Ubuntu
xserver-xorg-video-ati package

Oneiric introduces severe flickering when adjusting brightness

Bug #874361 reported by Ketil Wendelbo Aanensen on 2011-10-14

This bug report is a duplicate of: Bug #810093: The new (2.6.39+) samsung_laptop kernel module causes serious backlight flickering - makes the desktop unusable. Edit Remove

This bug affects 4 people

Affects		Status	Importance	Assigned to	Milestone
	xserver-xorg-video-ati (Ubuntu)	Confirmed	Undecided	Unassigned

Bug Description

A Samsung X125 subnotebook. Upgraded from Natty last night. First noticed this when pulling the AC power, brightness is reduced, as usual, but the brightness setting slides up and down like crazy.
After a while I also see this when adjusting brightness with the Fn + arrow keys.
My "solution" has been to force it all the way down or up, depending on my needs, by using the Fn + arrow keys. There is no specific amount of keypresses that finally makes the flickering stop and brightness to settle on either max or min brightness.
Have never experienced this bug before, so I'm assuming this is a regression.

ProblemType: Bug
DistroRelease: Ubuntu 11.10
Package: xorg 1:7.6+7ubuntu7
ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 3.0.0-12.20-generic 3.0.4
Uname: Linux 3.0.0-12-generic i686
NonfreeKernelModules: fglrx wl
.tmp.unity.support.test.0:

ApportVersion: 1.23-0ubuntu3
Architecture: i386
CompizPlugins: [core,bailer,detection,composite,opengl,compiztoolbox,decor,mousepoll,imgpng,place,snap,regex,session,vpswitch,gnomecompat,grid,move,resize,unitymtgrabhandles,wall,animation,fade,workarounds,expo,scale,ezoom,unityshell]
CompositorRunning: compiz
Date: Fri Oct 14 17:41:07 2011
DistUpgraded: Log time: 2011-10-13 21:54:19.706331
DistroCodename: oneiric
DistroVariant: ubuntu
DkmsStatus:
bcmwl, 5.100.82.38+bdcom, 3.0.0-12-generic, i686: installed
fglrx, 8.881, 3.0.0-12-generic, i686: installed
ExtraDebuggingInterest: Yes, whatever it takes to get this fixed in Ubuntu
GraphicsCard:
ATI Technologies Inc M880G [Mobility Radeon HD 4200] [1002:9712] (prog-if 00 [VGA controller])
Subsystem: Samsung Electronics Co Ltd Device [144d:c566]
InstallationMedia: Ubuntu 11.04 "Natty Narwhal" - Release i386 (20110427.1)
JockeyStatus:
xorg:fglrx_updates - ATI/AMD proprietary FGLRX graphics driver (post-release updates) (Proprietary, Disabled, Not in use)
kmod:wl - Broadcom STA wireless driver (Proprietary, Enabled, In use) [auto-install]
xorg:fglrx - ATI/AMD proprietary FGLRX graphics driver (Proprietary, Enabled, In use)
MachineType: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD. X125
ProcEnviron:
LANGUAGE=en
PATH=(custom, no user)
LANG=nb_NO.UTF-8
LC_MESSAGES=en_US.UTF-8
SHELL=/bin/bash
ProcKernelCmdLine: BOOT_IMAGE=/boot/vmlinuz-3.0.0-12-generic root=UUID=42c97010-407c-44bc-98dc-c2cf6052d549 ro quiet splash vt.handoff=7
SourcePackage: xorg
Symptom: display
UpgradeStatus: Upgraded to oneiric on 2011-10-14 (0 days ago)
dmi.bios.date: 08/20/2010
dmi.bios.vendor: Phoenix Technologies Ltd.
dmi.bios.version: 02UP
dmi.board.name: X125
dmi.board.vendor: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
dmi.board.version: Not Applicable
dmi.chassis.asset.tag: No Asset Tag
dmi.chassis.type: 10
dmi.chassis.vendor: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
dmi.chassis.version: N/A
dmi.modalias: dmi:bvnPhoenixTechnologiesLtd.:bvr02UP:bd08/20/2010:svnSAMSUNGELECTRONICSCO.,LTD.:pnX125:pvrNotApplicable:rvnSAMSUNGELECTRONICSCO.,LTD.:rnX125:rvrNotApplicable:cvnSAMSUNGELECTRONICSCO.,LTD.:ct10:cvrN/A:
dmi.product.name: X125
dmi.product.version: Not Applicable
dmi.sys.vendor: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
version.compiz: compiz 1:0.9.6+bzr20110929-0ubuntu3
version.fglrx-installer: fglrx-installer N/A
version.libdrm2: libdrm2 2.4.26-1ubuntu1
version.libgl1-mesa-dri: libgl1-mesa-dri 7.11-0ubuntu3
version.libgl1-mesa-dri-experimental: libgl1-mesa-dri-experimental N/A
version.libgl1-mesa-glx: libgl1-mesa-glx 7.11-0ubuntu3
version.xserver-xorg: xserver-xorg 1:7.6+7ubuntu7
version.xserver-xorg-input-evdev: xserver-xorg-input-evdev 1:2.6.0-1ubuntu13
version.xserver-xorg-video-ati: xserver-xorg-video-ati 1:6.14.99~git20110811.g93fc084-0ubuntu1
version.xserver-xorg-video-intel: xserver-xorg-video-intel 2:2.15.901-1ubuntu2
version.xserver-xorg-video-nouveau: xserver-xorg-video-nouveau 1:0.0.16+git20110411+8378443-1

