HP ProBook 6570b using acpi_video0 for backlight rather than intel_backlight

[Gard Vaaler]

When pressing the keys to increase or decrease backlight, or even using the Display dialog's slider, backlight doesn't change. However, the backlight level indicated by the prompt does change. The hardware in question is an HP ProBook 6570b laptop.

ProblemType: Bug
DistroRelease: Ubuntu 13.04
Package: xorg 1:7.7+1ubuntu4
ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 3.8.0-13.23-generic 3.8.3
Uname: Linux 3.8.0-13-generic x86_64
NonfreeKernelModules: wl
.tmp.unity.support.test.0:

ApportVersion: 2.9.2-0ubuntu2
Architecture: amd64
CompizPlugins: No value set for `/apps/compiz-1/general/screen0/options/active_plugins'
CompositorRunning: compiz
CompositorUnredirectDriverBlacklist: '(nouveau|Intel).*Mesa 8.0'
CompositorUnredirectFSW: true
Date: Fri Mar 22 19:31:40 2013
DistUpgraded: 2013-01-27 21:36:15,133 DEBUG enabling apt cron job
DistroCodename: raring
DistroVariant: ubuntu
DkmsStatus:
 bcmwl, 6.20.155.1+bdcom, 3.8.0-12-generic, x86_64: installed
 bcmwl, 6.20.155.1+bdcom, 3.8.0-13-generic, x86_64: installed
 virtualbox, 4.2.8, 3.8.0-12-generic, x86_64: installed
 virtualbox, 4.2.8, 3.8.0-13-generic, x86_64: installed
ExtraDebuggingInterest: Yes, including running git bisection searches
GraphicsCard:
 Intel Corporation 3rd Gen Core processor Graphics Controller [8086:0166] (rev 09) (prog-if 00 [VGA controller])
   Subsystem: Hewlett-Packard Company Device [103c:17ab]
InstallationDate: Installed on 2012-11-13 (129 days ago)
InstallationMedia: Ubuntu 12.10 "Quantal Quetzal" - Release amd64 (20121017.5)
MachineType: Hewlett-Packard HP ProBook 6570b
MarkForUpload: True
ProcEnviron:
 TERM=xterm
 PATH=(custom, no user)
 XDG_RUNTIME_DIR=<set>
 LANG=en_US.UTF-8
 SHELL=/bin/bash
ProcKernelCmdLine: BOOT_IMAGE=/boot/vmlinuz-3.8.0-13-generic root=UUID=1a9c19c9-524c-47a2-89da-6dd88cb8f2ee ro quiet splash vt.handoff=7
SourcePackage: xorg
Symptom: display
UpgradeStatus: Upgraded to raring on 2013-01-27 (53 days ago)
dmi.bios.date: 09/24/2012
dmi.bios.vendor: Hewlett-Packard
dmi.bios.version: 68ICE Ver. F.31
dmi.board.name: 17AB
dmi.board.vendor: Hewlett-Packard
dmi.board.version: KBC Version 42.32
dmi.chassis.type: 10
dmi.chassis.vendor: Hewlett-Packard
dmi.modalias: dmi:bvnHewlett-Packard:bvr68ICEVer.F.31:bd09/24/2012:svnHewlett-Packard:pnHPProBook6570b:pvrA1029D1102:rvnHewlett-Packard:rn17AB:rvrKBCVersion42.32:cvnHewlett-Packard:ct10:cvr:
dmi.product.name: HP ProBook 6570b
dmi.product.version: A1029D1102
dmi.sys.vendor: Hewlett-Packard
version.compiz: compiz 1:0.9.9~daily13.03.20-0ubuntu1
version.ia32-libs: ia32-libs 20090808ubuntu36
version.libdrm2: libdrm2 2.4.42-0ubuntu2
version.libgl1-mesa-dri: libgl1-mesa-dri 9.0.3-0ubuntu1
version.libgl1-mesa-dri-experimental: libgl1-mesa-dri-experimental N/A
version.libgl1-mesa-glx: libgl1-mesa-glx 9.0.3-0ubuntu1
version.xserver-xorg-core: xserver-xorg-core 2:1.13.3-0ubuntu3
version.xserver-xorg-input-evdev: xserver-xorg-input-evdev 1:2.7.3-0ubuntu2b2
version.xserver-xorg-video-ati: xserver-xorg-video-ati 1:7.1.0-0ubuntu2
version.xserver-xorg-video-intel: xserver-xorg-video-intel 2:2.21.5-0ubuntu1
version.xserver-xorg-video-nouveau: xserver-xorg-video-nouveau 1:1.0.6-0ubuntu3b1
xserver.bootTime: Fri Mar 22 19:28:05 2013
xserver.configfile: default
xserver.errors:

xserver.logfile: /var/log/Xorg.0.log
xserver.version: 2:1.13.3-0ubuntu3
xserver.video_driver: intel

[Chris Wilson (ickle)]

It is trying to use 'acpi_video0', the question is why that ACPI driver is dysfunctional. Do you have a choice of an alternative driver?

