Laptop brightness always reverts to maximum on 12.04

[Garry Cairns]

Whenever I start my laptop the brightness is at maximum. If I turn it down (I set it to minimum) it returns to maximum if I change user account. To be clear, it will still be maximum if I then switch back to the original user account. Very occasionally it has also reset to maximum when I switch workspace, but I can't recreate this behaviour consistently so I'm wary of saying it's the same problem.

My expected behaviour is that the brightness level should stay where I set it, as it did in previous releases. Output of lsb_release -rd, lshw and lspci are below, in that order.

lsb_release -rd
Description: Ubuntu 12.04 LTS
Release: 12.04

lshw
lappy
    description: Portable Computer
    product: Inspiron 1545 ()
    vendor: Winbond Electronics
    serial: F09PXJ1
    width: 64 bits
    capabilities: smbios-2.4 dmi-2.4 vsyscall32
    configuration: boot=normal chassis=portable uuid=44454C4C-3000-1039-8050-C6C04F584A31
  *-core
       description: Motherboard
       product: 0G437N
       vendor: Winbond Electronics
       physical id: 0
       serial: .F09PXJ1.CN7016699C008K.
     *-firmware
          description: BIOS
          vendor: Winbond Electronics
          physical id: 0
          version: A10
          date: 07/17/2009
          size: 64KiB
          capacity: 15MiB
          capabilities: isa pci pcmcia pnp upgrade shadowing cdboot bootselect int13floppy720 int5printscreen int9keyboard int14serial int17printer int10video acpi usb agp smartbattery biosbootspecification netboot
     *-cpu
          description: CPU
          product: Intel(R) Core(TM)2 Duo CPU T6500 @ 2.10GHz
          vendor: Intel Corp.
          physical id: 400
          bus info: cpu@0
          slot: Microprocessor
          size: 1200MHz
          capacity: 2100MHz
          width: 64 bits
          clock: 200MHz
          capabilities: x86-64 fpu fpu_exception wp vme de pse tsc msr pae mce cx8 apic sep mtrr pge mca cmov pat pse36 clflush dts acpi mmx fxsr sse sse2 ss ht tm pbe syscall nx constant_tsc arch_perfmon pebs bts rep_good nopl aperfmperf pni dtes64 monitor ds_cpl est tm2 ssse3 cx16 xtpr pdcm sse4_1 xsave lahf_lm cpufreq
          configuration: cores=2 enabledcores=2 threads=2
        *-cache:0
             description: L1 cache
             physical id: 700
             size: 128KiB
             capacity: 128KiB
             capabilities: internal write-back data
        *-cache:1
             description: L2 cache
             physical id: 701
             size: 2MiB
             capacity: 2MiB
             clock: 66MHz (15.0ns)
             capabilities: pipeline-burst internal varies unified
     *-memory
          description: System Memory
          physical id: 1000
          slot: System board or motherboard
          size: 4GiB
        *-bank:0
             description: DIMM DDR Synchronous 800 MHz (1.2 ns)
             product: HYMP125S64CP8-S6
             vendor: Hynix Semiconductor (Hyundai Electronics)
             physical id: 0
             serial: 4261365D
             slot: DIMM_A
             size: 2GiB
             width: 64 bits
             clock: 800MHz (1.2ns)
        *-bank:1
             description: DIMM DDR Synchronous 800 MHz (1.2 ns)
             product: HYMP125S64CP8-S6
             vendor: Hynix Semiconductor (Hyundai Electronics)
             physical id: 1
             serial: 4221396E
             slot: DIMM_B
             size: 2GiB
             width: 64 bits
             clock: 800MHz (1.2ns)
     *-pci
          description: Host bridge
          product: Mobile 4 Series Chipset Memory Controller Hub
          vendor: Intel Corporation
          physical id: 100
          bus info: pci@0000:00:00.0
          version: 07
          width: 32 bits
          clock: 33MHz
        *-pci:0
             description: PCI bridge
             product: Mobile 4 Series Chipset PCI Express Graphics Port
             vendor: Intel Corporation
             physical id: 1
             bus info: pci@0000:00:01.0
             version: 07
             width: 32 bits
             clock: 33MHz
             capabilities: pci pm msi pciexpress normal_decode bus_master cap_list
             configuration: driver=pcieport
             resources: irq:40 ioport:d000(size=4096) memory:f6d00000-f6efffff ioport:e0000000(size=268435456)
