Helium - Can't Adjust Display Brightness

doxa · 2018-06-22 01:45:18

I bit the bullet and installed Helium, and all is well (so far) except for a few issues I noticed right away. One of these is that I can't adjust the screen brightness neither with my hotkeys on my laptop or using the battery icon adjustment.

Can someone offer some advice? Thanks!

doxa · 2018-06-23 02:25:21

I searched the forum before posting, and did come across that link but it's over my head. I'm an eternal noob. If anyone can guide me step by step on how to fix this, it would be great.

ohnonot · 2018-06-23 09:24:38

first, we need to get some info about your machine.
let's start with

lspci -k
systemctl list-units --state=failed

doxa · 2018-06-24 15:25:40

Ok, here goes:

abdalmalik@doxa:~$ lspci -k
00:00.0 Host bridge: Intel Corporation 2nd Generation Core Processor Family DRAM Controller (rev 09)
	Subsystem: Lenovo 2nd Generation Core Processor Family DRAM Controller
00:01.0 PCI bridge: Intel Corporation Xeon E3-1200/2nd Generation Core Processor Family PCI Express Root Port (rev 09)
	Kernel driver in use: pcieport
	Kernel modules: shpchp
00:02.0 VGA compatible controller: Intel Corporation 2nd Generation Core Processor Family Integrated Graphics Controller (rev 09)
	Subsystem: Lenovo 2nd Generation Core Processor Family Integrated Graphics Controller
	Kernel driver in use: i915
	Kernel modules: i915
00:16.0 Communication controller: Intel Corporation 6 Series/C200 Series Chipset Family MEI Controller #1 (rev 04)
	Subsystem: Lenovo 6 Series/C200 Series Chipset Family MEI Controller
	Kernel driver in use: mei_me
	Kernel modules: mei_me
00:16.3 Serial controller: Intel Corporation 6 Series/C200 Series Chipset Family KT Controller (rev 04)
	Subsystem: Lenovo 6 Series/C200 Series Chipset Family KT Controller
	Kernel driver in use: serial
00:19.0 Ethernet controller: Intel Corporation 82579LM Gigabit Network Connection (rev 04)
	Subsystem: Lenovo 82579LM Gigabit Network Connection
	Kernel driver in use: e1000e
	Kernel modules: e1000e
00:1a.0 USB controller: Intel Corporation 6 Series/C200 Series Chipset Family USB Enhanced Host Controller #2 (rev 04)
	Subsystem: Lenovo 6 Series/C200 Series Chipset Family USB Enhanced Host Controller
	Kernel driver in use: ehci-pci
	Kernel modules: ehci_pci
00:1b.0 Audio device: Intel Corporation 6 Series/C200 Series Chipset Family High Definition Audio Controller (rev 04)
	Subsystem: Lenovo 6 Series/C200 Series Chipset Family High Definition Audio Controller
	Kernel driver in use: snd_hda_intel
	Kernel modules: snd_hda_intel
00:1c.0 PCI bridge: Intel Corporation 6 Series/C200 Series Chipset Family PCI Express Root Port 1 (rev b4)
	Kernel driver in use: pcieport
	Kernel modules: shpchp
00:1c.1 PCI bridge: Intel Corporation 6 Series/C200 Series Chipset Family PCI Express Root Port 2 (rev b4)
	Kernel driver in use: pcieport
	Kernel modules: shpchp
00:1c.3 PCI bridge: Intel Corporation 6 Series/C200 Series Chipset Family PCI Express Root Port 4 (rev b4)
	Kernel driver in use: pcieport
	Kernel modules: shpchp
00:1c.4 PCI bridge: Intel Corporation 6 Series/C200 Series Chipset Family PCI Express Root Port 5 (rev b4)
	Kernel driver in use: pcieport
	Kernel modules: shpchp
00:1d.0 USB controller: Intel Corporation 6 Series/C200 Series Chipset Family USB Enhanced Host Controller #1 (rev 04)
	Subsystem: Lenovo 6 Series/C200 Series Chipset Family USB Enhanced Host Controller
	Kernel driver in use: ehci-pci
	Kernel modules: ehci_pci
00:1f.0 ISA bridge: Intel Corporation QM67 Express Chipset Family LPC Controller (rev 04)
	Subsystem: Lenovo QM67 Express Chipset Family LPC Controller
	Kernel driver in use: lpc_ich
	Kernel modules: lpc_ich
00:1f.2 SATA controller: Intel Corporation 6 Series/C200 Series Chipset Family 6 port SATA AHCI Controller (rev 04)
	Subsystem: Lenovo 6 Series/C200 Series Chipset Family 6 port SATA AHCI Controller
	Kernel driver in use: ahci
	Kernel modules: ahci
00:1f.3 SMBus: Intel Corporation 6 Series/C200 Series Chipset Family SMBus Controller (rev 04)
	Subsystem: Lenovo 6 Series/C200 Series Chipset Family SMBus Controller
	Kernel driver in use: i801_smbus
	Kernel modules: i2c_i801
01:00.0 VGA compatible controller: NVIDIA Corporation GF119M [Quadro NVS 4200M] (rev a1)
	Subsystem: Lenovo GF119M [Quadro NVS 4200M]
	Kernel driver in use: nouveau
	Kernel modules: nouveau
03:00.0 Network controller: Intel Corporation Centrino Advanced-N 6205 [Taylor Peak] (rev 34)
	Subsystem: Intel Corporation Centrino Advanced-N 6205 AGN
	Kernel driver in use: iwlwifi
	Kernel modules: iwlwifi
0d:00.0 System peripheral: Ricoh Co Ltd PCIe SDXC/MMC Host Controller (rev 08)
	Subsystem: Lenovo PCIe SDXC/MMC Host Controller
	Kernel driver in use: sdhci-pci
	Kernel modules: sdhci_pci
abdalmalik@doxa:~$ systemctl list-units --state=failed
0 loaded units listed. Pass --all to see loaded but inactive units, too.
To show all installed unit files use 'systemctl list-unit-files'.

