Asus G1 : what's working and what is not

carrouf · 2007-05-08 15:11:13

Hi All,

I just bought an Asus G1 (laptop). Arch performs quite well with it but I can't properly use the computer as a laptop. In fact, for now, I use it more as a desktop machine.

What's working :
- Wired & wireless (ip3945) devices.
- Dvd : reading & burning ok.
- Function keys : activate/deactivate wireless ok
- Touchpad : ok
- Firewire : ok
- Usb : ok
- Audio : ok, but with restrictions
- GeForce 7700 (nvidia) : ok
- Acpi : thermal information, battery plugged state

What's NOT working :
- Webcam
- Function Keys : Lcd brightness, Audio level & mute, Video output
- Multimedia keys
- Acpi : processor power control, fan control, hibernation/suspend
- extra leds

Comments :

The most annoying problem is, above all, power management when computer is not plugged to A/C : the Asus emits a very annoying high-pitched sound which makes me feel like plugging computer back to A/C at once. Can't set a power profile (e.g. dynamic, full-power, minimum-power), can't set processor power frequency nor policy. Fortunately the Asus seems to be automatically is dynamic power policy mode.

Coming next are dead function keys : can't manage global audio level, can't adjust LCD brightness. It is surprising that Wireless activation function key is working, but I won't complain.

Other problems are secondary.

Does someone know how to resolve these problems (e.g. by modprobing some extra modules, tweaking some config files) or do I have to be patient and wait for a new Kernel that will handle these functionalities properly ?

I use standard arch's kernel (at this time : 2.6.21)

Thanks/

Last edited by carrouf (2007-05-08 15:15:06)

lucke · 2007-05-08 16:23:37

I've read many times of laptops emitting high-pitch noise when running a kernel with some HZ setting (CONFIG_HZ in kconfig). If you're using default kernel26, you might try kernel26beyond (albeit already discontinued), which has a different than kernel26 HZ setting. I don't know what role do dynticks (NO_HZ in kconfig) plays in that.

It might not be your issue though - I don't know whether the issue I've read about shows itself all the time or only when not plugged to AC.

Yoshima · 2007-05-10 13:42:53

Hi,

I own an Asus G1 too.

To enable the webcam you have to use these drivers: http://syntekdriver.sourceforge.net/. These are stil beta but works really well
I followed the guide with the sources, it is really easy.

For the multimedia key, you can configure what to do when a key is pressed, so you only need to configure since everything is managed by acpid

Neuro · 2007-05-10 14:26:52

carrouf wrote:

- Function Keys : Lcd brightness, Audio level & mute, Video output
- Multimedia keys
- Acpi : processor power control, fan control, hibernation/suspend
- extra leds

First you need the latest version of http://acpi4asus.sourceforge.net/ Mine (A6JC) said wasn't supported at first, but I hacked a bit around the kernel module, just to add it's name strubg, and it worked perfectly. Seriously, if the latest module from the acpi4asus crew doesn't work, hack a bit, it's not rocket science.

For multimedia keys, look here: http://bbs.archlinux.org/viewtopic.php?id=24534. acpi_fakekey is the ideal tool to change them into appropriate multimedia keys.

Can't set a power profile (e.g. dynamic, full-power, minimum-power), can't set processor power frequency nor policy. Fortunately the Asus seems to be automatically is dynamic power policy mode.

What type of power manager are you using? HAL?

Coming next are dead function keys : can't manage global audio level, can't adjust LCD brightness. It is surprising that Wireless activation function key is working, but I won't complain.

As it was said, all these keys are acpi events, which can be easily handled with a custom bash script. Take a look in /etc/acpi. There should be a handler.sh, which dispatches things around. I made an additional script to handle the buttons (uses acpi_fakekey, link above).

