10de:0429 [Lenovo ThinkPad T61] Backlight control does not work, but there are entries in /sys/class/backlight

[Tommi Helander]

With nvidia driver, backlight control doesn't work in Ubuntu 14.04 via hotkeys or brightness applet.

WORKAROUND: Use nouveau.

ProblemType: Bug
DistroRelease: Ubuntu 14.04
Package: linux-image-3.13.0-19-generic 3.13.0-19.40 [modified: boot/vmlinuz-3.13.0-19-generic]
ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 3.13.0-19.40-generic 3.13.6
Uname: Linux 3.13.0-19-generic x86_64
NonfreeKernelModules: nvidia
ApportVersion: 2.13.3-0ubuntu1
Architecture: amd64
AudioDevicesInUse:
 USER PID ACCESS COMMAND
 /dev/snd/controlC0: tommi 1964 F.... pulseaudio
CurrentDesktop: Unity
Date: Wed Apr 2 22:53:56 2014
HibernationDevice: RESUME=UUID=3e4b62ed-a926-47a3-ae19-44b96d1376ee
InstallationDate: Installed on 2014-03-30 (3 days ago)
InstallationMedia: Ubuntu 14.04 LTS "Trusty Tahr" - Beta amd64 (20140326)
MachineType: LENOVO 645745G
PccardctlIdent:
 Socket 0:
   no product info available
PccardctlStatus:
 Socket 0:
   no card
ProcFB:

ProcKernelCmdLine: BOOT_IMAGE=/vmlinuz-3.13.0-19-generic root=UUID=01d49c75-94f4-417c-beae-d16fd8b8df83 ro quiet splash
RelatedPackageVersions:
 linux-restricted-modules-3.13.0-19-generic N/A
 linux-backports-modules-3.13.0-19-generic N/A
 linux-firmware 1.126
SourcePackage: linux
UpgradeStatus: No upgrade log present (probably fresh install)
dmi.bios.date: 12/06/2007
dmi.bios.vendor: LENOVO
dmi.bios.version: 7LETA7WW (2.07 )
dmi.board.name: 645745G
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:bvr7LETA7WW(2.07):bd12/06/2007:svnLENOVO:pn645745G:pvrThinkPadT61:rvnLENOVO:rn645745G:rvrNotAvailable:cvnLENOVO:ct10:cvrNotAvailable:
dmi.product.name: 645745G
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 v3.14 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-trusty/

[Tommi Helander (tommi-helander)]

I removed the nvidia driver (331.38) in order to avoid problems when installing the upstream kernel. This, however, seemed to fix the issue, because brightness control is now working with the noveau driver and the stock kernel. This would mean that this is actually a bug in the proprietary nvidia driver?

[Tommi Helander (tommi-helander)]

No, I was wrong. Tested with upstream kernel 3.14 and backlight control working with nvidia driver 331.38. Confirms kernel bug bug.

[Tommi Helander (tommi-helander)]

Damn, apparently the nvidia driver is not actualy in use, even thoug additional drivers tab under software and sources claims it to be in use. "sudo lshw -c video" gives the following output:

  *-display
       description: VGA compatible controller
       product: G86M [Quadro NVS 140M]
       vendor: NVIDIA Corporation
       physical id: 0
       bus info: pci@0000:01:00.0
       version: a1
       width: 64 bits
       clock: 33MHz
       capabilities: pm msi pciexpress vga_controller bus_master cap_list rom
       configuration: driver=nouveau latency=0
       resources: irq:50 memory:d6000000-d6ffffff memory:e0000000-efffffff memory:d4000000-d5ffffff ioport:2000(size=128)

In other words, the nouvea driver is still in use. Any ideas on how I can get nvidia driver working properly, so that I can test it with upstream kernel?

I have switched between nouvea and proprietary driver many times in software and sources and rebooted, but this doesn't seem to work...

[Tommi Helander (tommi-helander)]

Okay, I wasn't able to test the nvidia driver with the upstream kernel, but I tested with another version of the nvidia driver with the stock kernel. Backlight control works with nvidia 304 driver.

[Frank D. kausw (fdkausw)]

My problem is, that I doesn*t be able to install ubuntu 14.04 on a T61 IBM Thikpad. The Version 12.04 runs, but 14.04 not!

At the installation the Display stand still. If you press ESC-Button you can Read: "Check Batary state .... [OK]", than is end of gecko!

If you press ESC again, the last sequences will be repaly, and is ending on the same massage.

There is nothing more, no error-code or anythink else.

BAD---VERY BAD!

[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.

[Launchpad Janitor (janitor)]

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