> --
> George N. White III
>
> _______________________________________________ users mailing list -- [e-mail] To unsubscribe send an email to [e-mail] Fedora Code of Conduct: https://docs.fedoraproject.org/en-US/project/code-of-conduct/ List Guidelines: https://fedoraproject.org/wiki/Mailing_list_guidelines List Archives: https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/[e-mail]
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[Patrick Dupre]

> Subject: Re: turn on the camera
>
> Install "guvcview", if you have a camera and it supports it then it
> should find it.  It should support any uvc compatible camera and
> almost all of the last 6 years of cams have been uvc.

guvcview
GUVCVIEW: version 2.0.7
GUVCVIEW: couldn't open /home/pdupre/.config/guvcview2/video0 for read: No such file or directory
V4L2_CORE: ERROR opening V4L interface: No such file or directory
GUVCVIEW (1): Guvcview error
     no video device found
> if fn-f1 is caught by gnome that implies that maybe fn-f1 == f1 and
> that non-fn presses may going to the bios.
>
> I have seen laptops default to function keys to the bios and fn-f1 =
> function key to os, often the default is setable in the bios.
>
> On Sat, Sep 5, 2020 at 10:18 AM Patrick Dupre  wrote:
> > The only fn+fx which worked is fn+f1 (help of gnome).
> >
> > It is a built in camera
> > HD type (30fps@720p)
> >
> > I tried to check from the bios, but I cannot find a camera.
> >
> > Subject: Re: turn on the camera
> > On Sat, 5 Sep 2020 at 08:37, Patrick Dupre  wrote:
> > > Thank for the suggestion.
> > >
> > > Unfortunately, I do not see any difference
> > > fn+f6 does not seem to  generate the right sequence
> >
> > Do other Fn keys work as expected?  Does you system have a
> > Fn Lock key?   Did you check for the USB device?  Fn+F6  may
> > not do anything if the camera has been disabled in the BIOS.  The
> > drivers may not load automatically, and may not even be installed
> > without further work.
> >
> > The steps are:
> > turn on camera (BIOS and/or Fn key)
> > what is the USB device info (vendor and product ID's)?
> > which kernel module supports your camera?
> > is the module included in Fedora?
> >
> > --
> > George N. White III
> >
> > _______________________________________________ users mailing list -- [e-mail] To unsubscribe send an email to [e-mail] Fedora Code of Conduct: https://docs.fedoraproject.org/en-US/project/code-of-conduct/ List Guidelines: https://fedoraproject.org/wiki/Mailing_list_guidelines List Archives: https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/[e-mail]
> > _______________________________________________
> > users mailing list -- [e-mail]
> > To unsubscribe send an email to [e-mail]
> > Fedora Code of Conduct: https://docs.fedoraproject.org/en-US/project/code-of-conduct/
> > List Guidelines: https://fedoraproject.org/wiki/Mailing_list_guidelines
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>
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[Jonathan Billings]

> On Sep 5, 2020, at 11:19, Patrick Dupre  wrote:
>
> The only fn+fx which worked is fn+f1 (help of gnome).

I don’t think you are hitting the right key sequence. Pressing the F1 key alone brings up the gnome help, Fn-F1 does something hardware-dependent.

Fn-F6 (pressed in that order, keeping the Fn pressed down) should activate and deactivate the camera.

You can test this by pressing the other hardware buttons like the key for keyboard backlight, screen brightness and volume, which are activated with Fn and the marked F keys.

--
Jonathan Billings

[George N. White III]

On Sat, 5 Sep 2020 at 12:18, Patrick Dupre  wrote:
> The only fn+fx which worked is fn+f1 (help of gnome).

So you don't have brightness or sound level control?   This is rare in
my experience, but that has been with products from large vendors
(Apple, Lenovo, Dell, etc.).

What is the normal function of Fn+F1 (usually there are icons to indicate
the purpose of the Fn+Fn keys) on the key tops.