           *-display
                description: VGA compatible controller
                product: RV710 [Mobility Radeon HD 4300 Series]
                vendor: Hynix Semiconductor (Hyundai Electronics)
                physical id: 0
                bus info: pci@0000:01:00.0
                version: 00
                width: 32 bits
                clock: 33MHz
                capabilities: pm pciexpress msi vga_controller bus_master cap_list rom
                configuration: driver=fglrx_pci latency=0
                resources: irq:49 memory:e0000000-efffffff ioport:de00(size=256) memory:f6df0000-f6dfffff memory:f6d00000-f6d1ffff
        *-usb:0
             description: USB controller
             product: 82801I (ICH9 Family) USB UHCI Controller #4
             vendor: Intel Corporation
             physical id: 1a
             bus info: pci@0000:00:1a.0
             version: 03
             width: 32 bits
             clock: 33MHz
             capabilities: uhci bus_master cap_list
             configuration: driver=uhci_hcd latency=0
             resources: irq:20 ioport:6f60(size=32)
        *-usb:1
             description: USB controller
             product: 82801I (ICH9 Family) USB UHCI Controller #5
             vendor: Intel Corporation
             physical id: 1a.1
             bus info: pci@0000:00:1a.1
             version: 03
             width: 32 bits
             clock: 33MHz
             capabilities: uhci bus_master cap_list
             configuration: driver=uhci_hcd latency=0
             resources: irq:21 ioport:6f80(size=32)
        *-usb:2
             description: USB controller
             product: 82801I (ICH9 Family) USB UHCI Controller #6
             vendor: Intel Corporation
             physical id: 1a.2
             bus info: pci@0000:00:1a.2
             version: 03
             width: 32 bits
             clock: 33MHz
             capabilities: uhci bus_master cap_list
             configuration: driver=uhci_hcd latency=0
             resources: irq:22 ioport:6fa0(size=32)
        *-usb:3
             description: USB controller
             product: 82801I (ICH9 Family) USB2 EHCI Controller #2
             vendor: Intel Corporation
             physical id: 1a.7
             bus info: pci@0000:00:1a.7
             version: 03
             width: 32 bits
             clock: 33MHz
             capabilities: pm debug ehci bus_master cap_list
             configuration: driver=ehci_hcd latency=0
             resources: irq:22 memory:fed1c400-fed1c7ff
        *-multimedia
             description: Audio device
             product: 82801I (ICH9 Family) HD Audio Controller
             vendor: Intel Corporation
             physical id: 1b
             bus info: pci@0000:00:1b.0
             version: 03
             width: 64 bits
             clock: 33MHz
             capabilities: pm msi pciexpress bus_master cap_list
             configuration: driver=snd_hda_intel latency=0
             resources: irq:47 memory:f6ffc000-f6ffffff
        *-pci:1
             description: PCI bridge
             product: 82801I (ICH9 Family) PCI Express Port 1
             vendor: Intel Corporation
             physical id: 1c
             bus info: pci@0000:00:1c.0
             version: 03
             width: 32 bits
             clock: 33MHz
             capabilities: pci pciexpress msi pm normal_decode bus_master cap_list
             configuration: driver=pcieport
             resources: irq:41 ioport:3000(size=4096) memory:f0600000-f07fffff ioport:f0800000(size=2097152)
        *-pci:2
             description: PCI bridge
             product: 82801I (ICH9 Family) PCI Express Port 2
             vendor: Intel Corporation
             physical id: 1c.1
             bus info: pci@0000:00:1c.1
             version: 03
             width: 32 bits
             clock: 33MHz
             capabilities: pci pciexpress msi pm normal_decode bus_master cap_list
             configuration: driver=pcieport
             resources: irq:42 ioport:2000(size=4096) memory:f6c00000-f6cfffff ioport:f0400000(size=2097152)
           *-network
                description: Wireless interface
                product: WiFi Link 5100
                vendor: Intel Corporation
                physical id: 0
                bus info: pci@0000:0c:00.0
                logical name: wlan0
