Ubuntu 14.04 Beta cannot adjust brightness on Lenovo Ideapad Z570

[Will Gilthorpe]

Fresh install of 14.04 on my laptop cannot adjust brightness. When fn+up arrow or fn+down arrow are used, the indicator in the upper right hand corner as if the brightness should change, but it does not. Also, if one tries to use the slider in the power applet, the brightness does not change.

ProblemType: Bug
DistroRelease: Ubuntu 14.04
Package: linux-image-3.13.0-24-generic 3.13.0-24.46
ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 3.13.0-24.46-generic 3.13.9
Uname: Linux 3.13.0-24-generic x86_64
ApportVersion: 2.14.1-0ubuntu2
Architecture: amd64
AudioDevicesInUse:
 USER PID ACCESS COMMAND
 /dev/snd/controlC0: will 2960 F.... pulseaudio
CurrentDesktop: Unity
Date: Sat Apr 12 21:36:57 2014
HibernationDevice: RESUME=UUID=dfa51f33-0f34-4383-8194-93656983323d
InstallationDate: Installed on 2014-04-13 (0 days ago)
InstallationMedia: Ubuntu 14.04 LTS "Trusty Tahr" - Beta amd64 (20140326)
MachineType: LENOVO 10249RU
ProcFB: 0 inteldrmfb
ProcKernelCmdLine: BOOT_IMAGE=/boot/vmlinuz-3.13.0-24-generic.efi.signed root=UUID=7420c61f-1836-4a44-84dc-71573190ff4c ro quiet splash vt.handoff=7
RelatedPackageVersions:
 linux-restricted-modules-3.13.0-24-generic N/A
 linux-backports-modules-3.13.0-24-generic N/A
 linux-firmware 1.127
SourcePackage: linux
StagingDrivers: rts5139
UpgradeStatus: No upgrade log present (probably fresh install)
dmi.bios.date: 10/21/2011
dmi.bios.vendor: LENOVO
dmi.bios.version: 45CN38WW
dmi.board.asset.tag: Base Board Asset Tag
dmi.board.name: Emerald Lake
dmi.board.vendor: LENOVO
dmi.board.version: FAB1
dmi.chassis.asset.tag: Asset Tag
dmi.chassis.type: 10
dmi.chassis.vendor: LENOVO
dmi.chassis.version: 0.1
dmi.modalias: dmi:bvnLENOVO:bvr45CN38WW:bd10/21/2011:svnLENOVO:pn10249RU:pvrIdeapadZ570:rvnLENOVO:rnEmeraldLake:rvrFAB1:cvnLENOVO:ct10:cvr0.1:
dmi.product.name: 10249RU
dmi.product.version: Ideapad Z570
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 v3.15 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/v3.15-rc1-trusty/

[Will Gilthorpe (will-gilthorpe)]

Will do. Will post results as soon as I can. May not be until tomorrow.

On Tue, Apr 15, 2014 at 10:24 AM, Joseph Salisbury <
<email address hidden>> wrote:

> Would it be possible for you to test the latest upstream kernel? Refer
> to https://wiki.ubuntu.com/KernelMainlineBuilds . Please test the latest
> v3.15 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/v3.15-rc1-trusty/
>
> ** Changed in: linux (Ubuntu)
> Importance: Undecided => Medium
>
> ** Changed in: linux (Ubuntu)
> Status: Confirmed => Incomplete
>
> --
> You received this bug notification because you are subscribed to the bug
> report.
> https://bugs.launchpad.net/bugs/1307064
>
> Title:
> Ubuntu 14.04 Beta cannot adjust brightness on Lenovo Ideapad Z570
>
> Status in “linux” package in Ubuntu:
> Incomplete
>
> Bug description:
> Fresh install of 14.04 on my laptop cannot adjust brightness. When
> fn+up arrow or fn+down arrow are used, the indicator in the upper
> right hand corner as if the brightness should change, but it does not.
> Also, if one tries to use the slider in the power applet, the
> brightness does not change.
>
> ProblemType: Bug
> DistroRelease: Ubuntu 14.04
> Package: linux-image-3.13.0-24-generic 3.13.0-24.46
> ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 3.13.0-24.46-generic 3.13.9
> Uname: Linux 3.13.0-24-generic x86_64
> ApportVersion: 2.14.1-0ubuntu2
> Architecture: amd64
> AudioDevicesInUse:
> USER PID ACCESS COMMAND
> /dev/snd/controlC0: will 2960 F.... pulseaudio
> CurrentDesktop: Unity
> Date: Sat Apr 12 21:36:57 2014
> HibernationDevice: RESUME=UUID=dfa51f33-0f34-4383-8194-93656983323d
> InstallationDate: Installed on 2014-04-13 (0 days ago)
> InstallationMedia: Ubuntu 14.04 LTS "Trusty Tahr" - Beta amd64 (20140326)
> MachineType: LENOVO 10249RU
> ProcFB: 0 inteldrmfb
> ProcKernelCmdLine: BOOT_IMAGE=/boot/vmlinuz-3.13.0-24-generic.efi.signed
> root=UUID=7420c61f-1836-4a44-84dc-71573190ff4c ro quiet splash vt.handoff=7
> RelatedPackageVersions:
> linux-restricted-modules-3.13.0-24-generic N/A
> linux-backports-modules-3.13.0-24-generic N/A
> linux-firmware 1.127
> SourcePackage: linux
> StagingDrivers: rts5139
> UpgradeStatus: No upgrade log present (probably fresh install)
> dmi.bios.date: 10/21/2011
> dmi.bios.vendor: LENOVO
> dmi.bios.version: 45CN38WW
> dmi.board.asset.tag: Base Board Asset Tag
> dmi.board.name: Emerald Lake
> dmi.board.vendor: LENOVO
> dmi.board.version: FAB1
> dmi.chassis.asset.tag: Asset Tag
> dmi.chassis.type: 10
> dmi.chassis.vendor: LENOVO
> dmi.chassis.version: 0.1
> dmi.modalias:
> dmi:bvnLENOVO:bvr45CN38WW:bd10/21...