#!/bin/bash
# Asus Notebook Hotkey management script


if [[ $1 != "hotkey" || $2 != "ATKD" ]]; then
        logger "ACPI unknown hotkey: $1 $2 $3 $4"
fi;

bluestate=`cat /proc/acpi/asus/bluetooth`
wlanstate=`cat /proc/acpi/asus/wled`
logger "ACPI key pressed: $3 wlan: $wlanstate blue: $bluestate"
case "$3" in
        0000006b) # Synaptic touchpad on/off
                ticks=$((16#$4));
                if [ $((ticks % 2)) == 0 ]; then
                        logger "ACPI Turning Synaptic touchpad off $ticks"
                        /usr/bin/synclient TouchpadOff=1
                else
                        logger "ACPI Turning Synaptic touchpad on $ticks"
                        /usr/bin/synclient TouchpadOff=0
                fi;
                ;;
#       0000007d) # Bluetooth button on
#       0000007e) # Bluetooth button off
        0000007[d-e])
                logger "ACPI Asus Bluetooth changed state $bluestate: $4";
                if [[ "$bluestate" == "1" ]]; then
                        [[ ! -f /var/run/daemons/bluetooth ]] && /etc/rc.d/bluetooth start
                else
                        [[ -f /var/run/daemons/bluetooth ]] && /etc/rc.d/bluetooth stop
                fi
                ;;
#       0000005e) # Wireless button on
#       0000005f) # Wireless button off
        0000005[e-f])
                logger "ACPI Asus Wireless changed state $wlanstate: $4";
                [[ -f /var/run/daemons/ipw3945d ]] && /etc/rc.d/ipw3945d stop
                if [[ "$wlanstate" == "1" ]]; then
                        [[ ! -f /var/run/daemons/ipw3945d ]] && /etc/rc.d/ipw3945d start
                else
                        [[ -f /var/run/daemons/ipw3945d ]] && /etc/rc.d/ipw3945d stop
                fi
                ;;
        00000030) # Fn + F11 - Volume Down
                #logger "ACPI Asus Volume Up pressed: $4";
                #pidof kded
                #if [[ $? == 0 ]]; then
                        # trigger XF86AudioRaiseVolume
                #       /etc/acpi/acpi_fakekey 115
                #else
                        /usr/bin/amixer set Front "5%+";
                #fi;
                ;;
        00000031) # Fn + F12 - Volume Up
                #logger "ACPI Asus Volume Down pressed: $4";
                #pidof kded
                #if [[ $? == 0 ]]; then
                        # trigger XF86AudioLowerVolume
                #       /etc/acpi/acpi_fakekey 114
                #else
                        /usr/bin/amixer set Front "5%-";
                #fi;
                ;;
        00000032) # Fn + F10 - Mute
                #logger "ACPI Asus Volume Mute pressed: $4";
                #pidof kded
                #if [[ $? == 0]]; then
                        # trigger XF86AudioMute
                #       /etc/acpi/acpi_fakekey 113
                #else
                        /usr/bin/amixer set Front toggle
                #fi;
                ;;
        00000040) # Media - Previous / XF86AudioPrev
                /etc/acpi/acpi_fakekey 165
                ;;
        00000041) # Media - Next / XF86AudioNext
                /etc/acpi/acpi_fakekey 163
                ;;
        00000043) # Media - Stop / XF86AudioStop
                /etc/acpi/acpi_fakekey 166
                ;;
        00000045) # Media - Play/Pause / XF86AudioPlay
                /etc/acpi/acpi_fakekey 164
                ;;
        0000004c) # Media - Player / custom keycode 161 Xmodmap
                /etc/acpi/acpi_fakekey 140
                ;;
        00000050) # Mail button / XF86Mail
                /etc/acpi/acpi_fakekey 155
                ;;
        00000051) # WWW button / custom keycode 234
                /etc/acpi/acpi_fakekey 158
                ;;
        0000005c) # Go button / custom keycode 235
                /etc/acpi/acpi_fakekey 157
                ;;
        00000013) # Brightness increase
                ;;
        00000022) # Brightness decrease
                ;;
        *)
                logger "ACPI group/action undefined: $1 / $2 id: $3 / $4"
                ;;
esac

carrouf · 2007-05-14 00:01:24

Yoshima wrote:

Hi,
I own an Asus G1 too.
To enable the webcam you have to use these drivers: http://syntekdriver.sourceforge.net/. These are stil beta but works really well
I followed the guide with the sources, it is really easy.
For the multimedia key, you can configure what to do when a key is pressed, so you only need to configure since everything is managed by acpid

Hi Yoshima,

Thanks to you the webcam is now working on my G1. They should provide syntek packages in arch repos !

