[Sony VAIO SVF14212SNB] Can't change usb_charge attribute in /sys/devices/platform/sony-laptop

[Black]

I am on a Sony VAIO svf43142sn. My laptop has the ability to leave a USB port powered on even after shutdown to charge other devices. The value of /sys/devices/platform/sony-laptop/usb_charge is 1, but the USB port is not powered on. Also when I tried toggling it to 0 it resets back to 1 when I check again using cat. So I restarted the module sony-laptop with debug flags on. When I try:
echo -n 0 | sudo tee -a /sys/devices/platform/sony-laptop/usb_charge

these are the curresponding kernel logs, implying that it was a success:
[ 9121.879908] sony_laptop: found handle 0x0155 (offset: 0x07)
[ 9121.881386] sony_laptop: __call_snc_method: [SN07:0x0000000000000107]
[ 9121.881394] sony_laptop: called SN07 with 0x0107 (result: 0x0000)

But if I cat the value of usb charge, the change is not reflected, and I see this when I dmesg:
[ 9346.202318] sony_laptop: found handle 0x0155 (offset: 0x07)
[ 9346.202489] sony_laptop: __call_snc_method: [SN07:0x0000000000000007]
[ 9346.202494] sony_laptop: called SN07 with 0x0007 (result: 0x0001)

If it matters, when i simply echo 1, I will get this:
[ 9879.675844] sony_laptop: found handle 0x0155 (offset: 0x07)
[ 9879.676878] sony_laptop: __call_snc_method: [SN07:0x0000000000010107]
[ 9879.676885] sony_laptop: called SN07 with 0x10107 (result: 0x0000)

The entire debug message when I restart the module(sony-laptop) is given here: http://paste.ubuntu.com/11551226/ . I have asked the same as a question on askubuntu.com. It has got a other information if you need it:
http://askubuntu.com/questions/628542/how-to-leave-a-usb-port-powered-during-shutdown-for-charging-mobile

---
ApportVersion: 2.14.1-0ubuntu3.11
Architecture: amd64
AudioDevicesInUse:
 USER PID ACCESS COMMAND
 /dev/snd/controlC0: dalton 1816 F.... pulseaudio
CurrentDesktop: GNOME
DistroRelease: Ubuntu 14.04
HibernationDevice: RESUME=UUID=babf655a-816a-4c8a-ad03-6fe550cc1d60
InstallationDate: Installed on 2015-05-28 (7 days ago)
InstallationMedia: Ubuntu 14.04 LTS "Trusty Tahr" - Release amd64 (20140417)
MachineType: Sony Corporation SVF14212SNW
NonfreeKernelModules: wl
Package: linux (not installed)
ProcFB: 0 inteldrmfb
ProcKernelCmdLine: BOOT_IMAGE=/boot/vmlinuz-3.16.0-38-generic root=UUID=d52d966a-2fa0-4050-821e-99176a8fc013 ro quiet splash vt.handoff=7
ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 3.16.0-38.52~14.04.1-generic 3.16.7-ckt10
RelatedPackageVersions:
 linux-restricted-modules-3.16.0-38-generic N/A
 linux-backports-modules-3.16.0-38-generic N/A
 linux-firmware 1.127.12
Tags: trusty
Uname: Linux 3.16.0-38-generic x86_64
UpgradeStatus: No upgrade log present (probably fresh install)
UserGroups: adm cdrom dialout dip lpadmin plugdev sambashare sudo
_MarkForUpload: True
dmi.bios.date: 11/18/2013
dmi.bios.vendor: Insyde Corp.
dmi.bios.version: R0220DA
dmi.board.asset.tag: N/A
dmi.board.name: VAIO
dmi.board.vendor: Sony Corporation
dmi.board.version: N/A
dmi.chassis.asset.tag: N/A
dmi.chassis.type: 10
dmi.chassis.vendor: Sony Corporation
dmi.chassis.version: N/A
dmi.modalias: dmi:bvnInsydeCorp.:bvrR0220DA:bd11/18/2013:svnSonyCorporation:pnSVF14212SNW:pvrC10JZ3LZ:rvnSonyCorporation:rnVAIO:rvrN/A:cvnSonyCorporation:ct10:cvrN/A:
dmi.product.name: SVF14212SNW
dmi.product.version: C10JZ3LZ
dmi.sys.vendor: Sony Corporation

[penalvch (penalvch)]

Black, thank you for reporting this and helping make Ubuntu better. Please execute the following command, as it will automatically gather debugging information, in a terminal:
apport-collect 1461986

[Black (daltonfury42)]

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[Black (daltonfury42)]

