[Toshiba Satellite A660/07U] Keyboard backlight not working

[bundy]

My keyboard backlight is not working.

ProblemType: Bug
DistroRelease: Ubuntu 13.10
Package: linux-image-3.11.0-18-generic 3.11.0-18.32
ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 3.11.0-18.32-generic 3.11.10.4
Uname: Linux 3.11.0-18-generic x86_64
NonfreeKernelModules: nvidia
ApportVersion: 2.12.5-0ubuntu2.2
Architecture: amd64
AudioDevicesInUse:
 USER PID ACCESS COMMAND
 /dev/snd/controlC1: bundy 2173 F.... pulseaudio
 /dev/snd/controlC0: bundy 2173 F.... pulseaudio
Date: Fri Mar 21 11:42:44 2014
HibernationDevice: RESUME=UUID=47ba67fa-c936-460b-922c-a9f198890d6e
InstallationDate: Installed on 2014-03-19 (1 days ago)
InstallationMedia: Ubuntu 13.10 "Saucy Salamander" - Release amd64 (20131016.1)
MachineType: TOSHIBA Satellite A660
MarkForUpload: True
ProcFB:

ProcKernelCmdLine: BOOT_IMAGE=/boot/vmlinuz-3.11.0-18-generic root=UUID=e52cede5-e32b-469c-9f1f-88d82b4026ef ro quiet splash
RelatedPackageVersions:
 linux-restricted-modules-3.11.0-18-generic N/A
 linux-backports-modules-3.11.0-18-generic N/A
 linux-firmware 1.116.2
SourcePackage: linux
UpgradeStatus: No upgrade log present (probably fresh install)
dmi.bios.date: 09/14/10
dmi.bios.vendor: TOSHIBA
dmi.bios.version: 1.80
dmi.board.asset.tag: Base Board Asset Tag
dmi.board.name: NWQAA
dmi.board.vendor: TOSHIBA
dmi.board.version: 1.00
dmi.chassis.asset.tag: *
dmi.chassis.type: 9
dmi.chassis.vendor: TOSHIBA
dmi.chassis.version: N/A
dmi.modalias: dmi:bvnTOSHIBA:bvr1.80:bd09/14/10:svnTOSHIBA:pnSatelliteA660:pvrPSAW3A-07U00R:rvnTOSHIBA:rnNWQAA:rvr1.00:cvnTOSHIBA:ct9:cvrN/A:
dmi.product.name: Satellite A660
dmi.product.version: PSAW3A-07U00R
dmi.sys.vendor: TOSHIBA

[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 v3.14 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-rc7-trusty/

[bundy (blazenbundy)]

So I gave the upstream gig a chop, but I'm pretty sure I was using a fly swatter and not an axe! Hopefully the extra info is cast to eyes that make sense of it?

[bundy (blazenbundy)]

Ok Christopher may I please start by saying that your recommendation caused me to have to clean slate the notebook!!!

It turns out that the style of UEFI BIOS flash software provided by the vendor in my region (south east asia) is and only can be run from a windows GUI, that being said however not even when I did this would the WinFlash application allow for the flashing to occur.

A very long story brought short would be to say multiple varied command line attempts created a disk error that I could not recover my Ubuntu from. So I clean slated the drive (loosing everything) with Windows 7 and fart arsed around with the vendor provided BIOS flash utility until I came to my senses and looked into how other regions were performing the action. It is with this research that I provide the following advise in the event someone else ever gets in as much poo as I was!!!

http://forums.toshiba.com/t5/General-Troubleshooting/Satellite-A665-S6070-Cannot-update-BIOS/td-p/248322#link_127

I'm pretty sure the above can only be performed on a windows operating system so make sure you befriend someone for the period of building the boot cd or have a virtual instance at your console!!!

I made an educated guess on which bios drive download to use based on the model and make numbers with the BIOS version being as close to my regions declared version.

With the above out of the way I may advise I have successfully updated the bios and have provided a screenshot of the information you were after.

Finally, I may confirm that the backlit keys are still not operational during Ubunutu lifecycle (they do light up pre operating system only and always did do this even prior to anything that has been tried).

Cheers,

Bundy

[bundy (blazenbundy)]

Here is the error I was referring to re-bios-flashing not working with my regions utility.

As a reference for anyone else in the same boat!!!

[penalvch (penalvch)]

bundy, in order to test out a later kernel, could you please test for this with Trusty via http://cdimage.ubuntu.com/daily-live/current/ and advise to the results?

[bundy (blazenbundy)]

Christopher,

May I please ask you to ellaborate exactly what your recommendation "Trusty" is intended to prove? (Please excuse the sensitivity untowards your recommendations however you have 100% clean-slate success thus far!!!). Are you privvy to the distribution of power that could see the backlight over ACPI work through a linux kernelled operating system? <---- I have no idea what I'm saying right there but fark at least meet me in the middle!!!

May I please ask that you be specific in stipulating the exact files you recommend testing or hyperlinks specifically via supplied href?

Cheers,

Bundy

[bundy (blazenbundy)]

Christopher,

Scratch the last comments out of your eyes I now understand what you want me to test, I was seriously over computing at the time of writing, given the lengthy process in clean slate building.

Stand by for results on testing both the x86 and amd64 live boots of Trusty via USB!!!

Cheers,

Bundy

[bundy (blazenbundy)]

Christopher,

I may confirm that those iso builds are not making it any further than the attached photo's blank window.

Additionally, I may confirm that even at the blank stage the backlit keyboard is not active.

Cheers,

Bundy