If you have a quick and easy method, or a config. file for multimedia keys this could help me a lot. I don't know much stuff about binding keys.

Do you have the same problem than me with G1 unplugged from AC producing a high-pitch disturbing noise ? For me this the most annoying problem with this laptop.

Thanks/

Yoshima · 2007-05-14 08:55:18

I've no strange noise from the notebook, maybe is the battery?

Right now I'm at work and cannot give you a config file for hotkeys.

But I've a solution for a problem with the oled display: with standard kernel, your log files (messages.log and kernel.log) are filled every second with a message saying that a device is reinitialized. This device is the oled display; I think that it is a USB 1.1 device and the driver for 2.0 is used so every second the device is reinitialized. The solution is forcing the use of the USB 1.1 driver for the oled display, this will prevent the reinitialization.

When I'll be at home will post some stuff

Negher · 2007-05-14 09:59:46

Great news Yoshima.

Thanks for the update.

I own a G1 too. Arch Linux is the only distro so far that works fine out of the box.

Yoshima · 2007-05-14 17:29:07

Hi,

I'm writing a guide in the wiki: http://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/Asus_G1

I'll explain also how to enable every led (the ones on the LCD too )

Feel free to contribute as I'll cover mainly the args I know better (i.e. I'll not cover modem) and my english isn't the best of

UPDATE:
Started the guide, covered args not explained here, tomorrow I'll finish the first version

Hope You'll enjoy/find usefull it

Last edited by Yoshima (2007-05-14 18:29:21)

carrouf · 2007-05-15 00:57:38

Hi all,

thanks Neuro, thanks to you I could active audio function keys.

But I think mapping function keys won't be needed in a few time as the aspi4asus driver gets better. Installing the acpi4asus driver from CVS and adding the asus_laptop module in the rc.conf file (and mod_blacklisting the asus_acpi one) activated a lot things for me.

Yoshima your idea of the wiki guide for the G1 is a cool one.

I found a very handy software that will surely be very useful to most asus laptops users : lapsusd (http://lapsus.berlios.de/). This consists in a KDE applet for kicker and a daemon that lets you : set brightness, set audio level, activate/deactivate the leds, wifi, bluetooth, touchpad. Really cool stuff.

I tell you what's going on for me : the webcam works, as well as audio function keys and one brightness function key (not the other !). Thanks to the lapsus software I can make anything work.

So now I could say that anything works EXCEPT for one major problem : that damn and awful high-pitch noise. G1 plugged : no noise. G1 unplugged : noise. G1 plugged back : the noise's gone. And so on.
Laptop unplugged from AC, the noise may go and come back according to cpu load. Yoshima I just don't understand how you can't hear it ! I don't think this is a hardware problem with my laptop as the noise does not occur on windows. Maybe you could show me your rc.conf file, this could save me from where I'm stuck ? Mine looks like this (samples) :

MOD_BLACKLIST=(asus_acpi)
MODULES=(r8169 acpi_cpufreq asus_laptop ipw3945 nvidia)
DAEMONS=(syslog-ng ipw3945d !hwd network dbus hal !cpufreq !powersaved cpudyn !dhcdbd !networkmanager netfs crond @samba alsa lapsus kdm)

note : I tried different combinations (activating/deactivating asus_cpufreq, powersaved, cpudyn, cpufreq, ...) and the problem still remains.

I found another bug with the wifi led : at start, network set, the led is ok. Then, after a certain time, it comes to blink quickly and doesn't stop, although network activity does not justify it.

Last edited by carrouf (2007-05-15 01:01:08)

Negher · 2007-05-15 06:45:57

Have you verified if it's associated to some open wireless networks ?

I found it associated with some wireless network, even if I didn't tell the wireless card to do it .

Last edited by Negher (2007-05-15 06:52:48)

Davigetto · 2007-05-15 15:01:02

I have tested Lapsus drivers and it is a great appdplet for KDE. But Only Works sound, Brightness and Enable/Disable Touchpad. Can I make working multimedia keys???

Yoshima · 2007-05-15 15:07:44

carrouf wrote:

Yoshima your idea of the wiki guide for the G1 is a cool one.