As Roger mentioned, check for a BIOS setting to enable the Fn keys.
> It is a built in camera
> HD type (30fps@720p)

If it is a USB device you need to  find the ID's with lsusb once you have
it turned on.   It is possible that the camera can be turned on via ACPI.
> I tried to check from the bios, but I cannot find a camera.

There may be an option to enable the Fn keys.   Ubuntu
tends to support a wider range of hardware without extra work than
Fedora, but if Ubuntu can enable the camera there should be a way
to do it Fedora.   You could try booting a live Ubuntu USB key. If
the Fn keys work, check the kernel command-line and loaded modules
for something that enables the keys.
> *Subject:* Re: turn on the camera
> On Sat, 5 Sep 2020 at 08:37, Patrick Dupre  wrote:
> > Thank for the suggestion.
> >
> > Unfortunately, I do not see any difference
> > fn+f6 does not seem to  generate the right sequence
>
> Do other Fn keys work as expected?  Does you system have a
> Fn Lock key?   Did you check for the USB device?  Fn+F6  may
> not do anything if the camera has been disabled in the BIOS.  The
> drivers may not load automatically, and may not even be installed
> without further work.
>
> The steps are:
> turn on camera (BIOS and/or Fn key)
> what is the USB device info (vendor and product ID's)?
> which kernel module supports your camera?
> is the module included in Fedora?
>
> --
> George N. White III
>
> _______________________________________________ users mailing list --
> [e-mail] To unsubscribe send an email to
> [e-mail] Fedora Code of Conduct:
> https://docs.fedoraproject.org/en-US/project/code-of-conduct/ List
> Guidelines: https://fedoraproject.org/wiki/Mailing_list_guidelines List
> Archives:
> https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/[e-mail]

[Samuel Sieb]

On 9/5/20 12:22 PM, Jonathan Billings wrote:
> > On Sep 5, 2020, at 11:19, Patrick Dupre  wrote:
> >
> > The only fn+fx which worked is fn+f1 (help of gnome).
>
> I don’t think you are hitting the right key sequence. Pressing the F1 key alone brings up the gnome help, Fn-F1 does something hardware-dependent.

This is not generally true on newer laptops (and macs).  The default of 
pressing the key is the special function.  To get an actual function key 
(F1, etc), you have to use the Fn button.  Sometimes there's a BIOS 
setting to swap that.

[Patrick Dupre]

> On 9/5/20 12:22 PM, Jonathan Billings wrote:
> > > On Sep 5, 2020, at 11:19, Patrick Dupre  wrote:
> > >
> > > The only fn+fx which worked is fn+f1 (help of gnome).
> >
> > I don’t think you are hitting the right key sequence. Pressing the F1 key alone brings up the gnome help, Fn-F1 does something hardware-dependent.
>
> This is not generally true on newer laptops (and macs).  The default of 
> pressing the key is the special function.  To get an actual function key 
> (F1, etc), you have to use the Fn button.  Sometimes there's a BIOS 
> setting to swap that.

Yes, I enabled it.

fn+f6 generates (in a gnome-terminal)
~
fn+f10 opens a firefox window option
fn+f7 opens a window when I do it from firefox
There are the only fn+fx which work now.
But, I do not remember, but I obtained that fn+f12 generates the sleeping mode.
Maybe when I disabled the fn/win option in the bios.
I am going to check

f6 seems to generate the same sequence.
~
> users mailing list -- [e-mail]
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[Patrick Dupre]

Hello,

News,

The bizarre thing that the camera works when run fedora-live.
fn+f6 still does not work.
Is is a driver issue?
How can I solve?
> > > The only fn+fx which worked is fn+f1 (help of gnome).
> >
> > I don’t think you are hitting the right key sequence. Pressing the F1 key alone brings up the gnome help, Fn-F1 does something hardware-dependent.
>
> This is not generally true on newer laptops (and macs).  The default of 
> pressing the key is the special function.  To get an actual function key 
> (F1, etc), you have to use the Fn button.  Sometimes there's a BIOS 
> setting to swap that.
> _______________________________________________
> users mailing list -- [e-mail]
> To unsubscribe send an email to [e-mail]
> Fedora Code of Conduct: https://docs.fedoraproject.org/en-US/project/code-of-conduct/
> List Guidelines: https://fedoraproject.org/wiki/Mailing_list_guidelines
> List Archives: https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/[e-mail]

