[Asus X200M] Changing Backlight not working

[Jill Royer]

Backlight setting is not working with Lubuntu 14.04.

This bug is reported following https://wiki.ubuntu.com/Kernel/Debugging/Backlight#Debugging_information_to_provide_in_your_bug_report guidelines.

WORKAROUND: Backlight can be set with xbacklight after creating /usr/share/X11/xorg.conf.d/20-intel.conf :

Section "Device"
    Identifier "card0"
    Driver "intel"
    Option "Backlight" "intel_backlight"
    BusID "PCI:0:2:0"
EndSection

but special keys are not working, and there are no events in acpi_listen when pressing these keys.

Update : To get special keys working (from : http://sajan.io/blog/asus-x200m-perfect-linux-ubuntu-xubunu-utility-laptop)
In the file /etc/default/grub, you'll see a line that looks like this:

GRUB_CMDLINE_LINUX_DEFAULT="quiet splash"

All you want to do is add two parameters to that line to make it look like this:

GRUB_CMDLINE_LINUX_DEFAULT="quiet splash acpi_os_name=Linux acpi_osi="

That's it. Save the file and run sudo update-grub in a terminal. Reboot, and your brightness keys should start working perfectly.

ProblemType: Bug
DistroRelease: Ubuntu 14.04
Package: linux-image-3.13.0-29-generic 3.13.0-29.53
ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 3.13.0-29.53-generic 3.13.11.2
Uname: Linux 3.13.0-29-generic x86_64
ApportVersion: 2.14.1-0ubuntu3
Architecture: amd64
AudioDevicesInUse:
 USER PID ACCESS COMMAND
 /dev/snd/controlC0: guillaume 1447 F.... lxpanel
CRDA: Error: [Errno 2] Aucun fichier ou dossier de ce type: 'iw'
CurrentDesktop: LXDE
Date: Thu Jun 12 21:52:16 2014
HibernationDevice: RESUME=UUID=5b0a59aa-0acf-415f-93bd-62df1b558efb
InstallationDate: Installed on 2014-06-12 (0 days ago)
InstallationMedia: Lubuntu 14.04 LTS "Trusty Tahr" - Release amd64 (20140416.2)
Lsusb:
 Bus 002 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0003 Linux Foundation 3.0 root hub
 Bus 001 Device 003: ID 05e3:0608 Genesys Logic, Inc. USB-2.0 4-Port HUB
 Bus 001 Device 002: ID 0bda:5603 Realtek Semiconductor Corp.
 Bus 001 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0002 Linux Foundation 2.0 root hub
MachineType: ASUSTeK COMPUTER INC. X200MA
ProcFB: 0 inteldrmfb
ProcKernelCmdLine: BOOT_IMAGE=/boot/vmlinuz-3.13.0-29-generic.efi.signed root=UUID=37551324-2550-4e13-aea9-4603fbd63807 ro quiet splash vt.handoff=7
RelatedPackageVersions:
 linux-restricted-modules-3.13.0-29-generic N/A
 linux-backports-modules-3.13.0-29-generic N/A
 linux-firmware 1.127
SourcePackage: linux
UpgradeStatus: No upgrade log present (probably fresh install)
dmi.bios.date: 01/21/2014
dmi.bios.vendor: American Megatrends Inc.
dmi.bios.version: X200MA.302
dmi.board.asset.tag: ATN12345678901234567
dmi.board.name: X200MA
dmi.board.vendor: ASUSTeK COMPUTER INC.
dmi.board.version: 1.0
dmi.chassis.asset.tag: No Asset Tag
dmi.chassis.type: 10
dmi.chassis.vendor: ASUSTeK COMPUTER INC.
dmi.chassis.version: 1.0
dmi.modalias: dmi:bvnAmericanMegatrendsInc.:bvrX200MA.302:bd01/21/2014:svnASUSTeKCOMPUTERINC.:pnX200MA:pvr1.0:rvnASUSTeKCOMPUTERINC.:rnX200MA:rvr1.0:cvnASUSTeKCOMPUTERINC.:ct10:cvr1.0:
dmi.product.name: X200MA
dmi.product.version: 1.0
dmi.sys.vendor: ASUSTeK COMPUTER INC.

[Brad Figg (brad-figg)]

This change was made by a bot.

[Jill Royer (jillro)]

* Reboot with only the kernel parameter acpi_backlight=vendor :

   * Make a comment on if you can now alter the backlight with hotkeys or a brightness applet.
     That did not work.

   * ls /sys/class/backlight > vendorbacklight
     See attachments.

   * If you have the folder /sys/class/backlight/intel_backlight/ :
     * type sudo su , and then execute:
     * ls -la /sys/class/backlight/intel_backlight/ > lslabacklight
       See attachments.
     * echo 8 > /sys/class/backlight/intel_backlight/brightness
       Screen became almost black, and I had to reboot, as I wasn't seeing anthing .

