[Dell Inspiron 5551][8086:0f31] Unable to adjust brightness

[Yung Shen]

Failed to adjust brightness.

Unable to change brightness with hotkeys or even system settings.

Additional information:
There are two backlight interfaces and the system seems to use the wrong one.
/sys/class/backlight$ ls
acpi_video0 intel_backlight

Following commands proof that intel interfaces can controll the backlight:
sudo sh -c "echo 2500 >> /sys/class/backlight/intel_backlight/brightness"

ProblemType: Bug
DistroRelease: Ubuntu 14.04
Package: xorg 1:7.7+1ubuntu8.1
ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 3.13.0-65.106-generic 3.13.11-ckt26
Uname: Linux 3.13.0-65-generic x86_64
.tmp.unity.support.test.0:

ApportVersion: 2.14.1-0ubuntu3.15
Architecture: amd64
CompizPlugins: No value set for `/apps/compiz-1/general/screen0/options/active_plugins'
CompositorRunning: compiz
CompositorUnredirectDriverBlacklist: '(nouveau|Intel).*Mesa 8.0'
CompositorUnredirectFSW: true
Date: Tue Oct 6 15:25:21 2015
DistUpgraded: Fresh install
DistroCodename: trusty
DistroVariant: ubuntu
ExtraDebuggingInterest: Yes, including running git bisection searches
GraphicsCard:
 Intel Corporation ValleyView Gen7 [8086:0f31] (rev 0e) (prog-if 00 [VGA controller])
   Subsystem: Dell Device [1028:06d7]
InstallationDate: Installed on 2015-10-05 (0 days ago)
InstallationMedia: Ubuntu 14.04.1 LTS "Trusty Tahr" - Release amd64 (20140722.2)
MachineType: Dell Inc. Inspiron 5551
ProcKernelCmdLine: BOOT_IMAGE=/boot/vmlinuz-3.13.0-65-generic.efi.signed root=UUID=2e69c3f8-b60b-4e26-beed-33717212e1e9 ro quiet splash vt.handoff=7
SourcePackage: xorg
Symptom: display
UpgradeStatus: No upgrade log present (probably fresh install)
dmi.bios.date: 01/28/2015
dmi.bios.vendor: Dell Inc.
dmi.bios.version: X16
dmi.board.asset.tag: AFTPASS
dmi.board.name: Type2 - Board Product Name1
dmi.board.vendor: Dell Inc.
dmi.board.version: Type2 - Board Version
dmi.chassis.asset.tag: AFTPASS
dmi.chassis.type: 8
dmi.chassis.vendor: Dell Inc.
dmi.chassis.version: X16
dmi.modalias: dmi:bvnDellInc.:bvrX16:bd01/28/2015:svnDellInc.:pnInspiron5551:pvrX16:rvnDellInc.:rnType2-BoardProductName1:rvrType2-BoardVersion:cvnDellInc.:ct8:cvrX16:
dmi.product.name: Inspiron 5551
dmi.product.version: X16
dmi.sys.vendor: Dell Inc.
version.compiz: compiz 1:0.9.11.3+14.04.20150313-0ubuntu1
version.ia32-libs: ia32-libs N/A
version.libdrm2: libdrm2 2.4.60-2~ubuntu14.04.1
version.libgl1-mesa-dri: libgl1-mesa-dri 10.1.3-0ubuntu0.4
version.libgl1-mesa-dri-experimental: libgl1-mesa-dri-experimental N/A
version.libgl1-mesa-glx: libgl1-mesa-glx 10.1.3-0ubuntu0.4
version.xserver-xorg-core: xserver-xorg-core 2:1.15.1-0ubuntu2.7
version.xserver-xorg-input-evdev: xserver-xorg-input-evdev 1:2.8.2-1ubuntu2
version.xserver-xorg-video-ati: xserver-xorg-video-ati 1:7.3.0-1ubuntu3.1
version.xserver-xorg-video-intel: xserver-xorg-video-intel 2:2.99.910-0ubuntu1.6
version.xserver-xorg-video-nouveau: xserver-xorg-video-nouveau 1:1.0.10-1ubuntu2
xserver.bootTime: Tue Oct 6 14:20:56 2015
xserver.configfile: default
xserver.errors:

xserver.logfile: /var/log/Xorg.0.log
xserver.outputs:
 product id 5100
 vendor AUO
xserver.version: 2:1.15.1-0ubuntu2.7

[Anthony Wong (anthonywong)]

I see you test with 3.13. Does any later kernel or release can fix this?

[Yung Shen (kaxing)]

with 14.04.3(3.19 kernel) the wireless hot key works, but touchpad won't work(bug #1499665).

[Yung Shen (kaxing)]

wait.. after bios firmware update to A03, with 3.13 kernel the wireless hotkey works now(verified with 14.04.1 live usb).

[Anthony Wong (anthonywong)]

I am confused, this bug is about brightness, but you mentioned wireless hotkey in the last comments.

[penalvch (penalvch)]

Yung Shen, could you please test http://cdimage.ubuntu.com/daily-live/current/ and advise to the results?

Also, please provide the output of the following terminal command:
sudo dmidecode -s bios-version && sudo dmidecode -s bios-release-date

[Jamie S. (jamiesexton35)]

This is the fix. It's still an issue in 16.10 Yakkety with the latest drivers and everything else. I did a fresh install.

https://itsfoss.com/fix-brightness-ubuntu-1310/

FIX BRIGHTNESS CONTROL ISSUE WITH INTEL CARD IN UBUNTU 14.04 AND LINUX MINT 17:

Open a terminal and create the following configuration file, if it does not exist:

sudo touch /usr/share/X11/xorg.conf.d/20-intel.conf
Now we need to edit this file. You can use any editor be it a terminal one or graphical.

sudo gedit /usr/share/X11/xorg.conf.d/20-intel.conf
Add the following lines to this file:

Section "Device"
        Identifier "card0"
        Driver "intel"
        Option "Backlight" "intel_backlight"
        BusID "PCI:0:2:0"
EndSection
Save it. Log out and log in back. The brightness control should be working through function keys now:

?field.comment=This is the fix. It's still an issue in 16.10 Yakkety with the latest drivers and everything else.

https://itsfoss.com/fix-brightness-ubuntu-1310/

FIX BRIGHTNESS CONTROL ISSUE WITH INTEL CARD IN UBUNTU 14.04 AND LINUX MINT 17:

Open a terminal and create the following configuration file, if it does not exist:

sudo touch /usr/share/X11/xorg.conf.d/20-intel.conf
Now we need to edit this file. You can use any editor be it a terminal one or graphical.

sudo gedit /usr/share/X11/xorg.conf.d/20-intel.conf
Add the following lines to this file:

Section "Device"
        Identifier "card0"
        Driver "intel"
        Option "Backlight" "intel_backlight"
        BusID "PCI:0:2:0"
EndSection
Save it. Log out and log in back. The brightness control should be working through function keys now:

[Launchpad Janitor (janitor)]

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

[penalvch (penalvch)]

Jamie S., it will help immensely if you filed a new report with Ubuntu by ensuring you have the package xdiagnose installed, and that you click the Yes button for attaching additional debugging information running the following from a terminal:
ubuntu-bug xorg

Also, please feel free to subscribe me to it.

For more on why this is helpful, please see https://wiki.ubuntu.com/ReportingBugs.