[Doug McGarrett]

On 9/5/20 7:37 AM, Patrick Dupre wrote:
> Thank for the suggestion.
> Unfortunately, I do not see any difference
> fn+f6 does not seem to  generate the right sequence
> *Sent:* Saturday, September 05, 2020 at 1:28 PM
> *From:* "George N. White III" 
> *To:* "Community support for Fedora users" 
> *Subject:* Re: turn on the camera
> On Sat, 5 Sep 2020 at 08:05, Patrick Dupre <[e-mail] 
> > wrote:
> Thank for the feedback.
> lsusb does not any camera
> This my laptop (4 year old)
> QE62 6QD-670XFR (apache pro)
>
> Made by MSI, see 
> https://forum.ubuntu-fr.org/viewtopic.php?id=1976971&p=4%C2%A0says
>  After 2-3 galley[sic], ditto Ubuntu 18.10 installed on an MSI GP62 6QF.
>
> Everything is functional: - The camera, which must be activated with 
> Fn-F6 - It must be activated to have the microphone integrated (on 
> Windows the driver manages the 2, so nothing abnormal).
> Essential Fn functions such as keyboard backlighting, volume of
>
> sound and slab lighting - Trackpad
> /snip/
>
> George N. White III
> _
> lshw should at least show that the camera is there and wired up.

--doug
> users mailing list -- [e-mail]
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> Fedora Code of Conduct: https://docs.fedoraproject.org/en-US/project/code-of-conduct/
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[Patrick Dupre]

it works from fedora-live (but no fn+fx)

BisonCam, NB Pro
configuration: driver=uvcvideo maxpower=500mA speed=480Mbit/s

I probably need to install the uvcvideo driver

===========================================================================
 Patrick DUPRÉ                                 | | email: [e-mail]
 Laboratoire interdisciplinaire Carnot de Bourgogne
 9 Avenue Alain Savary, BP 47870, 21078 DIJON Cedex FRANCE
 Tel: [phone]
===========================================================================
> Sent: Saturday, September 05, 2020 at 4:45 PM
> From: "Doug McGarrett" 
> To: "Community support for Fedora users" , "Patrick Dupre" 
> Subject: Re: turn on the camera
>
> On 9/5/20 7:37 AM, Patrick Dupre wrote:
> > Thank for the suggestion.
> > Unfortunately, I do not see any difference
> > fn+f6 does not seem to  generate the right sequence
> > *Sent:* Saturday, September 05, 2020 at 1:28 PM
> > *From:* "George N. White III" 
> > *To:* "Community support for Fedora users" 
> > *Subject:* Re: turn on the camera
> > On Sat, 5 Sep 2020 at 08:05, Patrick Dupre <[e-mail] 
> > > wrote:
> > Thank for the feedback.
> > lsusb does not any camera
> > This my laptop (4 year old)
> > QE62 6QD-670XFR (apache pro)
> >
> > Made by MSI, see 
> > https://forum.ubuntu-fr.org/viewtopic.php?id=1976971&p=4%C2%A0says
> >  After 2-3 galley[sic], ditto Ubuntu 18.10 installed on an MSI GP62 6QF.
> >
> > Everything is functional: - The camera, which must be activated with 
> > Fn-F6 - It must be activated to have the microphone integrated (on 
> > Windows the driver manages the 2, so nothing abnormal).
> > Essential Fn functions such as keyboard backlighting, volume of
> >
> > sound and slab lighting - Trackpad
> > /snip/
> >
> > George N. White III
> > _
> > lshw should at least show that the camera is there and wired up.
>
> --doug
> > users mailing list -- [e-mail]
> > To unsubscribe send an email to [e-mail]
> > Fedora Code of Conduct: https://docs.fedoraproject.org/en-US/project/code-of-conduct/
> > List Guidelines: https://fedoraproject.org/wiki/Mailing_list_guidelines
> > List Archives: https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/[e-mail]

