8086:0046 Acer Aspire 5742Z brightness keys not working

[Alkis Georgopoulos]

In 2.6.32 (Lucid) there's an /sys/devices/virtual/backlight/acpi_video0 interface for Aspire 5742Z, and brightness hotkeys do modify the values of the files in that dir, but the actual laptop brightness isn't changed.

In 3.0.0-9 (Oneiric beta 1) there's no /sys/devices/virtual/backlight interface at all.

If I boot with acpi=off, the brightness keys correctly modify brightness, but of course I lose all other ACPI functionality.

I tried some of the other acpi-related kernel parameters (acpi_backlight=vendor etc) mentioned in
 * https://wiki.ubuntu.com/Kernel/Debugging/Backlight
 * https://wiki.ubuntu.com/DebuggingACPI
 * www.kernel.org/doc/Documentation/kernel-parameters.txt
 * http://www.lesswatts.org/projects/acpi/debug.php
to no avail, brightness only works with acpi=off or acpi=ht.

I tried the fwts tool for ACPI testing, and it produced some errors, I'm attaching the output. I also tried playing with acpiexec, but calling the _BCM method didn't change the brightness either.

WORKAROUND: echo 123 > /sys/class/backlight/intel_backlight/brightness

WORKAROUND: If I boot with `acpi_osi=Linux` in the kernel command line, I can change the brightness, but the brightness window doesn't pop up.

ProblemType: Bug
DistroRelease: Ubuntu 12.04
Package: linux-image-3.2.0-24-generic 3.2.0-24.37
ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 3.2.0-24.37-generic 3.2.14
Uname: Linux 3.2.0-24-generic x86_64
AlsaVersion: Advanced Linux Sound Architecture Driver Version 1.0.24.
ApportVersion: 2.0.1-0ubuntu7
Architecture: amd64
ArecordDevices:
 **** List of CAPTURE Hardware Devices ****
 card 0: Intel [HDA Intel], device 0: ALC272X Analog [ALC272X Analog]
   Subdevices: 1/1
   Subdevice #0: subdevice #0
AudioDevicesInUse:
 USER PID ACCESS COMMAND
 /dev/snd/controlC0: alkisg 1705 F.... xfce4-volumed
                      alkisg 1736 F.... pulseaudio
Card0.Amixer.info:
 Card hw:0 'Intel'/'HDA Intel at 0xb4400000 irq 44'
   Mixer name : 'Intel IbexPeak HDMI'
   Components : 'HDA:10ec0272,10250487,00100001 HDA:80862804,80860101,00100000'
   Controls : 27
   Simple ctrls : 13
Date: Fri May 18 07:51:58 2012
HibernationDevice: RESUME=UUID=52f7a35f-fad8-4c9d-baf1-3d3087278f3c
InstallationMedia: Xubuntu 12.04 "Precise Pangolin" - Alpha amd64 (20120201.1)
Lsusb:
 Bus 001 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0002 Linux Foundation 2.0 root hub
 Bus 002 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0002 Linux Foundation 2.0 root hub
 Bus 001 Device 002: ID 8087:0020 Intel Corp. Integrated Rate Matching Hub
 Bus 002 Device 002: ID 8087:0020 Intel Corp. Integrated Rate Matching Hub
 Bus 001 Device 003: ID 064e:c21c Suyin Corp.
MachineType: Acer Aspire 5742Z
ProcEnviron:
 LANGUAGE=el:en
 TERM=xterm
 PATH=(custom, no user)
 LANG=el_GR.UTF-8
 SHELL=/bin/bash
ProcFB: 0 inteldrmfb
ProcKernelCmdLine: BOOT_IMAGE=/boot/vmlinuz-3.2.0-24-generic root=UUID=9ba52df4-ec9e-4e1c-bbd7-322f50437f94 ro quiet splash vt.handoff=7
RelatedPackageVersions:
 linux-restricted-modules-3.2.0-24-generic N/A
 linux-backports-modules-3.2.0-24-generic N/A
 linux-firmware 1.79
SourcePackage: linux
StagingDrivers: mei
UpgradeStatus: No upgrade log present (probably fresh install)
dmi.bios.date: 08/10/2011
dmi.bios.vendor: Acer
dmi.bios.version: V1.24
dmi.board.asset.tag: Base Board Asset Tag
dmi.board.name: Aspire 5742Z
dmi.board.vendor: Acer
dmi.board.version: V1.24
dmi.chassis.type: 10
dmi.chassis.vendor: Acer
dmi.chassis.version: V1.24
dmi.modalias: dmi:bvnAcer:bvrV1.24:bd08/10/2011:svnAcer:pnAspire5742Z:pvrV1.24:rvnAcer:rnAspire5742Z:rvrV1.24:cvnAcer:ct10:cvrV1.24:
dmi.product.name: Aspire 5742Z
dmi.product.version: V1.24
dmi.sys.vendor: Acer

[Brad Figg (brad-figg)]

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.