I've executed the command. It gives back this message on the terminal:

dpkg-query: no packages found matching linux

[Black (daltonfury42)]

Well, I've updated the BIOS, but it does not change anything. For updating, I swapped my SSH with an old HDD with the OEM Windows. But still the result is the same, the value of USB charge is 1, and can't be changed. Here is the output you asked for:

sudo dmidecode -s bios-version && sudo dmidecode -s bios-release-date
R0230DA
02/24/2015

[penalvch (penalvch)]

Black, could you please test the latest upstream kernel available from the very top line at the top of the page (the release names are irrelevant for testing, and please do not test the daily folder) following https://wiki.ubuntu.com/Kernel/MainlineBuilds ? It will allow additional upstream developers to examine the issue.

If the test did not allow you to test to the issue (ex. you couldn't boot into the OS) please make a comment in your report about this, and continue to test the next most recent kernel version until you can test to the issue. Once you've tested the upstream kernel, please comment on which kernel version specifically you tested. If this bug is fixed in the mainline kernel, please add the following tags by clicking on the yellow circle with a black pencil icon, next to the word Tags, located at the bottom of the report description:
kernel-fixed-upstream
kernel-fixed-upstream-X.Y-rcZ

Where XY and Z are numbers corresponding to the kernel version.

If the mainline kernel does not fix this bug, please add the following tags:
kernel-bug-exists-upstream
kernel-bug-exists-upstream-X.Y-rcZ

Please note, an error to install the kernel does not fit the criteria of kernel-bug-exists-upstream.

Once testing of the upstream kernel is complete, please mark this bug's Status as Confirmed. Please let us know your results.

Thank you for your understanding.

[Black (daltonfury42)]

I've tested on 4.1.0-040100rc6-generic, and the results are the same. Also, I've lost my wifi, which was the only problem I encountered during the test.

[penalvch (penalvch)]

Black, are you able to charge when shutdown if you are using Windows?

[Black (daltonfury42)]

I will do it and post back the results tonight, ie after 10 hrs.

[Black (daltonfury42)]

Yes, I am able to change it, and reactivate it by booting into Windows. Here is a detailed summary of what I did:

I shut down my Ubuntu, inserted the HDD containing Windows 8 to my optical bay, and booted into Windows.

I found that USB charging was already on in the VAIO program. I shut down windows and checked if it was actuallly on, but the USB was not powered.

I booted again into Windows and switched it off. I could successfully switched it off and shut down my PC. When I checked if USB is powered, it obviously was not powered.

I booted into windows yet again and switched it on. Now when I shut it down, I found that I could charge my mobile successfully. In short, with windows I was able to successfully reactivate USB Charging.

Now I switched the feature off from Windows and booted into Ubuntu, and found it exactly as before, ie Even-though the feature was off, usb_charging had a value of 1, and I could not change it to 0.

To test further, I booted into Windows, switched the feature back on, tested it, and booted into linux. I got the same response. usb_charging had a value of 1, and I could not change it to 0.

I should add that windows boots with UEFI from the HDD in the optical bay, while Ubuntu boots in Lagacy mode from the internal SSD. To see if changing from UEFI to Lagacy had any effect, I booted into Windows, switched it on and shut down. Now I confirmed that my phone is being charged. I switched to Legacy, and yet again, I can charge my phone when the PC is shut down.

If you want, I can test from UEFI booted Ubuntu.

[penalvch (penalvch)]

Black, if you wouldn't mind that would be a good testing vector.

[Black (daltonfury42)]

I've tested, and the bug still exists when I boot into Ubuntu via UEFI

[penalvch (penalvch)]

Black, the issue you are reporting is an upstream one. Could you please report this problem to the appropriate mailing list (platform-driver-x86 CC Mattia Dongili) by following the instructions verbatim at https://wiki.ubuntu.com/Bugs/Upstream/kernel ?

Please provide a direct URL to your e-mail to the mailing list once you have made it so that it may be tracked via http://vger.kernel.org/vger-lists.html . It can take a day for the new e-mail to show up in the respective archive.

Thank you for your understanding.

[Black (daltonfury42)]

I've never used mailing lists before. This is what I did:

I've send a mail in the prescribed format to <email address hidden>. Also subscribed to the list. But I did not get any reply upon subscription. Will post a link here if I get any replies.

[Black (daltonfury42)]

The mail delivery failed, indication I did not do it correctly. Please help.

[Black (daltonfury42)]

OK, here's the link.

http://www.spinics.net/lists/platform-driver-x86/msg06880.html

[Black (daltonfury42)]

DSDT for my laptop.