                version: 00
                serial: 00:24:d6:06:a0:3a
                width: 64 bits
                clock: 33MHz
                capabilities: pm msi pciexpress bus_master cap_list ethernet physical wireless
                configuration: broadcast=yes driver=iwlwifi driverversion=3.2.0-24-generic firmware=8.83.5.1 build 33692 ip=192.168.1.2 latency=0 link=yes multicast=yes wireless=IEEE 802.11abgn
                resources: irq:48 memory:f6cfe000-f6cfffff
        *-pci:3
             description: PCI bridge
             product: 82801I (ICH9 Family) PCI Express Port 3
             vendor: Intel Corporation
             physical id: 1c.2
             bus info: pci@0000:00:1c.2
             version: 03
             width: 32 bits
             clock: 33MHz
             capabilities: pci pciexpress msi pm normal_decode bus_master cap_list
             configuration: driver=pcieport
             resources: irq:43 ioport:c000(size=4096) memory:f6b00000-f6bfffff ioport:f0200000(size=2097152)
           *-network
                description: Ethernet interface
                product: 88E8040 PCI-E Fast Ethernet Controller
                vendor: Marvell Technology Group Ltd.
                physical id: 0
                bus info: pci@0000:09:00.0
                logical name: eth0
                version: 13
                serial: 00:25:64:54:79:6c
                capacity: 100Mbit/s
                width: 64 bits
                clock: 33MHz
                capabilities: pm msi pciexpress bus_master cap_list ethernet physical tp 10bt 10bt-fd 100bt 100bt-fd autonegotiation
                configuration: autonegotiation=on broadcast=yes driver=sky2 driverversion=1.30 firmware=N/A latency=0 link=no multicast=yes port=twisted pair
                resources: irq:46 memory:f6bfc000-f6bfffff ioport:ce00(size=256)
        *-pci:4
             description: PCI bridge
             product: 82801I (ICH9 Family) PCI Express Port 5
             vendor: Intel Corporation
             physical id: 1c.4
             bus info: pci@0000:00:1c.4
             version: 03
             width: 32 bits
             clock: 33MHz
             capabilities: pci pciexpress msi pm normal_decode bus_master cap_list
             configuration: driver=pcieport
             resources: irq:44 ioport:b000(size=4096) memory:f6800000-f6afffff ioport:f0000000(size=2097152)
        *-usb:4
             description: USB controller
             product: 82801I (ICH9 Family) USB UHCI Controller #1
             vendor: Intel Corporation
             physical id: 1d
             bus info: pci@0000:00:1d.0
             version: 03
             width: 32 bits
             clock: 33MHz
             capabilities: uhci bus_master cap_list
             configuration: driver=uhci_hcd latency=0
             resources: irq:20 ioport:6f00(size=32)
        *-usb:5
             description: USB controller
             product: 82801I (ICH9 Family) USB UHCI Controller #2
             vendor: Intel Corporation
             physical id: 1d.1
             bus info: pci@0000:00:1d.1
             version: 03
             width: 32 bits
             clock: 33MHz
             capabilities: uhci bus_master cap_list
             configuration: driver=uhci_hcd latency=0
             resources: irq:21 ioport:6f20(size=32)
        *-usb:6
             description: USB controller
             product: 82801I (ICH9 Family) USB UHCI Controller #3
             vendor: Intel Corporation
             physical id: 1d.2
             bus info: pci@0000:00:1d.2
             version: 03
             width: 32 bits
             clock: 33MHz
             capabilities: uhci bus_master cap_list
             configuration: driver=uhci_hcd latency=0
             resources: irq:22 ioport:6f40(size=32)
        *-usb:7
             description: USB controller
             product: 82801I (ICH9 Family) USB2 EHCI Controller #1
             vendor: Intel Corporation
             physical id: 1d.7
             bus info: pci@0000:00:1d.7
             version: 03
             width: 32 bits
             clock: 33MHz
             capabilities: pm debug ehci bus_master cap_list
             configuration: driver=ehci_hcd latency=0
             resources: irq:20 memory:fed1c000-fed1c3ff
        *-pci:5
             description: PCI bridge
             product: 82801 Mobile PCI Bridge