We have noted that there is a newer version of the development kernel than the one you last tested when this issue was found. Please test again with the newer kernel and indicate in the bug if this issue still exists or not.

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.

Thank you for your help, we really do appreciate it.

[Alkis Georgopoulos (alkisg)]

Thank you, I'll try when oneiric beta 2 comes out, as the current live CD (beta 1) doesn't have 3.0.0-11 but 3.0.0-9, and I'd prefer to keep Lucid installed in the hard disk.

I've just found a workaround in LP bug #518002:
adding "acpi_osi=Linux" in the kernel command line makes the brightness keys work!

With that workaround the gnome-panel brightness notification window doesn't show up though, but I don't mind about that little detail. :)

[Launchpad Janitor (janitor)]

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

[Alkis Georgopoulos (alkisg)]

I just tried with the Oneiric final CD (kernel 3.0.0-12-generic), and had the exact same problems, i.e.:
 * with the default boot options the laptop brightness keys made the brightness indicator window show, but the brightness wasn't actually changed, and
 * with acpi_osi=Linux in the isolinux command line, the brightness keys were indeed modifying the brightness, but the indicator window didn't appear.

[Alkis Georgopoulos (alkisg)]

I have 12.04 installed for 3 months now, yes the problem persists.

I tried `apport-collect -p linux 853244` on a fully updated system and it crashed with the following:

$ LANG=C apport-collect -p linux 853244
No packages found matching linux.
ERROR: hook /usr/share/apport/general-hooks/ubuntu.py crashed:
Traceback (most recent call last):
  File "/usr/lib/python2.7/dist-packages/apport/report.py", line 718, in add_hooks_info
    symb['add_info'](self, ui)
  File "/usr/share/apport/general-hooks/ubuntu.py", line 37, in add_info
    match_error_messages(report)
  File "/usr/share/apport/general-hooks/ubuntu.py", line 121, in match_error_messages
    if report['ProblemType'] == 'Package':
  File "/usr/lib/python2.7/UserDict.py", line 23, in __getitem__
    raise KeyError(key)
KeyError: 'ProblemType'
Traceback (most recent call last):
  File "/usr/share/apport/apport-gtk", line 493, in <lambda>
    GLib.idle_add(lambda: self.collect_info(on_finished=self.ui_update_view))
  File "/usr/lib/python2.7/dist-packages/apport/ui.py", line 861, in collect_info
    icthread.exc_raise()
  File "/usr/lib/python2.7/dist-packages/apport/REThread.py", line 34, in run
    self._retval = self.__target(*self.__args, **self.__kwargs)
  File "/usr/lib/python2.7/dist-packages/apport/ui.py", line 111, in thread_collect_info
    if report['ProblemType'] == 'Crash' and \
  File "/usr/lib/python2.7/UserDict.py", line 23, in __getitem__
    raise KeyError(key)
KeyError: 'ProblemType'

[Brad Figg (brad-figg)]

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.

We have noted that there is a newer version of the development kernel than the one you last tested when this issue was found. 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.

[Alkis Georgopoulos (alkisg)]

As I said, I always keep my system up to date, and I tested again today with
linux-image-3.2.0-22-generic-pae 3.2.0-22.35
but apport crashed, that's why it didn't update the affected kernel version.

[Alkis Georgopoulos (alkisg)]

I tried with the latest available mainline kernel and it had the exact same symptoms,
i.e. brightness not adjustable with the default kernel command line,
and partially working but without the notifications for the brightness changes
(and also by losing lots of other acpi features) with
acpi_osi=Linux
in the kernel command line.