[Gard Vaaler (gv-f)]

Thanks for the reply. I was never given the option, but if there's some
sort of boot option, let me know and I'll try.

On Mon, Mar 25, 2013 at 3:22 PM, Chris Wilson <email address hidden>wrote:

> It is trying to use 'acpi_video0', the question is why that ACPI driver
> is dysfunctional. Do you have a choice of an alternative driver?
>
> --
> You received this bug notification because you are subscribed to the bug
> report.
> https://bugs.launchpad.net/bugs/1158934
>
> Title:
> Backlight can't be controlled
>
> Status in “xserver-xorg-video-intel” package in Ubuntu:
> New
>
> Bug description:
> When pressing the keys to increase or decrease backlight, or even
> using the Display dialog's slider, backlight doesn't change. However,
> the backlight level indicated by the prompt does change. The hardware
> in question is an HP ProBook 6570b laptop.
>
> ProblemType: Bug
> DistroRelease: Ubuntu 13.04
> Package: xorg 1:7.7+1ubuntu4
> ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 3.8.0-13.23-generic 3.8.3
> Uname: Linux 3.8.0-13-generic x86_64
> NonfreeKernelModules: wl
> .tmp.unity.support.test.0:
>
> ApportVersion: 2.9.2-0ubuntu2
> Architecture: amd64
> CompizPlugins: No value set for
> `/apps/compiz-1/general/screen0/options/active_plugins'
> CompositorRunning: compiz
> CompositorUnredirectDriverBlacklist: '(nouveau|Intel).*Mesa 8.0'
> CompositorUnredirectFSW: true
> Date: Fri Mar 22 19:31:40 2013
> DistUpgraded: 2013-01-27 21:36:15,133 DEBUG enabling apt cron job
> DistroCodename: raring
> DistroVariant: ubuntu
> DkmsStatus:
> bcmwl, 6.20.155.1+bdcom, 3.8.0-12-generic, x86_64: installed
> bcmwl, 6.20.155.1+bdcom, 3.8.0-13-generic, x86_64: installed
> virtualbox, 4.2.8, 3.8.0-12-generic, x86_64: installed
> virtualbox, 4.2.8, 3.8.0-13-generic, x86_64: installed
> ExtraDebuggingInterest: Yes, including running git bisection searches
> GraphicsCard:
> Intel Corporation 3rd Gen Core processor Graphics Controller
> [8086:0166] (rev 09) (prog-if 00 [VGA controller])
> Subsystem: Hewlett-Packard Company Device [103c:17ab]
> InstallationDate: Installed on 2012-11-13 (129 days ago)
> InstallationMedia: Ubuntu 12.10 "Quantal Quetzal" - Release amd64
> (20121017.5)
> MachineType: Hewlett-Packard HP ProBook 6570b
> MarkForUpload: True
> ProcEnviron:
> TERM=xterm
> PATH=(custom, no user)
> XDG_RUNTIME_DIR=<set>
> LANG=en_US.UTF-8
> SHELL=/bin/bash
> ProcKernelCmdLine: BOOT_IMAGE=/boot/vmlinuz-3.8.0-13-generic
> root=UUID=1a9c19c9-524c-47a2-89da-6dd88cb8f2ee ro quiet splash vt.handoff=7
> SourcePackage: xorg
> Symptom: display
> UpgradeStatus: Upgraded to raring on 2013-01-27 (53 days ago)
> dmi.bios.date: 09/24/2012
> dmi.bios.vendor: Hewlett-Packard
> dmi.bios.version: 68ICE Ver. F.31
> dmi.board.name: 17AB
> dmi.board.vendor: Hewlett-Packard
> dmi.board.version: KBC Version 42.32
> dmi.chassis.type: 10
> dmi.chassis.vendor: Hewlett-Packard
> dmi.modalias:
> dmi:bvnHewlett-Packard:bvr68ICEVer.F.31:bd09/24/2012:svnHewlett-Packard:pnHPProBook6570b:pvrA1029D1102:rvnHewlett-Packard:rn17AB:rvrKBCVersion42.32:cvnHewlett-Packard:ct10:cvr:
> dmi.product....

[Chris Wilson (ickle)]

ls /sys/class/backlight

You can override which backlight is used with a snippet:

Section "Device"
  Identifier "Device0"
  Option "Backlight" "name_of_backlight"
EndSection

in /etc/X11/xorg.conf.d/backlight.conf

[Gard Vaaler (gv-f)]

Using /sys/class/backlight/intel_backlight did the trick. Thanks a lot! Can
I offer you any help with e.g. documenting the bug in return?

