[Dell XPS 13 (L322X)] Cannot adjust screen brightness

[Francisco Cribari]

With kernel 3.8.0-21 I am able to adjust the screen bringhtness using the Fn keys. There is a regression in kernel 3.8.0-22. When using the latter I am unable to control screen brightness. Hardware is DELL XPS 13 and I running Ubuntu Linux 13.04 64 bit.

ProblemType: Bug
DistroRelease: Ubuntu 13.04
Package: xorg 1:7.7+1ubuntu4
ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 3.8.0-21.32-generic 3.8.8
Uname: Linux 3.8.0-21-generic x86_64
ApportVersion: 2.9.2-0ubuntu8
Architecture: amd64
CompizPlugins: No value set for `/apps/compiz-1/general/screen0/options/active_plugins'
CompositorRunning: None
Date: Fri May 24 14:23:59 2013
DistUpgraded: Fresh install
DistroCodename: raring
DistroVariant: ubuntu
GraphicsCard:
 Intel Corporation 3rd Gen Core processor Graphics Controller [8086:0166] (rev 09) (prog-if 00 [VGA controller])
   Subsystem: Dell Device [1028:058b]
InstallationDate: Installed on 2013-05-16 (8 days ago)
InstallationMedia: Ubuntu-GNOME 13.04 "Raring Ringtail" - Release amd64 (20130424)
MachineType: Dell Inc. Dell System XPS L322X
MarkForUpload: True
ProcKernelCmdLine: BOOT_IMAGE=/vmlinuz-3.8.0-21-generic root=/dev/mapper/ubuntu--gnome--vg-root ro quiet splash vt.handoff=7
SourcePackage: xorg
Symptom: display
UpgradeStatus: No upgrade log present (probably fresh install)
dmi.bios.date: 01/22/2013
dmi.bios.vendor: Dell Inc.
dmi.bios.version: A07
dmi.board.name: 0PJHXN
dmi.board.vendor: Dell Inc.
dmi.board.version: A00
dmi.chassis.type: 8
dmi.chassis.vendor: Dell Inc.
dmi.chassis.version: 0.1
dmi.modalias: dmi:bvnDellInc.:bvrA07:bd01/22/2013:svnDellInc.:pnDellSystemXPSL322X:pvr:rvnDellInc.:rn0PJHXN:rvrA00:cvnDellInc.:ct8:cvr0.1:
dmi.product.name: Dell System XPS L322X
dmi.sys.vendor: Dell Inc.
version.compiz: compiz N/A
version.ia32-libs: ia32-libs 20090808ubuntu36
version.libdrm2: libdrm2 2.4.43-0ubuntu1
version.libgl1-mesa-dri: libgl1-mesa-dri 9.1.1-0ubuntu3
version.libgl1-mesa-dri-experimental: libgl1-mesa-dri-experimental N/A
version.libgl1-mesa-glx: libgl1-mesa-glx 9.1.1-0ubuntu3
version.xserver-xorg-core: xserver-xorg-core 2:1.13.3-0ubuntu6
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 2:2.21.6-0ubuntu4
version.xserver-xorg-video-nouveau: xserver-xorg-video-nouveau 1:1.0.7-0ubuntu1

[Launchpad Janitor (janitor)]

Status changed to 'Confirmed' because the bug affects multiple users.

[Earendil02 (earendil002)]

I suffer the same problem too, adjusting the brightness via settings or keyboard doesn't actually affect screen brightness, and when it lowers brightness due to inactivity the screen flashes scaringly. Same hardware: Dell XPS13 developer edition w/ native ubuntu (upgraded to 13.04 and up-to-date).

[Tony Thomas (01tonythomas)]

Same problem with my Asus S56CA-XX030R ultrabook. The brightness decreases for one single level, and remains unchanged on further tries. Fixed it by installing xbacklight and using command :
xbackligh -set xx

where xx range from 00 to 100

[Brian Pitts (bpitts)]

This looks like a duplicate of bug 954661

[Lucas Romero Di Benedetto (lucasromerodb)]

Same problem with my Dell Inspiron 15r

[Vangelis Tasoulas (cyberang3l)]

Same here

Dell XPS 13 Developer Edition - Kubuntu 13.04 64 bit

[Francisco Cribari (cribari)]

The problem remains in kernel 3.10.0.

[Borislav Slavov (borislav-deactivatedaccount)]

Same problem here. Dell XPS 13 Developer Edition - Ubuntu 12.04 64 bit

[Tom D (apocryphalauthor)]

Same here. I'm waiting on the 3.8.0-21 kernel until this gets fixed.

[toretto (toretto460)]

Same problem with Dell xps13 - 3.8.0-29-generic kernel

[Brian Pitts (bpitts)]

This is working for me with 3.8.0-30.44

[penalvch (penalvch)]

Francisco Cribari, this bug was reported a while ago and there hasn't been any activity in it recently. We were wondering if this is still an issue? If so, could you please test for this with the latest development release of Ubuntu? ISO images are available from http://cdimage.ubuntu.com/daily-live/current/ .

If it remains an issue, could you please run the following command in the development release from a Terminal (Applications->Accessories->Terminal), as it will automatically gather and attach updated debug information to this report:

apport-collect -p linux REPLACE-WITH-BUG-NUMBER

If reproducible, could you also please test the latest upstream kernel available (not the daily folder) following https://wiki.ubuntu.com/KernelMainlineBuilds ? It will allow additional upstream developers to examine the issue. Once you've tested the upstream kernel, please comment on which kernel version specifically you tested. If this bug is fixed in the mainline kernel, please add the following tags:
kernel-fixed-upstream
kernel-fixed-upstream-VERSION-NUMBER

where VERSION-NUMBER is the version number of the kernel you tested. For example:
kernel-fixed-upstream-v3.13-rc6

This can be done by clicking on the yellow circle with a black pencil icon next to the word Tags located at the bottom of the bug description. As well, please remove the tag:
needs-upstream-testing

If the mainline kernel does not fix this bug, please add the following tags:
kernel-bug-exists-upstream
kernel-bug-exists-upstream-VERSION-NUMBER

As well, please remove the tag:
needs-upstream-testing

Once testing of the upstream kernel is complete, please mark this bug's Status as Confirmed. Please let us know your results. Thank you for your understanding.

[Launchpad Janitor (janitor)]

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

[Luciano Panepucci (lpanebr)]

This problem started affecting my TODAY.

dell xps 13
ubuntu 12.04
WITH the “New Hardware Support” installed a couple days ago.

The issue seems to have emerged from the last update.

What information should I provide to get help???

[penalvch (penalvch)]

Luciano Panepucci, thank you for your comment. So your hardware and problem may be tracked, could you please file a new report with Ubuntu by executing the following in a terminal while booted into the default Ubuntu kernel (not a mainline one) via:
ubuntu-bug linux

For more on this, please read the official Ubuntu documentation:
Ubuntu Bug Control and Ubuntu Bug Squad: https://wiki.ubuntu.com/Bugs/BestPractices#X.2BAC8-Reporting.Focus_on_One_Issue
Ubuntu Kernel Team: https://wiki.ubuntu.com/KernelTeam/KernelTeamBugPolicies#Filing_Kernel_Bug_reports
Ubuntu Community: https://help.ubuntu.com/community/ReportingBugs#Bug_reporting_etiquette

When opening up the new report, please feel free to subscribe me to it.

As well, please do not announce in this report you created a new bug report.

Thank you for your understanding.

Helpful bug reporting tips:
https://wiki.ubuntu.com/ReportingBugs