Tnx
Hope it will be usefull

carrouf wrote:

I found a very handy software that will surely be very useful to most asus laptops users : lapsusd (http://lapsus.berlios.de/). This consists in a KDE applet for kicker and a daemon that lets you : set brightness, set audio level, activate/deactivate the leds, wifi, bluetooth, touchpad. Really cool stuff.

Maybe you can add this utility to the Wiki?

carrouf wrote:

So now I could say that anything works EXCEPT for one major problem : that damn and awful high-pitch noise. G1 plugged : no noise. G1 unplugged : noise. G1 plugged back : the noise's gone. And so on.
Laptop unplugged from AC, the noise may go and come back according to cpu load. Yoshima I just don't understand how you can't hear it ! I don't think this is a hardware problem with my laptop as the noise does not occur on windows. Maybe you could show me your rc.conf file, this could save me from where I'm stuck ? Mine looks like this (samples) :
MOD_BLACKLIST=(asus_acpi)
MODULES=(r8169 acpi_cpufreq asus_laptop ipw3945 nvidia)
DAEMONS=(syslog-ng ipw3945d !hwd network dbus hal !cpufreq !powersaved cpudyn !dhcdbd !networkmanager netfs crond @samba alsa lapsus kdm)
note : I tried different combinations (activating/deactivating asus_cpufreq, powersaved, cpudyn, cpufreq, ...) and the problem still remains.

Strange I really have no noise at all, maybe different battery models?
Anyway I'll post my rc.conf when at home

carrouf wrote:

I found another bug with the wifi led : at start, network set, the led is ok. Then, after a certain time, it comes to blink quickly and doesn't stop, although network activity does not justify it.

This sounds like the wi-fi daemon is searching for wi-fi spots If you doesn't need to connect with wireless you can disable wi-fi, if needed when ato home will post how to disable wi-fi

Yoshima · 2007-05-15 15:10:02

Davigetto wrote:

I have tested Lapsus drivers and it is a great appdplet for KDE. But Only Works sound, Brightness and Enable/Disable Touchpad. Can I make working multimedia keys???

Hi I doesn't use or know well this applet, but sounds as it doesn't control multimedia keys.

In my opinion is better to configure an acpi event handler to manage hotkeys

carrouf · 2007-05-15 17:16:46

Negher wrote:

Have you verified if it's associated to some open wireless networks ?
I found it associated with some wireless network, even if I didn't tell the wireless card to do it .

Sorry Negher, I just don't know whether you're talking of the wifi led bug or the high-pitch noise bug.

Wifi : I connect using the netcfg script. For about 10 mns or more the led is ok, afterwards it starts to blink quickly for apparently no reason. When not connected (no essid association), the led blinks slowly (this is normal behavior I think, I am not complaining about this).

Noise : the noise is emitted even if I am connected or not, and even if the wifi led is shut down (wifi deactivated using function key)

Negher · 2007-05-15 19:40:37

I was talking about the wireless led .

Anyway, after the led begins to blink quickly, can you post here the output of the "iwconfig" command please ?

Davigetto · 2007-05-16 17:28:09

Yoshima wrote:

Davigetto wrote:
I have tested Lapsus drivers and it is a great appdplet for KDE. But Only Works sound, Brightness and Enable/Disable Touchpad. Can I make working multimedia keys???
Hi I doesn't use or know well this applet, but sounds as it doesn't control multimedia keys.
In my opinion is better to configure an acpi event handler to manage hotkeys

Is there any tutorial to map these hotkeys?

lilsirecho · 2007-05-16 20:13:29

The noise you report could well be the fan.........

Yoshima · 2007-05-17 09:20:56

Davigetto wrote:

Yoshima wrote:
Davigetto wrote:
I have tested Lapsus drivers and it is a great appdplet for KDE. But Only Works sound, Brightness and Enable/Disable Touchpad. Can I make working multimedia keys???
Hi I doesn't use or know well this applet, but sounds as it doesn't control multimedia keys.
In my opinion is better to configure an acpi event handler to manage hotkeys
Is there any tutorial to map these hotkeys?

Maybe today (in these days I''ve to less free time ) I'll update the wiki with some scripts that manage the hotkeys

carrouf · 2007-05-18 02:00:09

Negher wrote:

I was talking about the wireless led .
Anyway, after the led begins to blink quickly, can you post here the output of the "iwconfig" command please ?