[George N. White III]

On Sat, 5 Sep 2020 at 17:58, Patrick Dupre  wrote:
> it works from fedora-live (but no fn+fx)
>
> BisonCam, NB Pro
> configuration: driver=uvcvideo maxpower=500mA speed=480Mbit/s

Get the USB id's from lsusb.
> I probably need to install the uvcvideo driver

It comes with the kernel.   "modinfo uvcvideo" should show the
supported ID's:

% modinfo uvcvideo
filename:
 /lib/modules/5.8.4-200.fc32.x86_64/kernel/drivers/media/usb/uvc/uvcvideo.ko.xz
version:        1.1.1
license:        GPL
description:    USB Video Class driver
author:         Laurent Pinchart 
srcversion:     704B02C38DD542CFE0FA57E
alias:          usb:v*p*d*dc*dsc*dp*ic0Eisc01ip01in*
alias:          usb:v*p*d*dc*dsc*dp*ic0Eisc01ip00in*
alias:          usb:v8086p0B03d*dc*dsc*dp*ic0Eisc01ip00in*
[...]
alias:          usb:v0416pA91Ad*dc*dsc*dp*ic0Eisc01ip00in*
depends:
videobuf2-v4l2,videodev,videobuf2-common,videobuf2-vmalloc,mc
retpoline:      Y
intree:         Y
name:           uvcvideo
vermagic:       5.8.4-200.fc32.x86_64 SMP mod_unload
sig_id:         PKCS#7
signer:         Fedora kernel signing key
sig_key:        54:67:07:CD:E2:CE:C0:DE:B8:B2:0A:21:A0:4E:9B:14:F1:A7:99:30
sig_hashalgo:   sha256
signature:      2B:54:6D:96:26:5D:0D:4D:51:DF:14:D9:08:C8:9D:FA:99:79:A4:80:
[...]
parm:           clock:Video buffers timestamp clock
parm:           hwtimestamps:Use hardware timestamps (uint)
parm:           nodrop:Don't drop incomplete frames (uint)
parm:           quirks:Forced device quirks (uint)
parm:           trace:Trace level bitmask (uint)
parm:           timeout:Streaming control requests timeout (uint)

What do you get (while camera is powered up) from "sudo modprobe -av
uvcvideo"?

[Max Pyziur]

On Sat, 5 Sep 2020, Patrick Dupre wrote:
> Hello,
>
> News,
>
> The bizarre thing that the camera works when run fedora-live.
> fn+f6 still does not work.
> Is is a driver issue?
> How can I solve?

I have the following packages installed:
cheese-3.34.0-3.fc32.x86_64
cheese-libs-3.34.0-3.fc32.x86_64
camorama-0.20.7-5.fc32.x86_64

When I run either cheese or camorama, the webcam is activated. cheese 
gives you some interesting creative effects, and allows you to make 
videos.

Running Xfce ...

Multimedia->Cheese
or
Multimedia-> Camorama Webcam Viewer

fyi,

Max
> > > > The only fn+fx which worked is fn+f1 (help of gnome).
> > >
> > > I don’t think you are hitting the right key sequence. Pressing the F1 key alone brings up the gnome help, Fn-F1 does something hardware-dependent.
> >
> > This is not generally true on newer laptops (and macs).  The default of
> > pressing the key is the special function.  To get an actual function key
> > (F1, etc), you have to use the Fn button.  Sometimes there's a BIOS
> > setting to swap that.
> > _______________________________________________
> > users mailing list -- [e-mail]
> > To unsubscribe send an email to [e-mail]
> > Fedora Code of Conduct: https://docs.fedoraproject.org/en-US/project/code-of-conduct/
> > List Guidelines: https://fedoraproject.org/wiki/Mailing_list_guidelines
> > List Archives: https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/[e-mail]
>
> users mailing list -- [e-mail]
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