Tags:

Revision history for this message

Ketil Wendelbo Aanensen (ketilwaa-deactivatedaccount) wrote on 2011-10-14:

BootDmesg.txt Edit (51.9 KiB, text/plain; charset="utf-8")
BootLog.gz Edit (297 bytes, application/x-gzip)
CurrentDmesg.txt Edit (3.0 KiB, text/plain; charset="utf-8")
Dependencies.txt Edit (4.8 KiB, text/plain; charset="utf-8")
DpkgLog.txt Edit (1.4 MiB, text/plain; charset="utf-8")
GconfCompiz.txt Edit (37.1 KiB, text/plain; charset="utf-8")
GdmLog.txt Edit (40.4 KiB, text/plain; charset="utf-8")
GdmLog1.txt Edit (43.8 KiB, text/plain; charset="utf-8")
GdmLog2.txt Edit (54.0 KiB, text/plain; charset="utf-8")
LightdmLog.txt Edit (11.1 KiB, text/plain; charset="utf-8")
Lspci.txt Edit (13.7 KiB, text/plain; charset="utf-8")
Lsusb.txt Edit (523 bytes, text/plain; charset="utf-8")
ProcCpuinfo.txt Edit (783 bytes, text/plain; charset="utf-8")
ProcInterrupts.txt Edit (1.2 KiB, text/plain; charset="utf-8")
ProcModules.txt Edit (2.0 KiB, text/plain; charset="utf-8")
UdevDb.txt Edit (117.3 KiB, text/plain; charset="utf-8")
UdevLog.txt Edit (246.7 KiB, text/plain; charset="utf-8")
UnitySupportTest.txt Edit (621 bytes, text/plain; charset="utf-8")
XorgConf.txt Edit (114 bytes, text/plain; charset="utf-8")
XorgLog.txt Edit (50.4 KiB, text/plain; charset="utf-8")
XorgLogOld.txt Edit (59.4 KiB, text/plain; charset="utf-8")
Xrandr.txt Edit (3.3 KiB, text/plain; charset="utf-8")
peripherals.txt Edit (1.4 KiB, text/plain; charset="utf-8")
xdpyinfo.txt Edit (21.4 KiB, text/plain; charset="utf-8")
xinput.txt Edit (834 bytes, text/plain; charset="utf-8")

Ubuntu Foundations Team Bug Bot (crichton) on 2011-10-14

affects:

ubuntu → xorg (Ubuntu)

bugbot (bugbot) on 2011-10-16

affects:

xorg (Ubuntu) → xserver-xorg-video-ati (Ubuntu)

bugbot (bugbot) on 2011-10-16

tags:	added: flicker
tags:	added: backlight

Revision history for this message

Ketil Wendelbo Aanensen (ketilwaa-deactivatedaccount) wrote on 2011-10-16:

This appears to have gotten rid of the flickering, but the side effect is that I'm now unable to adjust brightness at all. http://www.voria.org/forum/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=821&hilit=brightness+flicker

In short:

1. edit the "/etc/modprobe.d/blacklist.conf":
at the end add this line: blacklist samsung_laptop

2. edit "/etc/default/grub/" (if you are using grub 2):
search the line with GRUB_CMDLINE_LINUX_DEFAULT=. add the following to the string: acpi_backlight=vendor

3. execute update-grub

4. reboot your os

Revision history for this message

Peter Sawicki (sawicki) wrote on 2011-10-21:

Experienced same problem with function keys on my system even in previous version before updating to 11.10. I was able to bypass problem with mentioned workaround in step 2. I am using a MSI-1719 laptop.