This is the kernel I tried:
http://kernel.ubuntu.com/~kernel-ppa/mainline/v3.4-rc6-precise/linux-image-3.4.0-030400rc6-generic_3.4.0-030400rc6.201205061835_amd64.deb

[Alkis Georgopoulos (alkisg)]

I attached the output of `ubuntu-bug linux` in bug #1001085.

Not that this is while booted with the Ubuntu kernel, because ubuntu-bug refused to file a bug when I booted with the vanilla kernel.

[Arthur Geeson (ag200spr)]

I have the same problem with my Acer 5750G. I find I can control the brightness by using "echo 200 | sudo tee /sys/class/backlight/intel_backlight/brightness" and this has a range of 0 to 976. The key board brighness control and the control in system settings seem to change the variable loacted at "/sys/class/backlight/acpi_video0/brightness" that uses a range of 0 to 9. I dont know where the code is that changes the latter variable. I am using Ubuntu 12.04 LTS

[penalvch (penalvch)]

Arthur Geeson, if you have a bug in Ubuntu, could you please file a new report by executing the following in a terminal:
ubuntu-bug linux

For more on this, please see the Ubuntu Kernel team article:
https://wiki.ubuntu.com/KernelTeam/KernelTeamBugPolicies#Filing_Kernel_Bug_reports

the Ubuntu Bug Control team and Ubuntu Bug Squad team article:
https://wiki.ubuntu.com/Bugs/BestPractices#X.2BAC8-Reporting.Focus_on_One_Issue

and Ubuntu Community article:
https://help.ubuntu.com/community/ReportingBugs#Bug_reporting_etiquette

When opening up the new report, please feel free to subscribe me to it.

Please note, not filing a new report may delay your problem being addressed as quickly as possible.

Thank you for your understanding.

[penalvch (penalvch)]

Alkis Georgopoulos, as per http://us.acer.com/ac/en/US/content/drivers an update is available for your BIOS (1.30). If you update to this following https://help.ubuntu.com/community/BiosUpdate , does it change anything?

If not, could you please both specify what happened, and provide the output of the following terminal command:
sudo dmidecode -s bios-version && sudo dmidecode -s bios-release-date

Please note your current BIOS is already in the Bug Description, so posting this on the old BIOS would not be helpful.

For more on BIOS updates and linux, please see https://help.ubuntu.com/community/ReportingBugs#Bug_reporting_etiquette .

Thank you for your understanding.

[Alkis Georgopoulos (alkisg)]

Hi! No, updating the BIOS didn't change anything at all.

$ sudo dmidecode -s bios-version && sudo dmidecode -s bios-release-date
V1.30
08/13/2012

I tried both with the raring kernel (3.8.0-33-generic ) on my Precise system,
and with a Trusty daily live CD, with the same results as usual.

Summary:
 * The brightness keys make the brightness window pop up, but the brightness isn't changed at all.
 * Comment #22 from ag200spr does apply to me. So it is possible to change the brightness by e.g.
   # echo 123 > /sys/class/backlight/intel_backlight/brightness
 * If I boot with `acpi_osi=Linux` in the kernel command line, I can change the brightness,
   but the brightness window doesn't pop up.

So fixing the problem should be easy, if some upstream developer was actually interested in this.

Thanks,
Alkis

[penalvch (penalvch)]

Alkis Georgopoulos, the issue you are reporting is an upstream one. Could you please report this problem through the appropriate channel by following the instructions _verbatim_ at https://wiki.ubuntu.com/Bugs/Upstream/kernel#KernelTeam.2BAC8-KernelTeamBugPolicies.Overview_on_Reporting_Bugs_Upstream ?

Please provide a direct URL to your post once you have made it so that it may be tracked.

Thank you for your understanding.

[penalvch (penalvch)]

Alkis Georgopoulos, could you please provide the URL to the upstream mailing list post?

As well, could you please test the latest mainline kernel via http://kernel.ubuntu.com/~kernel-ppa/mainline/v3.13-rc5-trusty/ and advise to the results?

[Alkis Georgopoulos (alkisg)]

Hi Christopher, as mentioned in my other kernel related bug reports I just didn't know that launchpad wasn't the appropriate place to report kernel bugs. So for some of my bug reports I provided feedback for 3-4 years and the only result I got was the occasional "can we close it now?" answer.

I'll be reporting them upstream from now on, except for any ubuntu-specific ones, so feel free to close this one too.
Thanks, and wishes for a happy new year to you.