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Help with webcam on Ubuntu Guest

Posted: 6. Jun 2014, 05:42
by tehdoughnut
I'm trying to use a laptop Webcam on a Ubuntu Guest, using a Windows 7 Host. I have enabled USB and Ubuntu both detects and uses the webcam (the webcam turns on). However, no picture appears and it just shows a black screen. The webcam works fine when used on the Windows Host.

Searching the Internet, I found several posts that say you need to add the current user to the "vboxusers" group, but that group doesn't appear to exist. Is this still a requirement?

Using guvcview I see messages like this one appearing:
Could not grab image (select timeout): Resource Temporarily Unavailable
Is there another step I'm missing to actually capture the video feed from the camera?

Re: Help with webcam on Ubuntu Guest

Posted: 19. Sep 2014, 17:03
by Tsso
Does anyone have a solution for this issue? I get the 'select timeout' error when trying to grab a frame from the video device using it as an USB device. Using it as a VirtualBox webcam device is not a solution as I can't change any settings like auto focus or frame rate which works fine on my native Ubuntu installation. The cam is a Logitech C920 btw. I appreciate any hints.

Additional info: I'm using the current VirtualBox version with the extension pack installed on a 64 bit Windows 7 host. USB 2.0 is enabled in the VM settings. The guest system is a Xubuntu 14.04 32 bit. Guest additions are installed. On a native install the webcam should run out of the box. On my linux guest it doesn't work in any program i tested (including vlc, mplayer, cheese, ...).

Re: Help with webcam on Ubuntu Guest

Posted: 20. Oct 2014, 14:36
by arturion
hello
host Windows 8.1 64 or Windows 7 64. ( virtualbox 4.2 or 4.3 .)
guest Ubuntu 64 or 32 or lubuntu or mythubuntu .

i have exactly same "bug". with my 2 usb /dvb .. 1 dvb-s technisat and or 1 dvb-t pinnacle .

extension pack ( same version last virtualbox) installed , usb 2.0 ehci enable, guest addition ok.
--
the material is well detected and installed in linux

but it does not work. during a test scan, the tuners are locked but gives "filter timeout"

this problem has existed for at least 8 months ..

the "LED" on the "usb description" is orange for initialization

then half green / orange when you try to scan .. ( only with 4.3.14 >•USB: performance fixes , before > orange only)

in the past when this same material was well managed. the "led" was ever green.

there seems to be a problem of buffer usb. ( not big enough )

thanks .
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Re: Help with webcam on Ubuntu Guest

Posted: 20. Mar 2016, 21:35
by Kaliatech
I was having same problem, but was able to resolve it finally. i.e. Everything appeared to be working correctly with the webcam usb connection, but black screen, and guvcview reporting:
Could not grab image (select timeout): Resource Temporarily Unavailable
I noticed that newer versions of VirtualBox have an additional "Webcams" option in the Devices menu whenever extensions are installed. Using that to select my webcam (a Logitech C920) allowed things to work.

Note that it is necessary to first unselect/disconnect the webcam from the normal usb device list.