Screen brightness cannot be changed on HP EliteBook 8560w

[Arne Henningsen]

I cannot change the screen brightness on my HP Elitebook 8560w. If I use the keys for changing the screen brightness (fn + f9 or fn + f10), the on-screen display appears and the displayed percentage changes as intended but the actual screen brightness does not change (i.e. it remains at full brightness). Similarly, if I do not use my computer for some time, the on-screen display appears and indicates the the screen brightness is reduced (lower percentage) but the actual screen brightness remains unchanged (at full brightness). I have this computer since November 2011 and I had always the latest Kubuntu version installed. Changing the screen brightness always worked until and including Kubuntu 13.10. However, it stopped working when I upgraded to Kubuntu 14.04.

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ApportVersion: 2.14.1-0ubuntu3.2
Architecture: amd64
AudioDevicesInUse:
 USER PID ACCESS COMMAND
 /dev/snd/controlC1: ubuntu 3663 F.... pulseaudio
 /dev/snd/controlC0: ubuntu 3663 F.... pulseaudio
CasperVersion: 1.340
CurrentDesktop: Unity
DistroRelease: Ubuntu 14.04
LiveMediaBuild: Ubuntu 14.04.1 LTS "Trusty Tahr" - Release amd64 (20140722.2)
MachineType: Hewlett-Packard HP EliteBook 8560w
Package: linux (not installed)
ProcEnviron:
 TERM=xterm
 PATH=(custom, no user)
 XDG_RUNTIME_DIR=<set>
 LANG=en_US.UTF-8
 SHELL=/bin/bash
ProcFB: 0 nouveaufb
ProcKernelCmdLine: noprompt cdrom-detect/try-usb=true persistent file=/cdrom/preseed/username.seed boot=casper initrd=/casper/initrd.lz quiet splash -- maybe-ubiquity
ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 3.13.0-32.57-generic 3.13.11.4
RelatedPackageVersions:
 linux-restricted-modules-3.13.0-32-generic N/A
 linux-backports-modules-3.13.0-32-generic N/A
 linux-firmware 1.127.5
Tags: trusty
Uname: Linux 3.13.0-32-generic x86_64
UpgradeStatus: No upgrade log present (probably fresh install)
UserGroups: adm cdrom dip lpadmin plugdev sambashare sudo
_MarkForUpload: True
dmi.bios.date: 07/15/2013
dmi.bios.vendor: Hewlett-Packard
dmi.bios.version: 68SVD Ver. F.42
dmi.board.name: 1631
dmi.board.vendor: Hewlett-Packard
dmi.board.version: KBC Version 01.3D
dmi.chassis.type: 10
dmi.chassis.vendor: Hewlett-Packard
dmi.modalias: dmi:bvnHewlett-Packard:bvr68SVDVer.F.42:bd07/15/2013:svnHewlett-Packard:pnHPEliteBook8560w:pvrA0001D02:rvnHewlett-Packard:rn1631:rvrKBCVersion01.3D:cvnHewlett-Packard:ct10:cvr:
dmi.product.name: HP EliteBook 8560w
dmi.product.version: A0001D02
dmi.sys.vendor: Hewlett-Packard

[Brad Figg (brad-figg)]

This bug is missing log files that will aid in diagnosing the problem. From a terminal window please run:

apport-collect 1349002

and then change the status of the bug to 'Confirmed'.

If, due to the nature of the issue you have encountered, you are unable to run this command, please add a comment stating that fact and change the bug status to 'Confirmed'.

This change has been made by an automated script, maintained by the Ubuntu Kernel Team.

[Arne Henningsen (arne-henningsen-6)]

apport information

[penalvch (penalvch)]

Arne Henningsen, please boot into the kernel provided by default in Ubuntu (not mainline) and execute the following in a terminal:
apport-collect 1349002

[Arne Henningsen (arne-henningsen-6)]

Christopher M. Penalver, please read my bug report. I wrote that I cannot boot into the default kernel.

[penalvch (penalvch)]

Arne Henningsen, you can boot into a live environment correct?

[Ahmet Yıldırım (regenx)]

I have the same issue on ubuntu 14.04 for HP Elitebook 8560w.

