mmal_vc_component_enable: failed to enable component: ENOSPC

Question

I know this is a common error, but I can now add another instance to the (rather long) list of people with this issue. The camera module isn't initialising the ENOSPC driver.

raspistill -o test.jpg
mmal: mmal_vc_component_enable: failed to enable component: ENOSPC
mmal: camera component couldn't be enabled
mmal: main: Failed to create camera component
mmal: Failed to run camera app. Please check for firmware updates

Here are the solutions that I have tried so far:

1. Installed the camera in the port next to the DVI socket and made sure that both ends of the ribbon cable are seated.

2. Enabled the camera through a terminal on the PI via "sudo raspi-config"

3. Updated the Raspberry PI firmware through a terminal with "sudo rpi-update"

4. Increased the GPU memory available from the default of 128 to 144

5. Used "sudo vcgencmd get_camera" to make sure that the camera is detected. (output from this command is: supported=1 detected=1)

6. Checked that there is no other process accessing the camera: "sudo ps aux|grep raspi" the output was: pi 1097 0.0 0.0 4372 540 pts/0 S+ 09:09 0:00 grep --color=auto raspi

7. Re-installed Raspberian via NOOBS from scratch, didn't change anything else, performed all of the above again and tore out the last strand of my hair as it still failed :).

Help please!

Answer 1

I had exactly this problem. The camera was working fine and then didn't... Same error message.

I seemed to be able to solve it by $sudo raspi-config then re-enabling the camera in Interface Options, then rebooting.

Perhaps worth a try for someone before ordering a new cam.

Answer 2

I have used a software that streamed the camera signal. After manually stopping it with sudo service motion stop, the raspistill commands worked fine. So I guess it was a problem of accessing the camera, there were a demon thread blocking the usage for other programs.

Answer 3

I have seen the same but on most occasions found it was to do with the cable connections to the camera facing or not to the connections. Check a single camera cable on another Pi; if it works check combination of cables to give required lengths with one or other of the available cable connectors.

Answer 4

I had the same problem. I tried an older version of Raspbian 4.9.59 Nov 2017 and the camera worked. I then reflashed the SD card with the June 2018 download. I skipped the request to update when the Pi booted up. I'm running Raspbian 4.14.50-v7+ #1122 and the camera works now. When you update it, you get 41.14.62-v7+ #1134 so don't update. It has a bug.

Answer 5

No answers or suggestions from this forum. I asked the same thing on the Raspberry forum and am going to replace the camera.

Edit: 29th Aug 2018 New camera module arrived today, replaced and worked instantly. No software changes.

Answer 6

I had exactly the same problem, brand new Raspberry Pi HQ camera, worked fine and suddenly stoped with the same error message. Solution that worked for me : Preferences > Raspberry Pi Configuration > Interfaces > Disable the Camera and reboot your raspberry Pi. Once rebooted, do the same but this time enable the camera and reboot the Pi again. This should fix the problem.