Revision history for this message

Launchpad Janitor (janitor) wrote on 2011-10-21:

Status changed to 'Confirmed' because the bug affects multiple users.

Changed in xserver-xorg-video-ati (Ubuntu):
status:	New → Confirmed

Revision history for this message

Chris Rowson (christopherrowson) wrote on 2011-10-23: apport information

.tmp.unity.support.test.0:

ApportVersion: 1.23-0ubuntu3
Architecture: i386
CompizPlugins: [core,bailer,detection,composite,opengl,decor,place,mousepoll,session,snap,gnomecompat,resize,imgpng,unitymtgrabhandles,move,regex,compiztoolbox,wall,vpswitch,grid,animation,workarounds,expo,fade,ezoom,scale,unityshell]
CompositorRunning: None
DistUpgraded: Fresh install
DistroCodename: oneiric
DistroRelease: Ubuntu 11.10
DistroVariant: ubuntu
ExtraDebuggingInterest: Yes, whatever it takes to get this fixed in Ubuntu
GraphicsCard:
Intel Corporation Mobile 945GME Express Integrated Graphics Controller [8086:27ae] (rev 03) (prog-if 00 [VGA controller])
Subsystem: Samsung Electronics Co Ltd Device [144d:ca00]
Subsystem: Samsung Electronics Co Ltd Device [144d:ca00]
InstallationMedia: Ubuntu 11.10 "Oneiric Ocelot" - Release i386 (20111012)
MachineType: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD. NC10
Package: xserver-xorg-video-ati 1:6.14.99~git20110811.g93fc084-0ubuntu1
PackageArchitecture: i386
ProcEnviron:
LANGUAGE=en_GB:en
PATH=(custom, no user)
LANG=en_GB.UTF-8
SHELL=/bin/bash
ProcKernelCmdLine: BOOT_IMAGE=/boot/vmlinuz-3.0.0-12-generic root=UUID=ee7e291a-0569-40f3-9c11-6225520bbbaa ro quiet splash vt.handoff=7
ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 3.0.0-12.20-generic 3.0.4
Tags: oneiric running-unity ubuntu
Uname: Linux 3.0.0-12-generic i686
UpgradeStatus: No upgrade log present (probably fresh install)
UserGroups: adm admin cdrom dialout lpadmin plugdev sambashare
dmi.bios.date: 09/08/2009
dmi.bios.vendor: Phoenix Technologies Ltd.
dmi.bios.version: 11CA.M015.20090908.RHU
dmi.board.name: NC10
dmi.board.vendor: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
dmi.board.version: Not Applicable
dmi.chassis.asset.tag: No Asset Tag
dmi.chassis.type: 10
dmi.chassis.vendor: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
dmi.chassis.version: N/A
dmi.modalias: dmi:bvnPhoenixTechnologiesLtd.:bvr11CA.M015.20090908.RHU:bd09/08/2009:svnSAMSUNGELECTRONICSCO.,LTD.:pnNC10:pvrNotApplicable:rvnSAMSUNGELECTRONICSCO.,LTD.:rnNC10:rvrNotApplicable:cvnSAMSUNGELECTRONICSCO.,LTD.:ct10:cvrN/A:
dmi.product.name: NC10
dmi.product.version: Not Applicable
dmi.sys.vendor: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
version.compiz: compiz 1:0.9.6+bzr20110929-0ubuntu3
version.libdrm2: libdrm2 2.4.26-1ubuntu1
version.libgl1-mesa-dri: libgl1-mesa-dri 7.11-0ubuntu3
version.libgl1-mesa-dri-experimental: libgl1-mesa-dri-experimental N/A
version.libgl1-mesa-glx: libgl1-mesa-glx 7.11-0ubuntu3
version.xserver-xorg: xserver-xorg 1:7.6+7ubuntu7
version.xserver-xorg-input-evdev: xserver-xorg-input-evdev 1:2.6.0-1ubuntu13
version.xserver-xorg-video-ati: xserver-xorg-video-ati 1:6.14.99~git20110811.g93fc084-0ubuntu1
version.xserver-xorg-video-intel: xserver-xorg-video-intel 2:2.15.901-1ubuntu2
version.xserver-xorg-video-nouveau: xserver-xorg-video-nouveau 1:0.0.16+git20110411+8378443-1