Hi Negher,

here is the output of the iwconfig command :

lo no wireless extensions.

eth0 no wireless extensions.

eth1 no wireless extensions.

eth2 IEEE 802.11g ESSID:"Carrouf_Land"
Mode:Managed Frequency:2.462 GHz Access Point: 00:12:17:B3:3A:F1
Bit Rate:54 Mb/s Tx-Power:15 dBm
Retry limit:15 RTS thr:off Fragment thr:off
Encryption key:1234-5123-45 Security mode:open
Power Management:off
Link Quality=85/100 Signal level=-47 dBm Noise level=-48 dBm
Rx invalid nwid:0 Rx invalid crypt:0 Rx invalid frag:0
Tx excessive retries:0 Invalid misc:66 Missed beacon:0

The wifi led flicker may occur hours after connection is initiated. I retyped the iwconfig command after the led gets crazy. Nothing changes, except the "Invalid misc" value that is then up to 28496 instead of 66. Don't know if this means something. Anyway the connection is apparently not affected by the led blinking problem.

By the way, do you have the high pitch noise problem too ? This one drives me mad, just don't know how to get rid of it. Seems like I am the only one on earth ! Would you mind sending me a copy of your modules() and daemons() arrays from your rc.conf file ? Maybe this could help.

Thanks/

Last edited by carrouf (2007-05-18 02:17:28)

carrouf · 2007-05-18 02:08:18

Yoshima wrote:

Maybe you can add this utility to the Wiki?

Hi Yoshima,

It is ok for me to add an entry for the lapsus utility in the Asus_G1 wiki. I'll do this in a few days I think.

regards/

carrouf · 2007-05-18 02:16:15

lilsirecho wrote:

The noise you report could well be the fan.........

Hi lilsirecho,

You're probably right with the fan. Anyway I don't have a clue about handling this. Maybe you have some ideas ?

I've been enabling an "Experimental power mode" from KPowerSave. Don't know what it is. It seems that only one processor is working, ans the other goes to sleep. Is appears that the noise goes away in that mode. Perhaps this could be a lead to follow ?

Thanks/

lilsirecho · 2007-05-18 02:39:51

One characteristic of fans is that if one of the blades is bent, noise is sure to follow.

A second thought, if using mains power, there is a more powerful source to run the fan.

With battery power, the fan may be receiving less current and be required to run faster by the computer, creating conditions for more noise.

One comment on the net about the G1 termed the G1 fan as "shitty".....

Best to you.....

Negher · 2007-05-18 07:27:04

carrouf wrote:

Negher wrote:
I was talking about the wireless led .
Anyway, after the led begins to blink quickly, can you post here the output of the "iwconfig" command please ?
The wifi led flicker may occur hours after connection is initiated. I retyped the iwconfig command after the led gets crazy. Nothing changes, except the "Invalid misc" value that is then up to 28496 instead of 66. Don't know if this means something. Anyway the connection is apparently not affected by the led blinking problem.
By the way, do you have the high pitch noise problem too ? This one drives me mad, just don't know how to get rid of it. Seems like I am the only one on earth ! Would you mind sending me a copy of your modules() and daemons() arrays from your rc.conf file ? Maybe this could help.
Thanks/

For the blinking LED, try to issue the command:

[root@brightstar:~ ]# iwconfig eth2 essid off

And tell me if it helps.

For the noise, unfortunately I can't help you. I hear it only on battery power ...

... and only in Windows. Although it's not a problem because I use it only with AC power and only to play , I'm sorry I haven't that problem .

iceberg · 2007-05-18 10:12:42

First of all I will admint I am not running archlinux, but I may very well try it out over the summer when I redo my laptop.

I am having a problem with my sound on the G1 and since you guys seem to have about everything working maybe you can help. I can not get amixer to mute and I notice that I am missing a few options. here is the output from amixer with no options.

