Brightness controls do not work on Thinkpad T61

[James Ramsay]

I have the nvidia graphics drivers installed on my laptop and the brightess control doesn't work. I will give more info if asked.

ProblemType: Bug
DistroRelease: Ubuntu 14.04
Package: linux-image-3.13.0-8-generic 3.13.0-8.28 [modified: boot/vmlinuz-3.13.0-8-generic]
ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 3.13.0-8.28-generic 3.13.2
Uname: Linux 3.13.0-8-generic x86_64
NonfreeKernelModules: nvidia
ApportVersion: 2.13.2-0ubuntu4
Architecture: amd64
AudioDevicesInUse:
 USER PID ACCESS COMMAND
 /dev/snd/controlC0: jack 3366 F.... pulseaudio
CurrentDesktop: GNOME
Date: Sun Feb 16 20:05:42 2014
HibernationDevice: RESUME=UUID=dca68f85-f13a-46ac-a6f1-464953ec1f41
InstallationDate: Installed on 2014-02-16 (0 days ago)
InstallationMedia: Ubuntu-GNOME 14.04 "Trusty Tahr" - Alpha amd64 (20140216)
MachineType: LENOVO 7663Y1C
PccardctlIdent:
 Socket 0:
   no product info available
PccardctlStatus:
 Socket 0:
   no card
ProcEnviron:
 TERM=xterm
 PATH=(custom, no user)
 XDG_RUNTIME_DIR=<set>
 LANG=en_US.UTF-8
 SHELL=/bin/bash
ProcFB:

ProcKernelCmdLine: BOOT_IMAGE=/boot/vmlinuz-3.13.0-8-generic root=UUID=8c5abef2-b566-4be2-a234-648e209ce22c ro quiet splash
RelatedPackageVersions:
 linux-restricted-modules-3.13.0-8-generic N/A
 linux-backports-modules-3.13.0-8-generic N/A
 linux-firmware 1.124
RfKill:
 0: phy0: Wireless LAN
  Soft blocked: no
  Hard blocked: no
SourcePackage: linux
UpgradeStatus: No upgrade log present (probably fresh install)
dmi.bios.date: 03/18/2011
dmi.bios.vendor: LENOVO
dmi.bios.version: 7LETC9WW (2.29 )
dmi.board.name: 7663Y1C
dmi.board.vendor: LENOVO
dmi.board.version: Not Available
dmi.chassis.asset.tag: No Asset Information
dmi.chassis.type: 10
dmi.chassis.vendor: LENOVO
dmi.chassis.version: Not Available
dmi.modalias: dmi:bvnLENOVO:bvr7LETC9WW(2.29):bd03/18/2011:svnLENOVO:pn7663Y1C:pvrThinkPadT61:rvnLENOVO:rn7663Y1C:rvrNotAvailable:cvnLENOVO:ct10:cvrNotAvailable:
dmi.product.name: 7663Y1C
dmi.product.version: ThinkPad T61
dmi.sys.vendor: LENOVO

[Brad Figg (brad-figg)]

This change was made by a bot.

[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 v3.13 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/v3.14-rc3-trusty/

[James Ramsay (f-jack)]

The upstream did not boot. I added the tag and mark it as confirmed.

[James Ramsay (f-jack)]

The latest daily build fixed this, I am marking the bug as invalid.

[Rüdiger Kupper (ruediger.kupper)]

I confirm this problem on a Thinkpad T61 after upgrade to the official Trusty release. Since the upgrade, brightness controls are not wporking any longer. This problem is *not* fixed!
Reopening.

[Rüdiger Kupper (ruediger.kupper)]

Possible duplicate: Bug 1268252

[moritz rehbach (moritzrehbach)]

Can also confirm the bug. There seems to be a workaround:
Brightness controls do work in terminal mode (Ctrl+Alt+F1) and the change is kept when in GUI mode (Ctrl+Alt+F7).
For me, when I use the brightness controls in Gnome, I can see and move the (ThinkPad-) control slide but changes are not affecting the brightness, same with the slider in Gnome settings.

[James Ramsay (f-jack)]

Okay so we have to use the nvidia-304 driver, the legacy one, instead of
the nvidia 331

On Tue, Apr 29, 2014 at 12:52 PM, moritz rehbach <email address hidden>wrote:

> Can also confirm the bug. There seems to be a workaround:
> Brightness controls do work in terminal mode (Ctrl+Alt+F1) and the change
> is kept when in GUI mode (Ctrl+Alt+F7).
> For me, when I use the brightness controls in Gnome, I can see and move
> the (ThinkPad-) control slide but changes are not affecting the brightness,
> same with the slider in Gnome settings.
>
> --
> You received this bug notification because you are subscribed to the bug
> report.
> https://bugs.launchpad.net/bugs/1280927
>
> Title:
> Brightness controls do not work on Thinkpad T61
>
> Status in “linux” package in Ubuntu:
> Confirmed
>
> Bug description:
> I have the nvidia graphics drivers installed on my laptop and the
> brightess control doesn't work. I will give more info if asked.
>
> ProblemType: Bug
> DistroRelease: Ubuntu 14.04
> Package: linux-image-3.13.0-8-generic 3.13.0-8.28 [modified:
> boot/vmlinuz-3.13.0-8-generic]
> ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 3.13.0-8.28-generic 3.13.2
> Uname: Linux 3.13.0-8-generic x86_64
> NonfreeKernelModules: nvidia
> ApportVersion: 2.13.2-0ubuntu4
> Architecture: amd64
> AudioDevicesInUse:
> USER PID ACCESS COMMAND
> /dev/snd/controlC0: jack 3366 F.... pulseaudio
> CurrentDesktop: GNOME
> Date: Sun Feb 16 20:05:42 2014
> HibernationDevice: RESUME=UUID=dca68f85-f13a-46ac-a6f1-464953ec1f41
> InstallationDate: Installed on 2014-02-16 (0 days ago)
> InstallationMedia: Ubuntu-GNOME 14.04 "Trusty Tahr" - Alpha amd64
> (20140216)
> MachineType: LENOVO 7663Y1C
> PccardctlIdent:
> Socket 0:
> no product info available
> PccardctlStatus:
> Socket 0:
> no card
> ProcEnviron:
> TERM=xterm
> PATH=(custom, no user)
> XDG_RUNTIME_DIR=<set>
> LANG=en_US.UTF-8
> SHELL=/bin/bash
> ProcFB:
>
> ProcKernelCmdLine: BOOT_IMAGE=/boot/vmlinuz-3.13.0-8-generic
> root=UUID=8c5abef2-b566-4be2-a234-648e209ce22c ro quiet splash
> RelatedPackageVersions:
> linux-restricted-modules-3.13.0-8-generic N/A
> linux-backports-modules-3.13.0-8-generic N/A
> linux-firmware 1.124
> RfKill:
> 0: phy0: Wireless LAN
> Soft blocked: no
> Hard blocked: no
> SourcePackage: linux
> UpgradeStatus: No upgrade log present (probably fresh install)
> dmi.bios.date: 03/18/2011
> dmi.bios.vendor: LENOVO
> dmi.bios.version: 7LETC9WW (2.29 )
> dmi.board.name: 7663Y1C
> dmi.board.vendor: LENOVO
> dmi.board.version: Not Available
> dmi.chassis.asset.tag: No Asset Information
> dmi.chassis.type: 10
> dmi.chassis.vendor: LENOVO
> dmi.chassis.version: Not Available
> dmi.modalias:
> dmi:bvnLENOVO:bvr7LETC9WW(2.29):bd03/18/2011:svnLENOVO:pn7663Y1C:pvrThinkPadT61:rvnLENOVO:rn7663Y1C:rvrNotAvailable:cvnLENOVO:ct10:cvrNotAvailable:
> dmi.product.name: 7663Y1C
> dmi.product.version: ThinkPad T61
> dmi.sys.vendor: LENOVO
>
> To manage notifications about this bug go to:
> https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/linux/+bug/1280927/+s...

[Joseph Salisbury (jsalisbury)]

Thank you for taking the time to file a bug report on this issue.

However, given the number of bugs that the Kernel Team receives during any development cycle it is impossible for us to review them all. Therefore, we occasionally resort to using automated bots to request further testing. This is such a request.

  With the recent release of this Ubuntu release, would like to confirm if this bug is still present. Please test again with the newer kernel and indicate in the bug if this issue still exists or not.

You can update to the latest development kernel by simply running the following commands in a terminal window:

    sudo apt-get update
    sudo apt-get dist-upgrade

If the bug still exists, change the bug status from Incomplete to Confirmed. If the bug no longer exists, change the bug status from Incomplete to Fix Released.

If you want this bot to quit automatically requesting kernel tests, add a tag named: bot-stop-nagging.

 Thank you for your help, we really do appreciate it.

[gbear14275 (gbear14275)]

This bug is still affecting me. I updated and tested and still suffer the same issue. While the brightness indicators change, no change in actual display brightness happens.

[xor (xor)]

Also affects my Thinkpad T61p on:

- Kubuntu amd64 14.04
- Nvidia drivers package "nvidia-331" Version: 331.38-0ubuntu7
- Kernel 3.13.0-29-generic #53-Ubuntu SMP

[Andrew Novikov (as-asaw)]

I confirm that for the nvidia-331 the bug is still present, but with the legacy nvidia-304 driver I can successfully change brightness in graphical console.

[MMS-Prodeia (mms-prodeia)]

Same here on R61

With 331 no brightness control, whereas with 304 all works fine ;)

And it seems Suspend even doesn't work well with 331 (restart of lightdm, logout, when waking up), but I have to keep an eye on that one ...