[Jill Royer (jillro)]

Without any BIOS update, after creating /usr/share/X11/xorg.conf.d/20-intel.conf with :

Section "Device"
    Identifier "card0"
    Driver "intel"
    Option "Backlight" "intel_backlight"
    BusID "PCI:0:2:0"
EndSection

the backlight can now be set with xbacklight

but the special keys are not working, and there are not event in acpi_listen when pressing this keys

BIOS was updated :

sudo dmidecode -s bios-version && sudo dmidecode -s bios-release-date
X200MA.500
05/04/2014

did not change the problem with the keys

[penalvch (penalvch)]

Guillaume Royer, while removing your WORKAROUND could you please test the latest upstream kernel available from the first line at the top page (not the daily folder) following https://wiki.ubuntu.com/KernelMainlineBuilds ? It will allow additional upstream developers to examine 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:
kernel-fixed-upstream
kernel-fixed-upstream-VERSION-NUMBER

where VERSION-NUMBER is the version number of the kernel you tested. For example:
kernel-fixed-upstream-3.15

This can be done by clicking on the yellow circle with a black pencil icon next to the word Tags located at the bottom of the bug description. As well, please remove the tag:
needs-upstream-testing

If the mainline kernel does not fix this bug, please add the following tags:
kernel-bug-exists-upstream
kernel-bug-exists-upstream-VERSION-NUMBER

As well, please remove the tag:
needs-upstream-testing

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.

[AJ (sofortaufsklo)]

I'm having the exact same issue, same hardware, just running Xubuntu 14.04 instead of Lubuntu.

I've tried everything suggested, nothing worked. :(

[penalvch (penalvch)]

AJ, thank you for your comment. So your hardware and problem may be tracked, could you please file a new report with Ubuntu by executing the following in a terminal while booted into the default Ubuntu kernel (not a mainline one) via:
ubuntu-bug linux

For more on this, please read the official Ubuntu documentation:
Ubuntu Bug Control and Ubuntu Bug Squad: https://wiki.ubuntu.com/Bugs/BestPractices#X.2BAC8-Reporting.Focus_on_One_Issue
Ubuntu Kernel Team: https://wiki.ubuntu.com/KernelTeam/KernelTeamBugPolicies#Filing_Kernel_Bug_reports
Ubuntu Community: https://help.ubuntu.com/community/ReportingBugs#Bug_reporting_etiquette

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

As well, please do not announce in this report you created a new bug report.

Thank you for your understanding.

Helpful bug reporting tips:
https://wiki.ubuntu.com/ReportingBugs

[ZoLToR (zoltor)]

Have the same issue with same hardware (Ubuntu 14.04 x64, kernel: 3.16.2-utopic, notebook ASUS X200MA-KX242D: Celeron N2830 with Intel HD Graphics).
Fn+F5/F6 key are not working. I can set backlight brightness via xbacklight without any Xorg configs or grub kernel parameters.
The same issue also in kernel 3.17-utopic.

[penalvch (penalvch)]

ZoLToR, thank you for your comment. So your hardware and problem may be tracked, could you please file a new report with Ubuntu by executing the following in a terminal while booted into the default Ubuntu kernel (not a mainline one) via:
ubuntu-bug linux

For more on this, please read the official Ubuntu documentation:
Ubuntu Bug Control and Ubuntu Bug Squad: https://wiki.ubuntu.com/Bugs/BestPractices#X.2BAC8-Reporting.Focus_on_One_Issue
Ubuntu Kernel Team: https://wiki.ubuntu.com/KernelTeam/KernelTeamBugPolicies#Filing_Kernel_Bug_reports
Ubuntu Community: https://help.ubuntu.com/community/ReportingBugs#Bug_reporting_etiquette

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

As well, please do not announce in this report you created a new bug report.

Thank you for your understanding.

Helpful bug reporting tips:
https://wiki.ubuntu.com/ReportingBugs

[Launchpad Janitor (janitor)]

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

[Sam (nordbergsam)]

This same bug is affecting me too. Lubuntu 14.04 on an Asus X200M-KX671D.
Cannot achieve any backlight control.

[Nizar Kerkeni (nizarus)]

I confirm this bug for xubuntu 16.04 LTS
A workaround to get F5/F6 working is described here :
 http://sajan.io/blog/asus-x200m-perfect-linux-ubuntu-xubunu-utility-laptop
The notification is about change is displayed but the back-light is not changing.

[Nizar Kerkeni (nizarus)]

All is working fine after the workaround to get special keys working described above (#32) combined to the workaround to set backlight with xbacklight in the bug description.

[Launchpad Janitor (janitor)]

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

[Matthew Brooks (vectormatt)]

The issue still exists in 16.10. Fresh install, made just a few hours ago.

The workarounds don't even make the brightness keys work. The system shows the brightness popup, which responds to the brightness keys, but the actual brightness doesn't change.

Changing brightness by piping a number into /sys/class/backlight/intel_backlight/brightness still works though, but it'd be really nice to get the actual keys working.

[penalvch (penalvch)]

Matthew Brooks, it will help immensely if you filed a new report with the Ubuntu repository kernel (not mainline/upstream) via a terminal:
ubuntu-bug linux

Please feel free to subscribe me to it.

For more on why this is helpful, please see https://wiki.ubuntu.com/ReportingBugs.

[Matthew Brooks (vectormatt)]

Alright, that's done. It's bug number 1651629
I've marked it as a duplicate of this one, and subscribed you to it.

If there's anything else I can do to help get this fixed, just let me know.