[ThinkPad W530 2447] Brightness keys don't work as expected on

[Erik Nasaroff]

First I could only change the brightness level by one step. (From 100% to 95%.)
After I added 'GRUB_CMDLINE_LINUX="acpi_backlight=vendor"' in /etc/default/grub the keys work as expected, but the notification showing the brightness level displays the wrong value. Attached a picture with max brightness.

ProblemType: Bug
DistroRelease: Ubuntu 13.04
Package: linux-image-3.8.0-19-generic 3.8.0-19.29
ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 3.8.0-19.29-generic 3.8.8
Uname: Linux 3.8.0-19-generic x86_64
ApportVersion: 2.9.2-0ubuntu8
Architecture: amd64
AudioDevicesInUse:
 USER PID ACCESS COMMAND
 /dev/snd/controlC0: eeroz 2273 F.... pulseaudio
CRDA:
 country DE:
  (2400 - 2483 @ 40), (N/A, 20)
  (5150 - 5250 @ 40), (N/A, 20), NO-OUTDOOR
  (5250 - 5350 @ 40), (N/A, 20), NO-OUTDOOR, DFS
  (5470 - 5725 @ 40), (N/A, 26), DFS
Date: Fri Apr 26 21:54:04 2013
HibernationDevice: RESUME=UUID=c4d094e7-893d-4e8a-a869-fa08eb2b2d9c
InstallationDate: Installed on 2012-12-23 (123 days ago)
InstallationMedia: This
MachineType: LENOVO 24472AG
MarkForUpload: True
ProcEnviron:
 TERM=xterm
 PATH=(custom, no user)
 XDG_RUNTIME_DIR=<set>
 LANG=en_US.UTF-8
 SHELL=/bin/bash
ProcFB: 0 inteldrmfb
ProcKernelCmdLine: BOOT_IMAGE=/boot/vmlinuz-3.8.0-19-generic root=UUID=b08558b9-9514-435a-8b9c-c012eb0fd91b ro acpi_backlight=vendor quiet splash i915.i915_enable_rc6=1 i915.i915_enable_fbc=1 i915.lvds_downclock=1 vt.handoff=7
RelatedPackageVersions:
 linux-restricted-modules-3.8.0-19-generic N/A
 linux-backports-modules-3.8.0-19-generic N/A
 linux-firmware 1.106
RfKill:
 0: phy0: Wireless LAN
  Soft blocked: no
  Hard blocked: no
SourcePackage: linux
UpgradeStatus: Upgraded to raring on 2013-04-25 (1 days ago)
dmi.bios.date: 02/27/2013
dmi.bios.vendor: LENOVO
dmi.bios.version: G5ET92WW (2.52 )
dmi.board.asset.tag: Not Available
dmi.board.name: 24472AG
dmi.board.vendor: LENOVO
dmi.board.version: Not Defined
dmi.chassis.asset.tag: No Asset Information
dmi.chassis.type: 10
dmi.chassis.vendor: LENOVO
dmi.chassis.version: Not Available
dmi.modalias: dmi:bvnLENOVO:bvrG5ET92WW(2.52):bd02/27/2013:svnLENOVO:pn24472AG:pvrThinkPadW530:rvnLENOVO:rn24472AG:rvrNotDefined:cvnLENOVO:ct10:cvrNotAvailable:
dmi.product.name: 24472AG
dmi.product.version: ThinkPad W530
dmi.sys.vendor: LENOVO

[Brad Figg (brad-figg)]

This change was made by a bot.

[Joseph Salisbury (jsalisbury)]

Would it be possible for you to test the latest upstream kernel? Refer to https://wiki.ubuntu.com/KernelMainlineBuilds . Please test the latest v3.9 kernel[0].

If this bug is fixed in the mainline kernel, please add the following tag 'kernel-fixed-upstream'.

If the mainline kernel does not fix this bug, please add the tag: 'kernel-bug-exists-upstream'.

If you are unable to test the mainline kernel, for example it will not boot, please add the tag: 'kernel-unable-to-test-upstream'.
Once testing of the upstream kernel is complete, please mark this bug as "Confirmed".

Thanks in advance.

[0] http://kernel.ubuntu.com/~kernel-ppa/mainline/v3.9-raring/

[Erik Nasaroff (erik-nasaroff)]

I just tried it with the 3.9.0-030900rc8-generic kernel. It's not fixed.
I missed it in the original report, but without adding the acpi_backlight=vendor boot option it actually doesn't even change the brightness. (Stays at maximum.)
Made a video about the problem, I realize that you can't see the backlight brightness actually changing.
The first part is without the acpi_backlight=vendor boot option and the second part is with it.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tvzeIKQ0P-I

[penalvch (penalvch)]

Erik Nasaroff, as per http://support.lenovo.com/en_US/downloads/default.page?selector=expand an update is available for your BIOS (2.54). If you update to this, 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

Thank you for your understanding.

[Erik Nasaroff (erik-nasaroff)]

Christopher, do you mean BIOS version 2.53? That's the newest I could find.
Anyway, by updating to 2.53 (from 2.52) and removing the 'GRUB_CMDLINE_LINUX="acpi_backlight=vendor"' line from /etc/default/grub, it now works as expected.

Thanks for the suggestion!

Just for reference:
eeroz@eeroz-ThinkPad-W530:~$ sudo dmidecode -s bios-version && sudo dmidecode -s bios-release-date
Swipe your right index finger across the fingerprint reader
G5ET93WW (2.53 )
05/24/2013

[penalvch (penalvch)]

Erik Nasaroff, this bug report is being closed due to your last comment https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/linux/+bug/1173352/comments/6 regarding this being fixed with a BIOS update. For future reference you can manage the status of your own bugs by clicking on the current status in the yellow line and then choosing a new status in the revealed drop down box. You can learn more about bug statuses at https://wiki.ubuntu.com/Bugs/Status. Thank you again for taking the time to report this bug and helping to make Ubuntu better. Please submit any future bugs you may find.