LCD brightness NOT restored upon returning from screen lock in GNOME shell

[Martin-Éric Racine]

On a laptop running gnome-shell where gnome-screensaver automatically locked the screen after a certain predetermined time, the LCD brightness is at minimal. This makes it extremely difficult to see where someone should type their password to unlock the session. Additionally, brightness is not restored after unlocking the session either.

ProblemType: Bug
DistroRelease: Ubuntu 11.10
Package: gnome-screensaver 3.2.0-0ubuntu1
ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 3.1.0-2.2-generic 3.1.0
Uname: Linux 3.1.0-2-generic i686
ApportVersion: 1.23-0ubuntu3
Architecture: i386
Date: Sat Oct 29 19:04:27 2011
ProcEnviron:
 LANGUAGE=fi:en
 PATH=(custom, user)
 LANG=fi_FI.UTF-8
 SHELL=/bin/bash
SourcePackage: gnome-screensaver
UpgradeStatus: No upgrade log present (probably fresh install)

[Pascollin (pascollin)]

Workaround :
1- Install xbacklight (sudo apt-get install xbacklight)
2- Disable password after screensaver has locked screen (in system settings / screen)
3- Create a keystroke shortcut to run "xbacklight -set 100" (in system settings / keyboard /shortcut)
Now, when screen brightness is None, use the keystroke to switch the light on

[Launchpad Janitor (janitor)]

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

[Luciano Chavez (luciano-chavez)]

I am seeing this same bug. Albeit not on Ubuntu 11.10 but on Mint Linux 12, but I believe it to be the same. I am using a Lenovo B570 laptop which has a function key to increase and decrease the screen brightness. So in my case, once I enter the user password to unlock the screen, I then use the function key to increase and restore the screen brightness. This issue occurs regardless if I am running on AC or battery.

[Marcelo Luiz de Laia (marcelolaia)]

I confirm this bug in my Dell Latitude D630 run Debian Testing.

[david.barbion (david-barbion)]

I have the same issue on a HP compaq nc 4200. Additionally, after unlocking the screen save, fn keys does not work anymore. After restablishing maximum screen brightness (from screen control panel), fn keys then works again.

[Pascollin (pascollin)]

I have the same issue on Samsung Q40. The workaround with xbacklight requires to be logged (doesn't works on login screen)

[David Rothera (david-rothera)]

Same issue for me in Linux Mint 12 which IIRC is a downstream clone of 11.10