sleekmason · 2018-06-24 18:12:19

Have you tried updating your kernel?

doxa · 2018-06-24 19:13:42

How can I update the Kernel? I just installed Helium fresh from USB a week ago, no other updates thereafter.

sleekmason · 2018-06-24 19:47:10

Are you using 64 bit? Check your current version with:

uname -r

If you are using 64 bit, the latest in stretch will be installed using the below code.

sudo apt-get update

sudo apt-get install linux-image-4.16.0-0.bpo.2-amd64

doxa · 2018-06-24 21:05:34

Yeah, I'm using 64 bit. Attempting to install the package brings back this error:

Reading package lists... Done
Building dependency tree       
Reading state information... Done
E: Unable to locate package linux-image-4.16.0-0.bpo.2-amd64
E: Couldn't find any package by glob 'linux-image-4.16.0-0.bpo.2-amd64'
E: Couldn't find any package by regex 'linux-image-4.16.0-0.bpo.2-amd64'

sleekmason · 2018-06-24 21:08:41

Interesting.

Please post the output of:

sudo apt policy

ohnonot · 2018-06-24 21:47:21

definitely some dual graphics in that laptop.
you need to deal with that, but i don't know how.
maybe: https://wiki.debian.org/Bumblebee
https://wiki.debian.org/NvidiaGraphicsDrivers/Optimus

doxa · 2018-06-24 22:14:42

Package files:
 100 /var/lib/dpkg/status
     release a=now
 500 https://repo.skype.com/deb stable/main amd64 Packages
     release o=. stable,a=stable,n=stable,l=. stable,c=main,b=amd64
     origin repo.skype.com
 500 https://pkg.bunsenlabs.org/debian helium/main amd64 Packages
     release o=bunsenlabs,n=helium,l=bunsenlabs,c=main,b=amd64
     origin pkg.bunsenlabs.org
 500 https://deb.debian.org/debian stretch-updates/main amd64 Packages
     release o=Debian,a=stable-updates,n=stretch-updates,l=Debian,c=main,b=amd64
     origin deb.debian.org
 500 https://deb.debian.org/debian-security stretch/updates/non-free amd64 Packages
     release v=9,o=Debian,a=stable,n=stretch,l=Debian-Security,c=non-free,b=amd64
     origin deb.debian.org
 500 https://deb.debian.org/debian-security stretch/updates/contrib amd64 Packages
     release v=9,o=Debian,a=stable,n=stretch,l=Debian-Security,c=contrib,b=amd64
     origin deb.debian.org
 500 https://deb.debian.org/debian-security stretch/updates/main amd64 Packages
     release v=9,o=Debian,a=stable,n=stretch,l=Debian-Security,c=main,b=amd64
     origin deb.debian.org
 500 https://deb.debian.org/debian stretch/contrib amd64 Packages
     release v=9.4,o=Debian,a=stable,n=stretch,l=Debian,c=contrib,b=amd64
     origin deb.debian.org
 500 https://deb.debian.org/debian stretch/non-free amd64 Packages
     release v=9.4,o=Debian,a=stable,n=stretch,l=Debian,c=non-free,b=amd64
     origin deb.debian.org
 500 https://deb.debian.org/debian stretch/main amd64 Packages
     release v=9.4,o=Debian,a=stable,n=stretch,l=Debian,c=main,b=amd64
     origin deb.debian.org
Pinned packages:

sleekmason · 2018-06-24 22:27:28

Thought maybe you were missing a repo for stretch, but all looks fine from here.

Huh, I don't know why it would be any different.

In any event, you can also open Synaptic and search "linux-image"

Choose the latest kernel for amd64 and install. Grub will be updated, and upon reboot, grub will automatically select your new kernel image.

If you experience an issue with the new kernel, reboot, and select "advanced options" and choose your old kernel.

I'm guessing there have been updates that may help, given the cards you have.

hhh · 2018-06-25 04:08:58

sleekmason wrote:

sudo apt-get install linux-image-4.16.0-0.bpo.2-amd64

You haven't explained that he needs to enable stretch-backports (run bl-welcome again and choose the option when it comes up) and install with the -t switch...

sudo apt install -t stetch-backports linux-image-4.16.0-0.bpo.2-amd64

BTW, apt-get is superceded by apt now...
https://debian-handbook.info/browse/sta … t-get.html
https://forums.bunsenlabs.org/viewtopic.php?id=4872

johnraff · 2018-06-25 06:45:29

hhh wrote:

apt-get is superseded by apt now

As a user front-end, yes, but apt-get is the one to use in scripts, or if you want to get down to some nitty-gritty detailed work.

sleekmason · 2018-06-25 12:51:15

hhh wrote:

BTW, apt-get is superceded by apt now...

Habit I'll make the switch.

sudo apt install -t stetch-backports linux-image-4.16.0-0.bpo.2-amd64

Now, this gets a little interesting. Didn't even think about the "bpo" in the version.
I was able to install with sudo apt-get install linux-image-4.16.0-0.bpo.2-amd64

The only change I'm aware of making was adding root access with "sudo passwd root", but I believe I have installed it both ways while testing the line of code.

I'll try to get it figured.

johnraff wrote:

As a user front-end, yes, but apt-get is the one to use in scripts, or if you want to get down to some nitty-gritty detailed work.

Apparently they reworked everything, but I sure couldn't find notes for the differences online. The hype was that apt-get was antiquated and buggy, but that has not been my experience, nor have I heard that from others. Only that it was rock solid! I always thought the new "apt" was just another frontend. No matter, I'll switch anyway.

doxa · 2018-06-25 16:25:41

So, I reran bl-welcome and enabled backports, then I ran

    sudo apt-get install linux-image-4.16.0-0.bpo.2-amd64

Rebooted, and still no impovements..

sleekmason · 2018-06-25 19:10:23

There is a workaround, though not ideal, and may not work, won't hurt anything to try.

First download xbacklight, which is a terminal program to adjust the backlight:

apt install xbacklight

Don't bother trying it until you have rebooted and added the below code.

Reboot, and at the grub boot screen. hit "e" to edit the grub command line.

add:

acpi_backlight=none

To the end of the grub boot line like so:

vga=791 quiet acpi_backlight=none

Then CTRL+x to boot.

After reboot, open a terminal and:

xbacklight -h

to see your options.

Example:

xbacklight -set 80

should bring your display to 80%
or:

xbacklight =80

Also might work.

If this doesn't work for some reason, no worries, just reboot. Without changing the setting in /etc, a reboot will remove the code.

IF this works, Then you will want to edit /etc/default/grub, and add the same line to the code so it looks like so:

sudo nano /etc/default/grub

GRUB_DEFAULT=0
GRUB_TIMEOUT=5
GRUB_DISTRIBUTOR=`lsb_release -i -s 2> /dev/null || echo Debian`
GRUB_CMDLINE_LINUX_DEFAULT=" vga=791 quiet acpi_backlight=none"
GRUB_CMDLINE_LINUX=""

This will keep acpi_backlight=none always enabled. Only do this if everything is working for you.