.tmp.unity.support.test.0:
 
ApportVersion: 1.23-0ubuntu3
Architecture: i386
CompizPlugins: [core,bailer,detection,composite,opengl,decor,place,mousepoll,session,snap,gnomecompat,resize,imgpng,unitymtgrabhandles,move,regex,compiztoolbox,wall,vpswitch,grid,animation,workarounds,expo,fade,ezoom,scale,unityshell]
CompositorRunning: None
DistUpgraded: Fresh install
DistroCodename: oneiric
DistroRelease: Ubuntu 11.10
DistroVariant: ubuntu
ExtraDebuggingInterest: Yes, whatever it takes to get this fixed in Ubuntu
GraphicsCard:
 Intel Corporation Mobile 945GME Express Integrated Graphics Controller [8086:27ae] (rev 03) (prog-if 00 [VGA controller])
   Subsystem: Samsung Electronics Co Ltd Device [144d:ca00]
   Subsystem: Samsung Electronics Co Ltd Device [144d:ca00]
InstallationMedia: Ubuntu 11.10 "Oneiric Ocelot" - Release i386 (20111012)
MachineType: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD. NC10
Package: xserver-xorg-video-ati 1:6.14.99~git20110811.g93fc084-0ubuntu1
PackageArchitecture: i386
ProcEnviron:
 LANGUAGE=en_GB:en
 PATH=(custom, no user)
 LANG=en_GB.UTF-8
 SHELL=/bin/bash
ProcKernelCmdLine: BOOT_IMAGE=/boot/vmlinuz-3.0.0-12-generic root=UUID=ee7e291a-0569-40f3-9c11-6225520bbbaa ro quiet splash vt.handoff=7
ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 3.0.0-12.20-generic 3.0.4
Tags:  oneiric running-unity ubuntu
Uname: Linux 3.0.0-12-generic i686
UpgradeStatus: No upgrade log present (probably fresh install)
UserGroups: adm admin cdrom dialout lpadmin plugdev sambashare
dmi.bios.date: 09/08/2009
dmi.bios.vendor: Phoenix Technologies Ltd.
dmi.bios.version: 11CA.M015.20090908.RHU
dmi.board.name: NC10
dmi.board.vendor: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
dmi.board.version: Not Applicable
dmi.chassis.asset.tag: No Asset Tag
dmi.chassis.type: 10
dmi.chassis.vendor: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
dmi.chassis.version: N/A
dmi.modalias: dmi:bvnPhoenixTechnologiesLtd.:bvr11CA.M015.20090908.RHU:bd09/08/2009:svnSAMSUNGELECTRONICSCO.,LTD.:pnNC10:pvrNotApplicable:rvnSAMSUNGELECTRONICSCO.,LTD.:rnNC10:rvrNotApplicable:cvnSAMSUNGELECTRONICSCO.,LTD.:ct10:cvrN/A:
dmi.product.name: NC10
dmi.product.version: Not Applicable
dmi.sys.vendor: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
version.compiz: compiz 1:0.9.6+bzr20110929-0ubuntu3
version.libdrm2: libdrm2 2.4.26-1ubuntu1
version.libgl1-mesa-dri: libgl1-mesa-dri 7.11-0ubuntu3
version.libgl1-mesa-dri-experimental: libgl1-mesa-dri-experimental N/A
version.libgl1-mesa-glx: libgl1-mesa-glx 7.11-0ubuntu3
version.xserver-xorg: xserver-xorg 1:7.6+7ubuntu7
version.xserver-xorg-input-evdev: xserver-xorg-input-evdev 1:2.6.0-1ubuntu13
version.xserver-xorg-video-ati: xserver-xorg-video-ati 1:6.14.99~git20110811.g93fc084-0ubuntu1
version.xserver-xorg-video-intel: xserver-xorg-video-intel 2:2.15.901-1ubuntu2
version.xserver-xorg-video-nouveau: xserver-xorg-video-nouveau 1:0.0.16+git20110411+8378443-1

tags:

added: apport-collected

Revision history for this message

Chris Rowson (christopherrowson) wrote on 2011-10-23: BootDmesg.txt

BootDmesg.txt Edit (52.6 KiB, text/plain)

apport information

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Chris Rowson (christopherrowson) wrote on 2011-10-23: BootLog.gz

