Bug#485465: thinkpad-acpi EC/NVRAM brightness sync errors
H> Please tell me the exact version of the kernel and thinkpad-acpi
$ uname -a
Linux jidanni2 2.6.25-2-686 #1 SMP Thu Jun 12 16:26:30 UTC 2008 i686 GNU/Linux
$ cat /proc/acpi/ibm/driver
driver: ThinkPad ACPI Extras
version: 0.19
$ apt-show-versions linux-image-2.6.25-2-686
linux-image-2.6.25-2-686/sid uptodate 2.6.25-5
$ apt-show-versions acpid
acpid/sid uptodate 1.0.6-9
$ grep think /var/log/Xorg.0.log
(II) intel(0): found backlight control method /sys/class/backlight/thinkpad_screen
More details, on virgin system withOUT my /etc/X11/xdm/Xsetup tamperings:
# cat /proc/acpi/ibm/brightness
level: 0
commands: up, down
commands: level <level> (<level> is 0-7)
# /etc/init.d/xdm start
Starting X display manager: xdm.
# cat /proc/acpi/ibm/brightness
level: unreadable
# /etc/init.d/xdm stop
Stopping X display manager: xdm.
# cat /proc/acpi/ibm/brightness
level: unreadable
(At the same time one gets the "do not agree" messages to the console.)
And in
In /var/log/Xorg.0.log one sees
(EE) intel(0): write to
/sys/class/backlight/thinkpad_screen/brightness for backlight control
failed: Invalid argument
even though I thought I was writing to /proc/acpi/ibm/brightness.
Anyway, if "unreadable", then no script of mine can reset it, and one
must hit Fn End with the fingers to set it back down... which I had to
do today, script or not. So sometimes even my script won't work.
(To actually sync CMOS NVRAM and EC, one must hold down Fn Home till
max is reached and beyond, and then Fn End, till min is reached and
beyond, whereupon they will be synced at 0.)
I also saw once that xdm changed it to 7, which stays that way even
when one stops xdm.
Anyway, the nerve of xdm and cohorts, tampering with my brightness.
(I never tried kde, etc. so blaming it all on "xdm" for now, as that's
how I invoke X windows, and I don't want to get tangled up in the
other "...dm"'s to test.)
Dear xdm: I know you want things to look all clean and fresh upon
start, but you are going too far. Hands off my brightness. Thanks.
Also stepping outside X with CTRL-ALT F1 (to tty1) turns brightness
back up, which remains up when one steps back with ALT F7 or CTRL-ALT F7.
I also note that the danger you (hmh) discussed about hitting Fn End
in competition with cat ... > /proc/acpi/ibm/brightness might even
include causing the character "h" to have a few pixels blackened
everywhere on the Linux console! (reboot fixed it.)
P.S., my batteries are fine, as the system keeps time fine when
powered down cold.
Anyway, sorry for the blabberous bug report. Perhaps just attack why
xdm etc. insists on messing with the users' brightness.
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