             vendor: Intel Corporation
             physical id: 1e
             bus info: pci@0000:00:1e.0
             version: 93
             width: 32 bits
             clock: 33MHz
             capabilities: pci subtractive_decode bus_master cap_list
        *-isa
             description: ISA bridge
             product: ICH9M LPC Interface Controller
             vendor: Intel Corporation
             physical id: 1f
             bus info: pci@0000:00:1f.0
             version: 03
             width: 32 bits
             clock: 33MHz
             capabilities: isa bus_master cap_list
             configuration: latency=0
        *-storage
             description: SATA controller
             product: 82801IBM/IEM (ICH9M/ICH9M-E) 4 port SATA Controller [AHCI mode]
             vendor: Intel Corporation
             physical id: 1f.2
             bus info: pci@0000:00:1f.2
             logical name: scsi0
             logical name: scsi1
             version: 03
             width: 32 bits
             clock: 66MHz
             capabilities: storage msi pm ahci_1.0 bus_master cap_list emulated
             configuration: driver=ahci latency=0
             resources: irq:45 ioport:6e70(size=8) ioport:6e78(size=4) ioport:6e80(size=8) ioport:6e88(size=4) ioport:6ea0(size=32) memory:fed1c800-fed1cfff
           *-disk
                description: ATA Disk
                product: SAMSUNG HM500JI
                physical id: 0
                bus info: scsi@0:0.0.0
                logical name: /dev/sda
                version: 2AC1
                serial: S1YMJD0S625692
                size: 465GiB (500GB)
                capabilities: partitioned partitioned:dos
                configuration: ansiversion=5 signature=000ab13d
              *-volume:0
                   description: EXT4 volume
                   vendor: Linux
                   physical id: 1
                   bus info: scsi@0:0.0.0,1
                   logical name: /dev/sda1
                   logical name: /
                   version: 1.0
                   serial: ee0dd2df-d46c-4b10-8bfe-3872ed7bd5c5
                   size: 461GiB
                   capacity: 461GiB
                   capabilities: primary bootable journaled extended_attributes large_files huge_files dir_nlink recover extents ext4 ext2 initialized
                   configuration: created=2012-04-29 21:17:53 filesystem=ext4 lastmountpoint=/ modified=2012-04-29 22:21:36 mount.fstype=ext4 mount.options=rw,relatime,errors=remount-ro,user_xattr,barrier=1,data=ordered mounted=2012-06-13 19:45:03 state=mounted
              *-volume:1
                   description: Extended partition
                   physical id: 2
                   bus info: scsi@0:0.0.0,2
                   logical name: /dev/sda2
                   size: 4091MiB
                   capacity: 4091MiB
                   capabilities: primary extended partitioned partitioned:extended
                 *-logicalvolume
                      description: Linux swap / Solaris partition
                      physical id: 5
                      logical name: /dev/sda5
                      capacity: 4091MiB
                      capabilities: nofs
           *-cdrom
                description: DVD-RAM writer
                product: DVD+-RW GT10N
                vendor: HL-DT-ST
                physical id: 1
                bus info: scsi@1:0.0.0
                logical name: /dev/cdrom
                logical name: /dev/cdrw
                logical name: /dev/dvd
                logical name: /dev/dvdrw
                logical name: /dev/sr0
                version: A107
                capabilities: removable audio cd-r cd-rw dvd dvd-r dvd-ram
                configuration: ansiversion=5 status=nodisc
        *-serial UNCLAIMED
             description: SMBus
             product: 82801I (ICH9 Family) SMBus Controller
             vendor: Intel Corporation
             physical id: 1f.3
             bus info: pci@0000:00:1f.3
             version: 03
             width: 64 bits
             clock: 33MHz
             configuration: latency=0
             resources: memory:f6ffbf00-f6ffbfff ioport:1100(size=32)
  *-battery
       product: DELL Y823G98
       vendor: SMP
       physical id: 1
       slot: Sys. Battery Bay
       capacity: 44000mWh
       configuration: voltage=11.1V