[Ahmet Yıldırım (regenx)]

I am using default kernel, how can I attach apport-collect 1349002?? It does not accept because I am not the submitter of bug.

[penalvch (penalvch)]

ahmet yıldırım, 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.

Thank you for your understanding.

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

[Arne Henningsen (arne-henningsen-6)]

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[Arne Henningsen (arne-henningsen-6)]

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[Arne Henningsen (arne-henningsen-6)]

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[Arne Henningsen (arne-henningsen-6)]

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[Arne Henningsen (arne-henningsen-6)]

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[Arne Henningsen (arne-henningsen-6)]

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[Arne Henningsen (arne-henningsen-6)]

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[Arne Henningsen (arne-henningsen-6)]

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[Arne Henningsen (arne-henningsen-6)]

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[Arne Henningsen (arne-henningsen-6)]

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[Arne Henningsen (arne-henningsen-6)]

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[Arne Henningsen (arne-henningsen-6)]

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[Arne Henningsen (arne-henningsen-6)]

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[Arne Henningsen (arne-henningsen-6)]

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[Arne Henningsen (arne-henningsen-6)]

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[penalvch (penalvch)]

Arne Henningsen, could you please test the latest mainline kernel via http://kernel.ubuntu.com/~kernel-ppa/mainline/v3.17-rc3-utopic/ and advise to the results?

[Arne Henningsen (arne-henningsen-6)]

I booted into mainline kernel 3.17-rc3 but I still cannot change the screen brightness :-(

uname -a
Linux arne-HP-EB-8560w 3.17.0-031700rc3-generic #201409031132 SMP Wed Sep 3 10:33:38 UTC 2014 x86_64 x86_64 x86_64 GNU/Linux

[penalvch (penalvch)]

Arne Henningsen, the latest mainline kernel is now 3.17-rc5. Could you please test that via http://kernel.ubuntu.com/~kernel-ppa/mainline/v3.17-rc5-utopic/ ?

[Arne Henningsen (arne-henningsen-6)]

I booted into mainline kernel 3.17-rc5 but I still cannot change the screen brightness :-(

uname -a
Linux arne-HP-EB-8560w 3.17.0-031700rc5-generic #201409151105 SMP Mon Sep 15 15:08:10 UTC 2014 x86_64 x86_64 x86_64 GNU/Linux

[penalvch (penalvch)]

Arne Henningsen, the next step is to fully commit bisect the kernel in order to identify the offending commit. Could you please do this following https://wiki.ubuntu.com/Kernel/KernelBisection ?

[Launchpad Janitor (janitor)]

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

[Iliya (my-working)]

I have the same issue at HP EliteBook 8560w and Linux 3.19.0-30-generic #34~14.04.1-Ubuntu SMP Fri Oct 2 22:09:39 UTC 2015 x86_64 x86_64 x86_64 GNU/Linux and GNOME Shell 3.10.4

I've started with Ubuntu 14.04 so brightness controls never worked here with Ubuntu. But I also have Windows 7 (as multiboot) and brightness tunes ok with it.

How can I help to resolve this issue?

[penalvch (penalvch)]

Iliya, it will help immensely if you filed a new report via a terminal:
ubuntu-bug linux

Please feel free to subscribe me to it.

[Iliya (my-working)]

Christopher, thank you for quick response.

As you suggested I start filling new report and while searching info for it (as I changed default configuration) I accidentally found working solution here: http://askubuntu.com/a/589100 . I downgraded Nvidia drivers (that installed earlier) from 352.x version to 304.128 and brightness controls start working like a charm.

So I believe there's no need in new report now. If not or if I can help with something else please let me know.

Anyway thank you for triggering me with that additional research.

[Arne Henningsen (arne-henningsen-6)]

Iliya, thanks a lot for posting the workaround. I have downgraded Nvidia drivers to version 304.128 and now I can adjust the screen brightness :-)

[Arne Henningsen (arne-henningsen-6)]

I filed a bug report via NVIDIA's bug reporting system:

http://nvidia-submit.custhelp.com/app/account/questions/detail/i_id/864511

[Launchpad Janitor (janitor)]

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