[i855GM] [PATCH] laptop screen remains on with external monitor and lid closed

[Thomas McGowan]

Binary package hint: xserver-xorg-video-intel

Hi,

I'm running an up-to-date version of Gutsy on Dell Latitude D500 laptop, which has an intel graphics card.

With the intel driver (version 2:2.1.1-0ubuntu3), installed by default, the laptop's LCD panel remains on when the laptop is used with an external monitor connected and the lid closed, using a docking station. This is obviously wasting power and making it quite warm!

The laptop panel is off when GRUB loads, but is switched on when X starts and the login screen appears. Using the key combinations to cycle CRT/LCD display has no effect.

As a workaround, i have installed 'i810switch' and run the command 'i810switch lcd off' after login.

This problem does NOT occur using Kubuntu Feisty, with the i810 driver - with this the laptop lcd remains off if booted with lid closed and external monitor attached.

Relevant sections from 'lspci':
***************************
00:02.0 VGA compatible controller: Intel Corporation 82852/855GM Integrated Graphics Device (rev 02) (prog-if 00 [VGA])
        Subsystem: Dell Unknown device 0152
        Control: I/O+ Mem+ BusMaster+ SpecCycle- MemWINV- VGASnoop- ParErr- Stepping- SERR- FastB2B-
        Status: Cap+ 66MHz- UDF- FastB2B+ ParErr- DEVSEL=fast >TAbort- <TAbort- <MAbort- >SERR- <PERR-
        Latency: 0
        Interrupt: pin A routed to IRQ 11
        Region 0: Memory at f0000000 (32-bit, prefetchable) [size=128M]
        Region 1: Memory at faf80000 (32-bit, non-prefetchable) [size=512K]
        Region 2: I/O ports at c000 [size=8]
        Capabilities: [d0] Power Management version 1
                Flags: PMEClk- DSI+ D1+ D2- AuxCurrent=0mA PME(D0-,D1-,D2-,D3hot-,D3cold-)
                Status: D0 PME-Enable- DSel=0 DScale=0 PME-

00:02.1 Display controller: Intel Corporation 82852/855GM Integrated Graphics Device (rev 02)
        Subsystem: Dell Unknown device 0152
        Control: I/O+ Mem+ BusMaster+ SpecCycle- MemWINV- VGASnoop- ParErr- Stepping- SERR- FastB2B-
        Status: Cap+ 66MHz- UDF- FastB2B+ ParErr- DEVSEL=fast >TAbort- <TAbort- <MAbort- >SERR- <PERR-
        Latency: 0
        Region 0: Memory at e8000000 (32-bit, prefetchable) [size=128M]
        Region 1: Memory at faf00000 (32-bit, non-prefetchable) [size=512K]
        Capabilities: [d0] Power Management version 1
                Flags: PMEClk- DSI+ D1+ D2- AuxCurrent=0mA PME(D0-,D1-,D2-,D3hot-,D3cold-)
                Status: D0 PME-Enable- DSel=0 DScale=0 PME-

From xorg.conf:
**************
Section "Device"
        Identifier "Intel Corporation 82852/855GM Integrated Graphics Device"
        Driver "intel"
        BusID "PCI:0:2:0"
EndSection

Section "Monitor"
        Identifier "Generic Monitor"
        Option "DPMS"
EndSection

Section "Screen"
        Identifier "Default Screen"
        Device "Intel Corporation 82852/855GM Integrated Graphics Device"
        Monitor "Generic Monitor"
        DefaultDepth 24
        SubSection "Display"
                Modes "1024x768"
        EndSubSection
EndSection

Let me know if you need any more info.

[Bryce Harrington (bryce)]

I've run into this too on Dell laptops.

[Kloudy (kloudy)]

I confirm the same problem with a Dell 600m. The laptop is extremely hot after medium usage. I am concerned that it is running too hot.

With everything shut down an in the docking station, I opened up the laptop lid and held in the lid switch. When I boot in Gutsy, the display stays on. When I boot in Windows, the display stays off.

Let me know if you need any info.

[unggnu (unggnu)]

Just disable LFP with command "xrandr --output LVDS --off" if you have an Intel graphic card.

[Kloudy (kloudy)]

unggnu:

I want to be able to use my laptop standalone and in the docking station. What does the command you reference do?

Thanks!

[unggnu (unggnu)]

It disables your laptop screen. Just add it to your panel and always click on it when external monitor is connected or add it to your start scripts with a check.
I personally use the gdm init scripts which checks if an external monitor is connected. If so it disables LFP.

