[Dell XPS 17 (L702X)] Three special keys have scan codes already used by other keys

[Colin Walker]

Dell's XPS computers (mine is a L702x) have three touch sensative keys (I've included a picture) that aren't working properly. It seems that these keys have been given scan codes already claimed by other keys.

Using showkey -s, I've found this:
Key 1: 0xe0 0x5b 0x2d 0xad 0xe0 0xdb
Key 2: 0xe0 0x4c 0xe0 0xcc
Key 3: 0xe0 0x19 0xe0 0x99

In windows these keys are used to reach settings, sound options, and an application of your choice. But in Ubuntu I can't give them a purpose because the above scan codes are already taken by other buttons as follows.

Key 1:
The "x" key has the scan code 0x2d 0xad
The super key has the scan code 0xe0 0x5b 0xe0 0xdb
which together match the Key 1 scan code

Key 2:
has a scan code identical to the brightnessdown key, which if fn + F4

Key 3:
has a scan code identical to the next track key, which is fn + F10

So these three touch keys can't be used as intended (I've been trying to use them to launch important applications).

Right now, they perform the same actions as the keys with matching scan codes. That is, Key 1 opens the launcher and occasionally types the letter "x", Key 2 lowers the brightness, and Key 3 skips tracks. I'd like to give these keys some useful function.

Thanks a lot.

ProblemType: Bug
DistroRelease: Ubuntu 12.04
Package: linux-image-3.2.0-24-generic 3.2.0-24.37
ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 3.2.0-24.37-generic 3.2.14
Uname: Linux 3.2.0-24-generic x86_64
NonfreeKernelModules: nvidia
AlsaVersion: Advanced Linux Sound Architecture Driver Version 1.0.24.
ApportVersion: 2.0.1-0ubuntu7
Architecture: amd64
ArecordDevices:
 **** List of CAPTURE Hardware Devices ****
 card 0: PCH [HDA Intel PCH], device 0: ALC665 Analog [ALC665 Analog]
   Subdevices: 1/1
   Subdevice #0: subdevice #0
AudioDevicesInUse:
 USER PID ACCESS COMMAND
 /dev/snd/controlC1: colinwalker 1665 F.... pulseaudio
 /dev/snd/controlC0: colinwalker 1665 F.... pulseaudio
Card0.Amixer.info:
 Card hw:0 'PCH'/'HDA Intel PCH at 0xd7500000 irq 54'
   Mixer name : 'Realtek ALC665'
   Components : 'HDA:10ec0665,10280570,00100003'
   Controls : 25
   Simple ctrls : 12
Card1.Amixer.info:
 Card hw:1 'NVidia'/'HDA NVidia at 0xd6000000 irq 17'
   Mixer name : 'Nvidia GPU 15 HDMI/DP'
   Components : 'HDA:10de0015,10de0101,00100100'
   Controls : 24
   Simple ctrls : 4
Date: Thu May 17 17:15:54 2012
HibernationDevice: RESUME=UUID=f6a7ee2b-8dea-44cf-8953-f5914cffbb6c
InstallationMedia: Ubuntu 12.04 LTS "Precise Pangolin" - Release amd64 (20120425)
MachineType: Dell Inc. Dell System XPS L702X
ProcEnviron:
 PATH=(custom, no user)
 LANG=en_US.UTF-8
 SHELL=/bin/bash
ProcFB: 0 VESA VGA
ProcKernelCmdLine: BOOT_IMAGE=/boot/vmlinuz-3.2.0-24-generic root=UUID=9620e8bb-d1f0-48d2-b8bf-ddb608ae2c10 ro quiet splash vt.handoff=7
RelatedPackageVersions:
 linux-restricted-modules-3.2.0-24-generic N/A
 linux-backports-modules-3.2.0-24-generic N/A
 linux-firmware 1.79
SourcePackage: linux
StagingDrivers: mei
UpgradeStatus: No upgrade log present (probably fresh install)
dmi.bios.date: 02/22/2012
dmi.bios.vendor: Dell Inc.
dmi.bios.version: A17
dmi.board.asset.tag: Base Board Asset Tag
dmi.board.name: 03RG89
dmi.board.vendor: Dell Inc.
dmi.board.version: FAB1
dmi.chassis.type: 8
dmi.chassis.vendor: Dell Inc.
dmi.chassis.version: 0.1
dmi.modalias: dmi:bvnDellInc.:bvrA17:bd02/22/2012:svnDellInc.:pnDellSystemXPSL702X:pvr:rvnDellInc.:rn03RG89:rvrFAB1:cvnDellInc.:ct8:cvr0.1:
dmi.product.name: Dell System XPS L702X
dmi.sys.vendor: Dell Inc.

[Joseph Salisbury (jsalisbury)]

Would it be possible for you to test the latest upstream kernel? Refer to https://wiki.ubuntu.com/KernelMainlineBuilds . Please test the latest v3.4kernel[1] (Not a kernel in the daily directory). Once you've tested the upstream kernel, please remove the 'needs-upstream-testing' tag(Only that one tag, please leave the other tags). This can be done by clicking on the yellow pencil icon next to the tag located at the bottom of the bug description and deleting the 'needs-upstream-testing' text.

If this bug is fixed in the mainline kernel, please add the following tag 'kernel-fixed-upstream'.

If the mainline kernel does not fix this bug, please add the tag: 'kernel-bug-exists-upstream'.

If you are unable to test the mainline kernel, for example it will not boot, please add the tag: 'kernel-unable-to-test-upstream'.
Once testing of the upstream kernel is complete, please mark this bug as "Confirmed".

Thanks in advance.

http://kernel.ubuntu.com/~kernel-ppa/mainline/v3.4-rc7-precise/

[Colin Walker (colin-walker-d-deactivatedaccount1)]

Thanks a lot for your help. I wasn't really expecting anyone to care about such a specific problem.

I've tested the buttons in the latest kernel, and the issue remains unresolved. All of the buttons have the same scan codes as before and perform the same functions.

One possible sign of improvement is something I tried in Ubuntu Tweak. Since Key 1 has the same scan code as "super" + "x", I tried using this as a shortcut. In the old kernel, it didn't work, but now the same version of Ubuntu Tweak allows me to assign a command to "super" + "x".

Unfortunately, the other keys have key codes that correspond with a single keys, as opposed to Key 1 which has a scan code of two other keys combined. This means Key 2 and Key 3 are still unusable with Ubuntu Tweak.

Thanks a ton for your help.

[Joseph Salisbury (jsalisbury)]

This issue appears to be an upstream bug, since you tested the latest upstream kernel. Would it be possible for you to open an upstream bug report at bugzilla.kernel.org [1]? That will allow the upstream Developers to examine the issue, and may provide a quicker resolution to the bug.

If you are comfortable with opening a bug upstream, It would be great if you can report back the upstream bug number in this bug report. That will allow us to link this bug to the upstream report.

[1] https://wiki.ubuntu.com/Bugs/Upstream/kernel

[Amit Kulkarni (amitanilkulkarni)]

Same bug exists in Dell XPS L502X in Ubuntu 13.04 with the exact key mappings as mentioned by Colin Walker. I'm afraid other XPS and Dell laptops with touch buttons suffer from the same problem.

Waiting for a solution.