BootLog.gz Edit (585 bytes, application/octet-stream)

apport information

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Chris Rowson (christopherrowson) wrote on 2011-10-23: CurrentDmesg.txt

CurrentDmesg.txt Edit (13.1 KiB, text/plain)

apport information

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Chris Rowson (christopherrowson) wrote on 2011-10-23: Dependencies.txt

Dependencies.txt Edit (2.5 KiB, text/plain)

apport information

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Chris Rowson (christopherrowson) wrote on 2011-10-23: DpkgLog.txt

#10

DpkgLog.txt Edit (853.0 KiB, text/plain)

apport information

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Chris Rowson (christopherrowson) wrote on 2011-10-23: GconfCompiz.txt

#11

GconfCompiz.txt Edit (28.2 KiB, text/plain)

apport information

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Chris Rowson (christopherrowson) wrote on 2011-10-23: Lspci.txt

#12

Lspci.txt Edit (10.2 KiB, text/plain)

apport information

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Chris Rowson (christopherrowson) wrote on 2011-10-23: Lsusb.txt

#13

Lsusb.txt Edit (465 bytes, text/plain)

apport information

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Chris Rowson (christopherrowson) wrote on 2011-10-23: ProcCpuinfo.txt

#14

ProcCpuinfo.txt Edit (1.4 KiB, text/plain)

apport information

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Chris Rowson (christopherrowson) wrote on 2011-10-23: ProcInterrupts.txt

#15

ProcInterrupts.txt Edit (1.4 KiB, text/plain)

apport information

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Chris Rowson (christopherrowson) wrote on 2011-10-23: ProcModules.txt

#16

ProcModules.txt Edit (1.8 KiB, text/plain)

apport information

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Chris Rowson (christopherrowson) wrote on 2011-10-23: UdevDb.txt

#17

UdevDb.txt Edit (99.0 KiB, text/plain)

apport information

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Chris Rowson (christopherrowson) wrote on 2011-10-23: UdevLog.txt

#18

UdevLog.txt Edit (227.5 KiB, text/plain)

apport information

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Chris Rowson (christopherrowson) wrote on 2011-10-23: UnitySupportTest.txt

#19

UnitySupportTest.txt Edit (599 bytes, text/plain)

apport information

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Chris Rowson (christopherrowson) wrote on 2011-10-23: XorgLog.txt

#20

XorgLog.txt Edit (66.2 KiB, text/plain)

apport information

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Chris Rowson (christopherrowson) wrote on 2011-10-23: XorgLogOld.txt

#21

XorgLogOld.txt Edit (28.2 KiB, text/plain)

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Chris Rowson (christopherrowson) wrote on 2011-10-23: Xrandr.txt

#22

Xrandr.txt Edit (2.0 KiB, text/plain)

apport information

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Chris Rowson (christopherrowson) wrote on 2011-10-23: xdpyinfo.txt

#23

xdpyinfo.txt Edit (9.7 KiB, text/plain)

apport information

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Chris Rowson (christopherrowson) wrote on 2011-10-23:

#24

I thought I'd add some info to this report. I'm seeing similar issues after doing a fresh install of 11.10 onto a Samsung NC10. This netbook does not use an ATI card however. It uses the i915 driver so it's an Intel integrated video card.

Not so sure this bug relates to ATI video.

My screen seems to flicker when the screen dims automatically. The brightness controls are shown on screen and oscillate between dim and bright causing the flickering. This will continue until I hit the super key to bring the Unity home screen up. I'm sure I've seen a similar bug filed against samsung-backlight but I can't find it now :-/

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Duplicate of bug #810093 Remove

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Ubuntuxserver-xorg-video-ati package

Oneiric introduces severe flickering when adjusting brightness

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xserver-xorg-video-ati package