I have a Samsung series 3 (NP350U2B) which was working fine with Ubuntu 64 bit 12.10. That was until a software update a couple of days ago. Before the update the brightness could be set at a range of values, using both the builtin keyboard function keys, and the settings control. After the update the brightness can only be at minimum or maximum values (keyboard function keys and settings control) and the brightness control display stutters when trying to select anything inbetween.

[Rex Sutton]

I have a Samsung series 3 (NP350U2B) which was working fine with Ubuntu 64 bit 12.10. That was until a software update a couple of days ago. Before the update the brightness could be set at a range of values, using both the builtin keyboard function keys, and the settings control. After the update the brightness can only be at minimum or maximum values (keyboard function keys and settings control) and the brightness control display stutters when trying to select anything inbetween.

ProblemType: Bug
DistroRelease: Ubuntu 12.04
Package: linux-image-3.2.0-27-generic 3.2.0-27.43
ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 3.2.0-27.43-generic 3.2.21
Uname: Linux 3.2.0-27-generic x86_64
AlsaVersion: Advanced Linux Sound Architecture Driver Version 1.0.24.
ApportVersion: 2.0.1-0ubuntu11
Architecture: amd64
ArecordDevices:
 **** List of CAPTURE Hardware Devices ****
 card 0: PCH [HDA Intel PCH], device 0: ALC269VB Analog [ALC269VB Analog]
   Subdevices: 1/1
   Subdevice #0: subdevice #0
AudioDevicesInUse:
 USER PID ACCESS COMMAND
 /dev/snd/controlC0: rex 1642 F.... pulseaudio
Card0.Amixer.info:
 Card hw:0 'PCH'/'HDA Intel PCH at 0xf7c00000 irq 45'
   Mixer name : 'Intel CougarPoint HDMI'
   Components : 'HDA:10ec0269,144dc604,00100100 HDA:80862805,80860101,00100000'
   Controls : 25
   Simple ctrls : 12
Date: Sun Jul 29 21:19:31 2012
HibernationDevice: RESUME=UUID=9636a968-1327-403f-96e0-0f7208351868
InstallationMedia:

MachineType: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD. 350U2A/350U2B/300U1A/351U2A/351U2B
ProcFB: 0 inteldrmfb
ProcKernelCmdLine: BOOT_IMAGE=/boot/vmlinuz-3.2.0-27-generic root=UUID=9b30bf9c-28c7-4c72-8b2d-65b93aab7c38 ro quiet splash vt.handoff=7
RelatedPackageVersions:
 linux-restricted-modules-3.2.0-27-generic N/A
 linux-backports-modules-3.2.0-27-generic N/A
 linux-firmware 1.79
SourcePackage: linux
StagingDrivers: mei
UpgradeStatus: Upgraded to precise on 2012-04-29 (91 days ago)
dmi.bios.date: 07/09/2011
dmi.bios.vendor: American Megatrends Inc.
dmi.bios.version: 03PY.M019.20110709.WZW
dmi.board.asset.tag: To be filled by O.E.M.
dmi.board.name: 350U2A/350U2B/300U1A/351U2A/351U2B
dmi.board.vendor: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
dmi.board.version: 03PY
dmi.chassis.asset.tag: No Asset Tag
dmi.chassis.type: 9
dmi.chassis.vendor: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
dmi.chassis.version: N/A
dmi.modalias: dmi:bvnAmericanMegatrendsInc.:bvr03PY.M019.20110709.WZW:bd07/09/2011:svnSAMSUNGELECTRONICSCO.,LTD.:pn350U2A/350U2B/300U1A/351U2A/351U2B:pvr03PY:rvnSAMSUNGELECTRONICSCO.,LTD.:rn350U2A/350U2B/300U1A/351U2A/351U2B:rvr03PY:cvnSAMSUNGELECTRONICSCO.,LTD.:ct9:cvrN/A:
dmi.product.name: 350U2A/350U2B/300U1A/351U2A/351U2B
dmi.product.version: 03PY
dmi.sys.vendor: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.

[starfear (utdilya)]

Notebook NP530U3B.
I solved this:

cat /etc/madprobe.d/blacklist-samsung.conf

blacklist samsung_laptop
blacklist samsung_backlight #if you have

[Harry McKenzie (harryn)]

Same issue here, in the meantime users might want to try installing the samsung-backlight package from here: http://www.voria.org/forum/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=1091

It's pretty frustrating that a bug this critical could be introduced in a stable version post-release. Not really good enough at all.

[Harry McKenzie (harryn)]

Oops didn't realise this bug was for 12.10 - this also affects 12.04 and judging by askubuntu.com has broken Ubuntu for no small amounts of users, hence my mini-rant.