On Mon, Mar 25, 2013 at 4:46 PM, Chris Wilson <email address hidden>wrote:

> ls /sys/class/backlight
>
> You can override which backlight is used with a snippet:
>
> Section "Device"
> Identifier "Device0"
> Option "Backlight" "name_of_backlight"
> EndSection
>
> in /etc/X11/xorg.conf.d/backlight.conf
>
> --
> You received this bug notification because you are subscribed to the bug
> report.
> https://bugs.launchpad.net/bugs/1158934
>
> Title:
> Backlight can't be controlled
>
> Status in “xserver-xorg-video-intel” package in Ubuntu:
> New
>
> Bug description:
> When pressing the keys to increase or decrease backlight, or even
> using the Display dialog's slider, backlight doesn't change. However,
> the backlight level indicated by the prompt does change. The hardware
> in question is an HP ProBook 6570b laptop.
>
> ProblemType: Bug
> DistroRelease: Ubuntu 13.04
> Package: xorg 1:7.7+1ubuntu4
> ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 3.8.0-13.23-generic 3.8.3
> Uname: Linux 3.8.0-13-generic x86_64
> NonfreeKernelModules: wl
> .tmp.unity.support.test.0:
>
> ApportVersion: 2.9.2-0ubuntu2
> Architecture: amd64
> CompizPlugins: No value set for
> `/apps/compiz-1/general/screen0/options/active_plugins'
> CompositorRunning: compiz
> CompositorUnredirectDriverBlacklist: '(nouveau|Intel).*Mesa 8.0'
> CompositorUnredirectFSW: true
> Date: Fri Mar 22 19:31:40 2013
> DistUpgraded: 2013-01-27 21:36:15,133 DEBUG enabling apt cron job
> DistroCodename: raring
> DistroVariant: ubuntu
> DkmsStatus:
> bcmwl, 6.20.155.1+bdcom, 3.8.0-12-generic, x86_64: installed
> bcmwl, 6.20.155.1+bdcom, 3.8.0-13-generic, x86_64: installed
> virtualbox, 4.2.8, 3.8.0-12-generic, x86_64: installed
> virtualbox, 4.2.8, 3.8.0-13-generic, x86_64: installed
> ExtraDebuggingInterest: Yes, including running git bisection searches
> GraphicsCard:
> Intel Corporation 3rd Gen Core processor Graphics Controller
> [8086:0166] (rev 09) (prog-if 00 [VGA controller])
> Subsystem: Hewlett-Packard Company Device [103c:17ab]
> InstallationDate: Installed on 2012-11-13 (129 days ago)
> InstallationMedia: Ubuntu 12.10 "Quantal Quetzal" - Release amd64
> (20121017.5)
> MachineType: Hewlett-Packard HP ProBook 6570b
> MarkForUpload: True
> ProcEnviron:
> TERM=xterm
> PATH=(custom, no user)
> XDG_RUNTIME_DIR=<set>
> LANG=en_US.UTF-8
> SHELL=/bin/bash
> ProcKernelCmdLine: BOOT_IMAGE=/boot/vmlinuz-3.8.0-13-generic
> root=UUID=1a9c19c9-524c-47a2-89da-6dd88cb8f2ee ro quiet splash vt.handoff=7
> SourcePackage: xorg
> Symptom: display
> UpgradeStatus: Upgraded to raring on 2013-01-27 (53 days ago)
> dmi.bios.date: 09/24/2012
> dmi.bios.vendor: Hewlett-Packard
> dmi.bios.version: 68ICE Ver. F.31
> dmi.board.name: 17AB
> dmi.board.vendor: Hewlett-Packard
> dmi.board.version: KBC Version 42.32
> dmi.chassis.type: 10
> dmi.chassis.vendor: Hewlett-Packard
> dmi.modalias:
> dmi:bvnHewlett-Packard:bvr68ICEVer.F.31:bd09/24/2012:svnHewlett-Packard:pnHPProBook...

[Denys Kyselov (tamias)]

This bug also affected at HP ProBook 4740s on kernel 3.8.0-raring

[Chris Wilson (ickle)]

As a reminder acpi_video should always be a more appropriate controller than intel_backlight. That it appears not to be is either a bug in the acpi firmware or the acpi driver for your system.

[Chris Wilson (ickle)]

Note that other HP machines are being blacklisted in acpi/video.c, e.g.

commit 780a6ec640a3fed671fc2c40e4dd30c03eca3ac3
Author: Ash Willis <email address hidden>
Date: Wed May 29 01:27:59 2013 +0000

    ACPI / video: ignore BIOS initial backlight value for HP Pavilion g6

    This patch addresses kernel bug 56661. BIOS reports an incorrect
    backlight value, causing the driver to switch off the backlight
    completely during startup. This patch ignores the incorrect value from
    BIOS.

You could tweak that patch to match your machine and submit it.

[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 v3.10 kernel[0].

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/v3.10-rc7-saucy/

[Launchpad Janitor (janitor)]

[Expired for linux (Ubuntu) because there has been no activity for 60 days.]

[Vadim Peretokin (vperetokin)]

Comment #4 worked for me as when when acpi_backlight tricks in the grub file failed, while intel_backlight from the terminal was working all along.

This is Aspire 5740 with Ironlake graphics.

I'm wary of testing an upstream kernel, as this system is already using the oldest kernel available to due a USB bug which kills sound capture from USB headsets. Running 13.04.