[Will Gilthorpe (will-gilthorpe)]

This still exists in the upstream kernel.

I tested linux-image-3.15.0-031500rc1-generic_3.15.0-031500rc1.201404131835_amd64.deb

[Will Gilthorpe (will-gilthorpe)]

I appologize for the poorly written original bug report. I was very tired and had been working on this for some time.

As mentioned at https://wiki.ubuntu.com/Kernel/Debugging/Backlight, I think that it may be helpful if I include that I do have entries in /sys/class/backlight.

I can change brightness by issuing the below command

~$ echo 150 | sudo tee /sys/class/backlight/intel_backlight/brightness

[Will Gilthorpe (will-gilthorpe)]

I think I should elaborate on my previous post.

I have 2 entries in /sys/class/backlight
   acpi_video0
   intel_backlight

When I use the slider in the brightness applet or the hotkeys to change the brightness, the value of /sys/class/backlight/acpi_video0 is changing.

This being the case, I believe that if I could point both of those to /sys/class/backlight/intel_backlight/brightness the problem would be solved.

This is where I fall down as I do not know how to do this.

[Will Gilthorpe (will-gilthorpe)]

Problem solved.

Tried adding acpi_backlight=vendor to boot parameter. Did not work

So I tried the recommendation for Intel HD Graphic Controllers.

Created the file /usr/share/X11/xorg.conf.d/80-backlight.conf with below contents as recommended.

Section "Device"
    Identifier "Intel Graphics"
    Driver "intel"
    Option "AccelMethod" "sna"
    Option "Backlight" "intel_backlight" # use your backlight that works here
    BusID "PCI:0:2:0"
EndSection

Problem Solved.

I am still running the upstream kernel at this time. Will reboot into the final release kernel and report as to whether this works in that kernel as well.

[Will Gilthorpe (will-gilthorpe)]

This fix works in 3.13.0-24-generic. I hope that this helps someone else.

[Henk-Jan (henk-jan)]

Thanks Will, this helped.
The "acpi_backlight=vendor" fix in grub worked for me in 13.04 and 13.10, but stopped working in 14.04.

[disco (discohr)]

Thanks, it works on Lenovo B580 but only in combination of both "acpi_backlight=vendor" and "80-backlight.conf".
Minor issue is screen switching off on minimum brightness but it doesn't bother me.

[Faron Anslow (faron-anslow)]

I have a similar problem with a lenovo x230 recently upgraded from 13.10 to 14.04 and lost backlight control both with hot keys and using gnome settings (this is ubuntu GNOME). Fix in the x11 conf doesn't work for me. I have two entries in my /sys/class/backlight

intel_backlight and thinkad_screen. As with the previous poster, the settings slider changes thinkpad_screen/brightness but not intel_backlight/brightness. I can manually change the brightness by modifyng the value under intel_backlight.

[Plurtu (plurtu)]

I had the exact same problem as Will describes with an Asus eeepc 1001P and his fix in comment #8 worked.

[Eli Fox-Epstein (eli-m)]

This might be related to bug 1324529. On my Lenovo T530, there is only thinkpad_screen in /sys/class/backlight. The fixes suggested here (the acpi_backlight=vendor and 80-backlight.conf) do not fix the issue for me and echoing numbers into /sys/class/backlight/thinkpad_screen/brightness does nothing.

[downward (invisioslice)]

Still present on Ubuntu 14.04 64

[Launchpad Janitor (janitor)]

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

[Paulo Andres Jara Santibanez (paulojarasantibanez)]

fix work for me as shown on:

Will Gilthorpe (will-gilthorpe) wrote on 2014-04-18: #8

My machine was a:
Ubuntu 12.04.5
kernel 3.13.0-27
Lenovo B40-30
thanks!!