Simple mixer control 'Master',0
  Capabilities: pvolume
  Playback channels: Front Left - Front Right
  Limits: Playback 0 - 64
  Mono:
  Front Left: Playback 50 [78%] [-14.00dB]
  Front Right: Playback 50 [78%] [-14.00dB]
Simple mixer control 'PCM',0
  Capabilities: pvolume
  Playback channels: Front Left - Front Right
  Limits: Playback 0 - 255
  Mono:
  Front Left: Playback 255 [100%] [0.00dB]
  Front Right: Playback 255 [100%] [0.00dB]
Simple mixer control 'Capture',0
  Capabilities: cvolume cswitch
  Capture channels: Front Left - Front Right
  Limits: Capture 0 - 31
  Front Left: Capture 22 [71%] [19.50dB] [on]
  Front Right: Capture 22 [71%] [19.50dB] [on]
Simple mixer control 'Caller ID',0
  Capabilities: pswitch pswitch-joined
  Playback channels: Mono
  Mono: Playback [off]
Simple mixer control 'Off-hook',0
  Capabilities: pswitch pswitch-joined
  Playback channels: Mono
  Mono: Playback [off]

As you can see there is no pswitch and everything is Master not Front like everyone else has. I imagine this is some kernel options so if any one might provide me with some information I would greatly appreciate it.

Thanks
Bryan

tanis · 2007-05-22 11:55:47

What version of ALSA do you have? (check /proc/asound/version file).
Could you also check /proc/asound/card0/codec#0 file to see how your codec is recognized?
It should say something like this:
Codec: Realtek ALC660-VD
Address: 0
Vendor Id: 0x10ec0660
Subsystem Id: 0x10430000
Revision Id: 0x100001

Especially you should have 'Realtek ALC660-VD' instead of 'Realtek ID 660' or 'Realtek ALC660'.

Unless you have different card

And the working driver for this card doesn't have master mute channel at all, you only get fron channel with mute switch.

By the way - anybody else had to correct his DSDT file to get his backlight-up button working?

If you don't use Arch 2.6.21 kernel you might also need to patch it to get speedstep centrino module (and cpufreq utils) working.
(http://www.archlinux.org/packages/4197/ - acpi-buggy-bios.patch)

Last edited by tanis (2007-05-22 12:00:33)

Arch Linux

#1 2007-05-08 15:11:13

Asus G1 : what's working and what is not

#2 2007-05-08 16:23:37

Re: Asus G1 : what's working and what is not

#3 2007-05-10 13:42:53

Re: Asus G1 : what's working and what is not

#4 2007-05-10 14:26:52

Re: Asus G1 : what's working and what is not

#5 2007-05-14 00:01:24

Re: Asus G1 : what's working and what is not

#6 2007-05-14 08:55:18

Re: Asus G1 : what's working and what is not

#7 2007-05-14 09:59:46

Re: Asus G1 : what's working and what is not

#8 2007-05-14 17:29:07

Re: Asus G1 : what's working and what is not

#9 2007-05-15 00:57:38

Re: Asus G1 : what's working and what is not

#10 2007-05-15 06:45:57

Re: Asus G1 : what's working and what is not

#11 2007-05-15 15:01:02

Re: Asus G1 : what's working and what is not

#12 2007-05-15 15:07:44

Re: Asus G1 : what's working and what is not

#13 2007-05-15 15:10:02

Re: Asus G1 : what's working and what is not

#14 2007-05-15 17:16:46

Re: Asus G1 : what's working and what is not

#15 2007-05-15 19:40:37

Re: Asus G1 : what's working and what is not

#16 2007-05-16 17:28:09

Re: Asus G1 : what's working and what is not

#17 2007-05-16 20:13:29

Re: Asus G1 : what's working and what is not

#18 2007-05-17 09:20:56

Re: Asus G1 : what's working and what is not

#19 2007-05-18 02:00:09

Re: Asus G1 : what's working and what is not

#20 2007-05-18 02:08:18

Re: Asus G1 : what's working and what is not

#21 2007-05-18 02:16:15

Re: Asus G1 : what's working and what is not

#22 2007-05-18 02:39:51

Re: Asus G1 : what's working and what is not

#23 2007-05-18 07:27:04

Re: Asus G1 : what's working and what is not

#24 2007-05-18 10:12:42

Re: Asus G1 : what's working and what is not

#25 2007-05-22 11:55:47

Re: Asus G1 : what's working and what is not

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