I have been given a webcam and a microphone.....which I would like to use !

Have plugged them into the laptop......with absolutely no reaction from the computer.....nothing at all.

I am using Ubuntu 7.04.....feisty fawn...

There is an installation disk which came with the webcam, but this is for a windoze machine.....and cannot be used with my present set-up.

Any help to get them active will be greatly appreciated, especially if it is of a not too technical nature........be gentle with me!!

You need to go to the Ubunto web site forum (google for site address) and use search with something like webcam install and the type logictech or what ever.  Someone has most like to have used it already and would have posted any problem and solutions.  If not request info on driver from the site tell them the model, it like that the driver is in the repos. for download.

What's the precise make and model? What shows up if you run "lsusb" on the Linux machine after it is attached?

Unfortunately, webcams are even worse than printers when it comes to Linux. You really have to either get lucky or research the hel_l out of it and then still get lucky, because the manufacturers are happy to sell several completely different (chip-level) hardware products with the exact same product name and packaging. Each one will require completely different drivers and may or may not have one for Linux.

I waited a long time and finally bought a Logitech that uses the new USB video class standard (and USB audio class for its microphone), and I had to download a new beta-quality "linux-uvc" driver to make it work. This has the advantage of being a new interoperable standard rather than yet another proprietary driver model, sort of like standard usb-storage drivers for just about any USB disk drive. I'm hoping that the future will be painless like it is now with most disks.

I use webcam on Linux , use Kopete which is achat software , KDE,

I use PClinuxOS, OpenSUSE, Feodra

But they are al KDE, not GNOME

Kopete works well on gnome,also. I use Ubuntu and have tried kopete and it worked fine I've used my webcam which happens to be one of those cheap ones from China and a mic without any problems. Try Gyachi, or just research on the Ubuntu forum for the know how.

Hey! why don't you upgrade to Gutsy?

Have had same situaton with an older NB webcam. Searched internet long time, at the end I had to learn, that there was no possibility to make that special cam working with ubuntu.

Sh''! happens!

I got rid of all the odd distros and settled down into PClinuxOS 2007 running a KDE desktops.  I just got comfortable and everyday I find more things I can do.  I kicked the M$ out of my main drive.  ie deleted it.  I have no more M$ software running.  I have an old logitech webcam that was one of the few on the linux hardware list that is fully supported, its ten years old but works fine in Kopete along with a cheap mic and ear phone set from tesco.  My OS shopping days are over its now getting down into more of the nuts and bolts.  

you can try this site and use it for other issues as well http://www.linux-drivers.org/

my geek son has recently visited me, and he had a shot at installing the webcam......and failed.....

He then tried it on a windoze machine....... and failed.......it would seem that the webcam itself is faulty.....no great damage, only to my pride...mai pen rai!!

Many thanks to all those who offered help................