[Bryce Harrington (bryce)]

Is this issue still a problem with the released Hardy 8.04.1 and/or Intrepid development version? If so, could you please attach your /var/log/Xorg.0.log?

[Fred (frederic-lespez)]

I am still seeing this bug in Hardy 8.04.1 (in fact Hardy 8.04 with all update if it matters).
Intreprid install failed on my laptop so for now, I cannot say what the status is in Intrepid.

Here is my Xorg.log.

[zexpe (rosscollins-uk)]

I also have this problem with Hardy 8.04.1 on my Toshiba laptop (Portege R200), which didn't have this problem in Feisty and the i810 driver. It has the additional problem of confusing KDE into thinking my external monitor is displaying two screens, which leads to lots of interesting effects. For example, the screensaver displays on "two" virtual overlapping screens on my external monitor. I also have the option to display my wallpaper on these two virtual screens overlapping each other on the external monitor.

I can confirm that the xrandr command given above eliminates this problem. However, I'd rather not have to manually turn off the laptop screen, when in the past it was off by default when an external monitor was attached on boot.

Also, in the past, the "toshset" utility would switch off the laptop screen, both via the command-line and the Fn-F5 button sequence on the laptop. However, now it just dims the laptop screen and thus the problems listed above occur. Ideally toshset should be able to turn off the laptop screen via the xrandr method - both from command-line and the Fn-F5 button sequence.

[unggnu (unggnu)]

The workaround with xrandr isn't needed anymore. Since Hardy you can use the screen resolution tool to disable LFP. This configuration is restored every time the external monitor is connected on start.

[unggnu (unggnu)]

And btw. I don't think that this is a driver issue. I have the same issue under Windows. If I close my LFP without disabling it it went off but as soon as I move the mouse or press a key it went on again. Maybe an acpi script could disable the LFP through xrandr on lid close but I guess this wouldn't be so easy so the screen resolution way is the best atm.
Imho this bug could be closed if Hardy screen resolution works for you too. Maybe we could file it against acpi-support or something like that.

[zexpe (rosscollins-uk)]

What is this screen resolution tool and does it exist in the kubuntu distribution? Also the default behaviour has clearly changed since the Feisty distribution. IMHO, the default behaviour in Feisty was correct and the default behaviour in Hardy is incorrect, and for Ubuntu to meet its goals of user friendliness it should default to the Feisty behaviour without user intervention.

FWIW, I think the problem came about due to some change in the handling of dual monitors in X11 - possibly the Xinerama to xrandr change over.

BTW, for Kubuntu I have inserted these lines into my /etc/kde3/kdm/Xsetup script, which roughly gives me the behaviour I had before in Feisty - i.e. laptop screen is switched off when the laptop is docked, but I haven't fully investigated this problem:

if xrandr -q | grep "VGA connected"; then
  if xrandr -q | grep "VGA connected ("; then
    if xrandr -q | grep "1680x1050"; then
      xrandr --output LVDS --off --output VGA --mode 1680x1050
    else
      if xrandr -q | grep "1280x1024"; then
        xrandr --output LVDS --off --output VGA --mode 1280x1024
      else
        xrandr --output LVDS --off --output VGA --mode 1024x768
      fi
    fi
  else
    xrandr --output LVDS --off
  fi
else
  xrandr --output VGA --off --output LVDS --mode 1024x768
fi

It's perhaps a bit more complicated than it needs to be.

Interestingly according to the "toshset" utility the laptop screen was off when I boot in the dock, but although the backlight was switched off the graphics were still displaying. This is what lead to the problems I described.

[unggnu (unggnu)]

You are right, screen resolution is a gnome preferences tool and I guess that Kubuntu hasn't a similar tool atm.

Your script could be much more easier. If your monitor sends correct data it should work fine. Theoretically only LVDS needs to be activated.
If you want hotplugging (adding monitor after X start) you should add the line Virtual 1680 1680 to your xorg.conf Display section.

if xrandr -q | grep "VGA connected"
then
        xrandr --output LVDS --off
fi

[Bryce Harrington (bryce)]

Please re-test this against current Intrepid (you can get an ISO at cdimage.ubuntu.com).

[Fred (frederic-lespez)]

I am still seeing this bug on Intrepid beta fully updated.
My laptop is an Acer TravelMate 6292 with an integrated graphics chipset INTEL 965GM. It is docked in an ACER docking station.
I described what I saw is this bug report :
https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/xserver-xorg-video-intel/+bug/272669
If you need more information, do not hesitate to contact me.

[Paul van Genderen (paulvg)]

This occurs on my EeePC 701 running Ubuntu 8.10 even without an external VGA monitor attached. I tried 'xrandr --output VGA --off' but that didn't change anything.