Once you have the line the way you want, hit "F2" to open the "save file" prompt, type "y" and ENTER.

Update grub. If you don't, nothing will change.

sudo update-grub

I also looked in the kernel to see if there was something there that might help. If your computer uses gpio to set the brightness, we could recompile a kernel with that enabled.

The last decent changes for nouveau were in kernel 4.9.17. Your new kernel should have fixed any issues addressed with that upgrade. Your i915 intel driver should be good to go.

Last edited by sleekmason (2018-06-25 19:19:04)

sleekmason · 2018-06-25 19:31:22

@doxa can you please check your kernel version with:

uname -r

Want to make sure your running the 4.16 kernel, and also would like to confirm you installed using:

sudo apt-get install linux-image-4.16.0-0.bpo.2-amd64

rather than:

sudo apt install -t stetch-backports linux-image-4.16.0-0.bpo.2-amd64

@hhh If the backports are automatically enabled in BL-welcome, is apt (or apt-get) allowing downloads without the extra "-t stretch-backports"?

johnraff · 2018-06-26 08:25:17

sleekmason wrote:

I always thought the new "apt" was just another frontend.

That's still my understanding.
I've heard nothing about apt-get being at all buggy, and never hit any bugs myself. I think apt is meant to be a little easier to understand and more pleasant to use.

What some people experienced as "bugs" might simply be misunderstandings of the manual.

sleekmason · 2018-06-26 13:17:51

@doxa

Searching through a related topic I found this line in the arch wiki:

video.use_native_backlight=1

Used in the grub boot menu the same as above.
reboot, hit e, add the above code to the end of the line, ctrl+x to boot.

I would try the above as well with the xbacklight program.

Here is the archwiki link to backlight problems:
https://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/Backlight

johnraff wrote:

I think apt is meant to be a little easier to understand and more pleasant to use.

apt purge
vs
apt-get remove --purge

I suppose it makes sense to shorten the commands. Apt also does it's own searching.
"apt search openbox" gives a pretty neat return with lines separated, vs apt-cache. It also allows "depends" and "rdepends", and the rest of apt-cache's functions. Guess I'm sold on it now.

Last edited by sleekmason (2018-06-26 13:29:02)

#1 2018-06-22 01:45:18

Helium - Can't Adjust Display Brightness

#2 2018-06-23 02:25:21

Re: Helium - Can't Adjust Display Brightness

#3 2018-06-23 09:24:38

Re: Helium - Can't Adjust Display Brightness

#4 2018-06-24 15:25:40

Re: Helium - Can't Adjust Display Brightness

#5 2018-06-24 18:12:19

Re: Helium - Can't Adjust Display Brightness

#6 2018-06-24 19:13:42

Re: Helium - Can't Adjust Display Brightness

#7 2018-06-24 19:47:10

Re: Helium - Can't Adjust Display Brightness

#8 2018-06-24 21:05:34

Re: Helium - Can't Adjust Display Brightness

#9 2018-06-24 21:08:41

Re: Helium - Can't Adjust Display Brightness

#10 2018-06-24 21:47:21

Re: Helium - Can't Adjust Display Brightness

#11 2018-06-24 22:14:42

Re: Helium - Can't Adjust Display Brightness

#12 2018-06-24 22:27:28

Re: Helium - Can't Adjust Display Brightness

#13 2018-06-25 04:08:58

Re: Helium - Can't Adjust Display Brightness

#14 2018-06-25 06:45:29

Re: Helium - Can't Adjust Display Brightness

#15 2018-06-25 12:51:15

Re: Helium - Can't Adjust Display Brightness

#16 2018-06-25 16:25:41

Re: Helium - Can't Adjust Display Brightness

#17 2018-06-25 19:10:23

Re: Helium - Can't Adjust Display Brightness

#18 2018-06-25 19:31:22

Re: Helium - Can't Adjust Display Brightness

#19 2018-06-26 08:25:17

Re: Helium - Can't Adjust Display Brightness

#20 2018-06-26 13:17:51

Re: Helium - Can't Adjust Display Brightness

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