Bug 16575

Summary: ALi Corp. 5602 (m5602) webcam not working on newest kernels (2.6.31 , 2.6.32, 2.6.35)
Product: v4l-dvb Reporter: TitoM (titomax82)
Component: webcamAssignee: webcam (v4l-dvb_webcam)
Status: RESOLVED OBSOLETE    
Severity: high CC: alan, anverx, dmayr.dev, hjaddad, joseicastrob, shaun.johnstone
Priority: P1    
Hardware: All   
OS: Linux   
Kernel Version: Concerning various kernel form 2.6.28 to 2.6.35 Subsystem:
Regression: Yes Bisected commit-id:
Attachments: deep testing of 2 kernels
Only lucid lynx outputs
Only Jaunty Jackalope outputs
Testing of the 6 different sensors in lucid

Description TitoM 2010-08-12 21:49:26 UTC 
Created attachment 27421 [details]
deep testing of 2 kernels

Notebook: Packard Bell EasyNote MX67-P-023

lsusb: Bus 001 Device 004: ID 0402:5602 ALi Corp. Video Camera Controller

This webcam does "not" work with:
Ubuntu Karmic: 2.6.31
Ubuntu Lucid: 2.6.32-21, 2.6.32-24 , 2.6.35-14
Maverick: 2.6.35
Latest versions (downloadable on august 7th 2010) of: Slax, Slax Remix, Knoppix, DSL, Puppy, Mint, Mandriva, openSUSE - I can't try them all again to know the exact kernel version, I don't have them anymore, but I'm pretty sure they all have kernel 2.6.30 or higher, so I think that the problem is from kernel 2.6.30 to 2.6.35

Webcan "works" with:
Ubuntu Jaunty: 2.6.28-11 , 2.6.28-19
Ubuntu Karmic: 2.6.29 (originally shipped with 2.6.31, then I installed kernel 2.6.29 and webcam worked, but there where major system problems with this combination)

I think it's not a particular distro's problem, but a kernel issue that does not work with the available drivers and newest kernels (I mean higher than 2.6.29)

http://hardware4linux.info/component/26591/ reports 2.6.29-x kernel as the last working
Many people all over internal forums report webcam stopped working after a kernel update

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In programs like gstreamer-properties, Camorama, aMsn, Emesene, Skype or Cheese it's recognized as "USB 2.0 Camera"

All v4l, v4l2, gstreamer (v4l selection not possible, v4l2 yes) and other plugins installed

For example, in aMSN->preferences->other->Audio Video:
- select device box: "v4l2: USB 2.0 Camera"
- select channel box:" ALi m5602"
- and in the video box where image should appear: "unable capture from device" = blank screen


These 2 terminal commands give no different result:
LD_PRELOAD=/usr/lib/libv4l/v4l1compat.so program_to_test
or
LD_PRELOAD=/usr/lib/libv4l/v4l2convert.so program_to_test

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Just one thing a noticed...but i don't know if it's important or not:
when trying the unlucky (for me) kernels webcam light was off and it went on only when a program requested it;
with the lucky (for me) kernels webcam light is always on since startup;
I have to underline that my webcam has no button activation (like some FN+x or hardware button) nor it require a particular software activation...

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VERY IMPORTANT: Please see attachment for more info and screenshots

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Comment 1 TitoM 2010-08-13 21:20:09 UTC 
Created attachment 27437 [details]
Only lucid lynx outputs
Comment 2 TitoM 2010-08-14 08:01:25 UTC 
Created attachment 27439 [details]
Only Jaunty Jackalope outputs
Comment 3 TitoM 2010-08-14 08:07:40 UTC 
Created attachment 27440 [details]
Testing of the 6 different sensors in lucid
Comment 4 TitoM 2010-10-12 09:03:06 UTC 
Another sign that it's a kernel bug:
Mandriva 2009....kernel 2.6.29 -> webcam works
Mandriva 2010....kernel 2.6.3x -> webcam doesn't work

Now i'mcompletely sure it's not a particular distro's problem, but a kernel problem....but no one is listening to me :(
Comment 5 Hjaddaad 2010-10-24 17:43:31 UTC 
I have this particular webcam on my Aspire 5100 running 32bit Ubuntu 10.10, kernel 2.6.35-22. I was experiencing some problems with low exposure (dark image) so I wrote about that on Ubuntu forums and was asked to report my case to this bug. So basically I'm getting THE SAME errors as people reporting that their cams won't work but mine DOES WORK (Although not perfectly).

More info about my case at:
http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=1603083

Hope this helps..
Comment 6 TitoM 2010-10-27 06:50:59 UTC 
My webcam doesn't work even in 10.10 and I notice my lsusb is slight different:

Bus 001 Device 004: ID 0402:5602 ALi Corp. Video Camera Controller

insted of:

Bus 001 Device 003: ID 0402:5602 ALi Corp. M5602 Video Camera Controller

the second (not mine) is more specific....
Comment 7 anverx 2011-01-06 00:34:35 UTC 
Experiencing possibly same issue on Gentoo(64bit) with kernel 2.6.34(r12) (Acer aspire 5100)

Module loads properly detects an s5k83a sensor.  When used with skype, it looks like a protocol mismatch, bits of green and random garbage appear in testing window in addition the whole thing flickers.

Curiously, Hjaddaad above, managed to get it working on hardware identical to mine and a fresh kernel, so could this be an issue of 32 vs.64 bit?
Comment 8 Alan 2013-12-10 21:56:50 UTC 
Closing as obsolete, if this is still seen with a modern kernel please update
Comment 9 Dennis Mayr 2016-10-13 15:19:55 UTC 
Problem persists using newer kernels; on 3.19, 4.2 & 4.4, the ALi webcam doesn't work: it is recognized as present, but there's no video capture (just a black captured frame)
Comment 10 kamazeuci 2020-05-26 15:30:44 UTC 
Problem persists with Kernel 5.0.0-32-generic and Linux Mint.
Comment 11 Dennis Mayr 2020-09-14 16:19:58 UTC 
Problem persists with kernel 5.4.0-47-generic on Ubuntu 20.04.

Not resolved.