[Paul van Genderen (paulvg)]

Never mind, it was a bug in acpi-support. (Somehow lid.sh wasn't called.)

Sorry.

[Bryce Harrington (bryce)]

[This is an automatic notice.]

We'd like to forward your bug upstream, however upstream requires
that you first test it against their newer driver code.

To save you the effort of building the driver from source, we've built
packages for the driver and its new dependencies.

So you have a couple options:

 1. Download and test .debs for intrepid, from:
     https://edge.launchpad.net/~intel-gfx-testing/+archive

 -or-

 2. Download and test the Jaunty alpha-2 (or newer) Live CD,
     (which includes a beta of the new xserver 1.6 as well).
     See http://cdimage.ubuntu.com/releases/9.04/ for ISOs

Thanks ahead of time! You can simply reply to this email to report your
findings.

P.S., if you wish to forward your bug upstream yourself, please follow
these directions to do so:
  http://intellinuxgraphics.org/how_to_report_bug.html

[Fred (frederic-lespez)]

Hi Bryce,

I tested in Intrepid the xserver-xorg-video-intel - 2:2.5.1-1ubuntu5~intrepid deb and I am still seeing this bug.

If you need more info, do not hesitate to ask.

[Bryce Harrington (bryce)]

Thomas, same for you as with Fred?

[Thomas McGowan (paddy1978)]

Hi Bryce,

Like Fred, I tested the xserver-xorg-video-intel - 2:2.5.1-1ubuntu5~intrepid but unfortunately the bug was still there.

(Apologies for not being able to test this sooner; I've been away over the holidays...)

[Bryce Harrington (bryce)]

Great, thanks for testing. Sounds like this is ready to go upstream.

[David Stansby (dstansby-deactivatedaccount)]

Filed an upstream report at https://bugs.freedesktop.org/show_bug.cgi?id=20973

[Peter Antoniac (pan1nx)]

The other was a dup of this one...

[Jesse Barnes (jbarnes-virtuousgeek)]

The driver now contains lid switch detection, so the display should stay off in this configuration now. Can you confirm?

[Jesse Barnes (jbarnes-virtuousgeek)]

Ah nevermind, it looks like that patch was pulled from upstream (see the referenced bug). I recently posted a KMS patch to support this feature though:
http://lists.freedesktop.org/archives/intel-gfx/2009-May/002449.html

[Bryce Harrington (bryce)]

This looks like something the kernel team should take a look at for karmic's KMS.

[Bryce Harrington (bryce)]

Since this seems to be a kernel bug, there probably isn't a need for it also to be open against the DDX driver... if there is something needing done on the X side, feel free to reopen this task.

[Jeremy Foshee (jeremyfoshee)]

This bug report was marked as Triaged a while ago but has not had any updated comments for quite some time. Please let us know if this issue remains in the current Ubuntu release, http://www.ubuntu.com/getubuntu/download . If the issue remains, click on the current status under the Status column and change the status back to "New". Thanks.

[This is an automated message. Apologies if it has reached you inappropriately; please just reply to this message indicating so.]

[Kloudy (kloudy)]

Jerry, I have stopped using the docking station so it is no longer an issue with me.

Thanks for your diligence in following-up on the problem.

Levi

-----Original Message-----
From: <email address hidden> [mailto:<email address hidden>] On Behalf Of Jeremy Foshee
Sent: Wednesday, May 05, 2010 2:11 AM
To: <email address hidden>
Subject: [Bug 145501] Re: [i855GM] [PATCH] laptop screen remains on with external monitor and lid closed

This bug report was marked as Triaged a while ago but has not had any
updated comments for quite some time. Please let us know if this issue
remains in the current Ubuntu release,
http://www.ubuntu.com/getubuntu/download . If the issue remains, click
on the current status under the Status column and change the status back
to "New". Thanks.

[This is an automated message. Apologies if it has reached you
inappropriately; please just reply to this message indicating so.]

--
[i855GM] [PATCH] laptop screen remains on with external monitor and lid closed
https://bugs.launchpad.net/bugs/145501
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[Fred (frederic-lespez)]

Jeremy,

I am still seeing this bug in Lucid.
I changed the status back to "New".
If you need more information, do not hesitate to ask.

[Thomas McGowan (paddy1978)]

Jeremy,

I no longer have the laptop & docking station that I was using when I originally reported this bug, so unfortunately I can't test it.

[Leann Ogasawara (leannogasawara)]

Closing for now per comment #31 from the original bug reporter.

Fred, if the issue remains for you with the latest Natty Narwhal 11.04 release, care to open a new separate bug? Thanks.