And lspci:
00:00.0 Host bridge: Intel Corporation Mobile 4 Series Chipset Memory Controller Hub (rev 07)
00:01.0 PCI bridge: Intel Corporation Mobile 4 Series Chipset PCI Express Graphics Port (rev 07)
00:1a.0 USB controller: Intel Corporation 82801I (ICH9 Family) USB UHCI Controller #4 (rev 03)
00:1a.1 USB controller: Intel Corporation 82801I (ICH9 Family) USB UHCI Controller #5 (rev 03)
00:1a.2 USB controller: Intel Corporation 82801I (ICH9 Family) USB UHCI Controller #6 (rev 03)
00:1a.7 USB controller: Intel Corporation 82801I (ICH9 Family) USB2 EHCI Controller #2 (rev 03)
00:1b.0 Audio device: Intel Corporation 82801I (ICH9 Family) HD Audio Controller (rev 03)
00:1c.0 PCI bridge: Intel Corporation 82801I (ICH9 Family) PCI Express Port 1 (rev 03)
00:1c.1 PCI bridge: Intel Corporation 82801I (ICH9 Family) PCI Express Port 2 (rev 03)
00:1c.2 PCI bridge: Intel Corporation 82801I (ICH9 Family) PCI Express Port 3 (rev 03)
00:1c.4 PCI bridge: Intel Corporation 82801I (ICH9 Family) PCI Express Port 5 (rev 03)
00:1d.0 USB controller: Intel Corporation 82801I (ICH9 Family) USB UHCI Controller #1 (rev 03)
00:1d.1 USB controller: Intel Corporation 82801I (ICH9 Family) USB UHCI Controller #2 (rev 03)
00:1d.2 USB controller: Intel Corporation 82801I (ICH9 Family) USB UHCI Controller #3 (rev 03)
00:1d.7 USB controller: Intel Corporation 82801I (ICH9 Family) USB2 EHCI Controller #1 (rev 03)
00:1e.0 PCI bridge: Intel Corporation 82801 Mobile PCI Bridge (rev 93)
00:1f.0 ISA bridge: Intel Corporation ICH9M LPC Interface Controller (rev 03)
00:1f.2 SATA controller: Intel Corporation 82801IBM/IEM (ICH9M/ICH9M-E) 4 port SATA Controller [AHCI mode] (rev 03)
00:1f.3 SMBus: Intel Corporation 82801I (ICH9 Family) SMBus Controller (rev 03)
01:00.0 VGA compatible controller: Advanced Micro Devices [AMD] nee ATI RV710 [Mobility Radeon HD 4300 Series]
09:00.0 Ethernet controller: Marvell Technology Group Ltd. 88E8040 PCI-E Fast Ethernet Controller (rev 13)
0c:00.0 Network controller: Intel Corporation WiFi Link 5100

