ThinkPad FN brightness keys not working

nticompass · 2012-10-26 03:30:35

I have a ThinkPad T430, and today I realized that my Fn+F8 anf F9 keys aren't working. Those are the keys to adjust brightness.

I am thinking that an update broke them, but I don't know what. The brightness itself works fine. I can use the brightness applet to change it and xbacklight works fine.

I fired up xev, and the keys aren't triggering any events at all. How can I debug and hopefully fix this?

Last edited by nticompass (2012-10-26 15:13:27)

karol · 2012-10-26 08:40:28

Maybe it's https://bugs.archlinux.org/task/32047 ?

nticompass · 2012-10-26 13:34:03

karol wrote:

Maybe it's https://bugs.archlinux.org/task/32047 ?

I probably should've mentioned that I'm using MATE.

WonderWoofy · 2012-10-26 14:58:19

Those functions are pretty low level. Hence they do not output events in things like xev. On my thinkpad, those buttons are controlled by thinkpad_acpi I believe. Maybe loking into that might help you. Did it break after the recent kernel update? As a new module would explain it.

Maybe try using the Arch Rollback Machine to go back to the last kernel and see if function is restored? Maybe then you would at least know where your focus should be.

nticompass · 2012-10-26 15:15:21

WonderWoofy wrote:

Those functions are pretty low level. Hence they do not output events in things like xev. On my thinkpad, those buttons are controlled by thinkpad_acpi I believe. Maybe loking into that might help you. Did it break after the recent kernel update? As a new module would explain it.
Maybe try using the Arch Rollback Machine to go back to the last kernel and see if function is restored? Maybe then you would at least know where your focus should be.

That's a good idea. Pretty sure my kernel was updated, and may have killed it. The thinkpad_acpi module is loaded (according to lsmod), so I assume it's doing something.

ajaxas · 2012-10-26 15:34:33

Could be this: https://bbs.archlinux.org/viewtopic.php?id=151119

nticompass · 2012-10-26 15:38:43

ajaxas wrote:

Could be this: https://bbs.archlinux.org/viewtopic.php?id=151119

I have an Intel GPU (Ivy Bridge), and I can control my brightness using other tools, just not the keyboard keys.

ajaxas · 2012-10-26 16:26:57

nticompass wrote:

ajaxas wrote:
Could be this: https://bbs.archlinux.org/viewtopic.php?id=151119
I have an Intel GPU (Ivy Bridge), and I can control my brightness using other tools, just not the keyboard keys.

That's interesting! A mere coincidence? Two strikes in a row...

Also, you were goddamn right to buy a laptop without nvidia graphics card

nticompass · 2012-10-28 18:41:32

So, I turned my laptop on today, and........ the keys work. Not sure what changed, or what I did. But it works now.

Arch Linux

#1 2012-10-26 03:30:35

ThinkPad FN brightness keys not working

#2 2012-10-26 08:40:28

Re: ThinkPad FN brightness keys not working

#3 2012-10-26 13:34:03

Re: ThinkPad FN brightness keys not working

#4 2012-10-26 14:58:19

Re: ThinkPad FN brightness keys not working

#5 2012-10-26 15:15:21

Re: ThinkPad FN brightness keys not working

#6 2012-10-26 15:34:33

Re: ThinkPad FN brightness keys not working

#7 2012-10-26 15:38:43

Re: ThinkPad FN brightness keys not working

#8 2012-10-26 16:26:57

Re: ThinkPad FN brightness keys not working

#9 2012-10-28 18:41:32

Re: ThinkPad FN brightness keys not working

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