[Ubuntu Foundations Team Bug Bot (crichton)]

Thank you for taking the time to report this bug and helping to make Ubuntu better. It seems that your bug report is not filed about a specific source package though, rather it is just filed against Ubuntu in general. It is important that bug reports be filed about source packages so that people interested in the package can find the bugs about it. You can find some hints about determining what package your bug might be about at https://wiki.ubuntu.com/Bugs/FindRightPackage. You might also ask for help in the #ubuntu-bugs irc channel on Freenode.

To change the source package that this bug is filed about visit https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+bug/1016724/+editstatus and add the package name in the text box next to the word Package.

[This is an automated message. I apologize if it reached you inappropriately; please just reply to this message indicating so.]

[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 v3.5kernel[0] (Not a kernel in the daily directory) and install both the linux-image and linux-image-extra .deb packages.

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.

[0] http://kernel.ubuntu.com/~kernel-ppa/mainline/v3.5-rc3-quantal/

[Brad Figg (brad-figg)]

This bug is missing log files that will aid in diagnosing the problem. From a terminal window please run:

apport-collect 1016724

and then change the status of the bug to 'Confirmed'.

If, due to the nature of the issue you have encountered, you are unable to run this command, please add a comment stating that fact and change the bug status to 'Confirmed'.

This change has been made by an automated script, maintained by the Ubuntu Kernel Team.

[Garry Cairns (garryjcairns)]

apport-collect 1016724 generates the output below and then hangs so I'm not sure I can change the marking to complete. @jsalisbury I've never tried to manually change kernel before so I'll wait until I have more free time (probably tomorrow) so I can research how to do it properly and safely before I try. Thanks for your attention.

No packages found matching linux.
ERROR: hook /usr/share/apport/general-hooks/ubuntu.py crashed:
Traceback (most recent call last):
  File "/usr/lib/python2.7/dist-packages/apport/report.py", line 718, in add_hooks_info
    symb['add_info'](self, ui)
  File "/usr/share/apport/general-hooks/ubuntu.py", line 45, in add_info
    match_error_messages(report)
  File "/usr/share/apport/general-hooks/ubuntu.py", line 129, in match_error_messages
    if report['ProblemType'] == 'Package':
  File "/usr/lib/python2.7/UserDict.py", line 23, in __getitem__
    raise KeyError(key)
KeyError: 'ProblemType'
Traceback (most recent call last):
  File "/usr/share/apport/apport-gtk", line 499, in <lambda>
    GLib.idle_add(lambda: self.collect_info(on_finished=self.ui_update_view))
  File "/usr/lib/python2.7/dist-packages/apport/ui.py", line 867, in collect_info
    icthread.exc_raise()
  File "/usr/lib/python2.7/dist-packages/apport/REThread.py", line 34, in run
    self._retval = self.__target(*self.__args, **self.__kwargs)
  File "/usr/lib/python2.7/dist-packages/apport/ui.py", line 111, in thread_collect_info
    if report['ProblemType'] == 'Crash' and \
  File "/usr/lib/python2.7/UserDict.py", line 23, in __getitem__
    raise KeyError(key)
KeyError: 'ProblemType'

[Garry Cairns (garryjcairns)]

@jsalisbury tested with the kernel you linked to (amd64 version) and the problem was still apparent.

[Seth Forshee (sforshee)]

In general the kernel doesn't choose the backlight level, it only applies the backlight level chosen by userspace. It's usually g-s-d that provides the brightness values to the kernel, so I'm moving the bug to that package.

[Jordon Bedwell (envygeeks)]

This bug affects all my G series and Envy series HP laptops, as well as my Dell. They all either have an AMD APU (all my HP laptops) or an i5 (the Dell). We had the same problem back in 11.10. There is one thing in common between all my laptops and that's that they all have 7 series graphics, even my favorite (the A4 has discrete 7 series with 6 series on the die.)

[Sebastien Bacher (seb128)]

Thank you for taking the time to report this bug and helping to make Ubuntu better. The issue you are reporting is an upstream one and it would be nice if somebody having it could send the bug to the developers of the software by following the instructions at https://wiki.ubuntu.com/Bugs/Upstream/GNOME. If you have done so, please tell us the number of the upstream bug (or the link), so we can add a bugwatch that will inform us about its status. Thanks in advance.

[Christopher Kyle Horton (christhehorton)]

Possible duplicate of bug 896595?