Arch Linux

Rattletat

Member

Registered: 2020-04-24

Posts: 7

Multimedia keys stopped working

Hey folks,

I use Arch + i3 and used the following i3 config for some years now:

bindsym XF86MonBrightnessDown	exec --no-startup-id sudo xbacklight -dec 15
bindsym XF86MonBrightnessUp	exec --no-startup-id sudo xbacklight -inc 15

However, after updating today, these keybindings stopped working. Indeed, when testing those keys in xev I get the following response:

KeyRelease event, serial 34, synthetic NO, window 0x5000001,
    root 0x5bc, subw 0x0, time 879992, (141,439), root:(1118,500),
    state 0x10, keycode 69 (keysym 0xffc0, F3), same_screen YES,
    XLookupString gives 0 bytes:
    XFilterEvent returns: False

KeyPress event, serial 34, synthetic NO, window 0x5000001,
    root 0x5bc, subw 0x0, time 880784, (141,439), root:(1118,500),
    state 0x10, keycode 70 (keysym 0xffc1, F4), same_screen YES,
    XLookupString gives 0 bytes:
    XmbLookupString gives 0 bytes:
    XFilterEvent returns: False

Changing the mappings to F3 and F4 does not work. In this case xev does not recognize these keys at all.
Anyone an idea?

Thanks a lot!

seth

Member

From: Won't reply 2 private help req

Registered: 2012-09-03

Posts: 77,706

Re: Multimedia keys stopped working

"xev does not recognize  these keys" because you successfully had i3 grab them.
However that's a bad approach anyway (because F3/F4 are general purpose keys and you'll break many applications by grabbing them away)

F3/F4 and backlight keys are usually shared on notebooks through the Fn toggle, maybe that behavior is flipped
a) What notebook
b) try Fn+F3
c) ensure "sudo xbacklight -inc 15" does still work
d) Do you have a  parallel windows intallation? See https://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/Du … ibernation

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Rattletat

Member

Registered: 2020-04-24

Posts: 7

Re: Multimedia keys stopped working

Hey @seth thanks for your reply!

Yes, Fn+F3 / Fn +F4 is indeed working. Strange this this occurs now...

And yes, I have a (not working) dual boot, although I intended to delete it for a long time now

What is the alternative to grabbing those keys?
How can  I specify them in a better way in the config?
Should I use external daemons that listen for keys in the background somehow?

seth

Member

From: Won't reply 2 private help req

Registered: 2012-09-03

Posts: 77,706

Re: Multimedia keys stopped working

If Fn+F3/4 works as expected, this simply means t he Fn behavior is reversed - that's all you've to care about (if you do)
It's either something windows does and leaves behind or triggered by some kernel module (or some userspace tool daemon)

=> Ensure it's not because of a hibernating windows and the post the output of "lsmod".

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Rattletat

Member

Registered: 2020-04-24

Posts: 7

Re: Multimedia keys stopped working

Mhhh I don't think it was because of windows. Haven't started it for a long time now.

Here is the output of lsmod:

Module                  Size  Used by
rfcomm                 90112  4
fuse                  139264  3
8021q                  40960  0
garp                   16384  1 8021q
mrp                    20480  1 8021q
stp                    16384  1 garp
llc                    16384  2 stp,garp
ccm                    20480  3
cmac                   16384  26
algif_hash             16384  13
algif_skcipher         16384  13
af_alg                 32768  54 algif_hash,algif_skcipher
bnep                   28672  2
bbswitch               20480  0
snd_soc_skl           180224  0
snd_soc_sst_ipc        20480  1 snd_soc_skl
snd_soc_sst_dsp        40960  1 snd_soc_skl
snd_hda_codec_hdmi     73728  1
snd_hda_ext_core       36864  1 snd_soc_skl
snd_soc_acpi_intel_match    40960  1 snd_soc_skl
snd_soc_acpi           16384  2 snd_soc_acpi_intel_match,snd_soc_skl
snd_hda_codec_conexant    24576  1
snd_soc_core          294912  1 snd_soc_skl
snd_hda_codec_generic    94208  1 snd_hda_codec_conexant
ledtrig_audio          16384  2 snd_hda_codec_generic,snd_hda_codec_conexant
snd_compress           28672  1 snd_soc_core
btusb                  65536  0
ac97_bus               16384  1 snd_soc_core
joydev                 28672  0
snd_pcm_dmaengine      16384  1 snd_soc_core
btrtl                  24576  1 btusb
mousedev               24576  0
btbcm                  20480  1 btusb
snd_hda_intel          57344  5
btintel                32768  1 btusb
x86_pkg_temp_thermal    20480  0
snd_intel_dspcfg       28672  2 snd_hda_intel,snd_soc_skl
hid_multitouch         32768  0
intel_powerclamp       20480  0
bluetooth             675840  29 btrtl,btintel,btbcm,bnep,btusb,rfcomm
coretemp               20480  0
snd_hda_codec         163840  4 snd_hda_codec_generic,snd_hda_codec_conexant,snd_hda_codec_hdmi,snd_hda_intel
iTCO_wdt               16384  0
iTCO_vendor_support    16384  1 iTCO_wdt
mei_hdcp               24576  0
iwlmvm                458752  0
hid_generic            16384  0
snd_hda_core          106496  7 snd_hda_codec_generic,snd_hda_codec_conexant,snd_hda_codec_hdmi,snd_hda_intel,snd_hda_ext_core,snd_hda_codec,snd_soc_skl
crct10dif_pclmul       16384  1
crc32_pclmul           16384  0
intel_rapl_msr         20480  0
snd_hwdep              16384  1 snd_hda_codec
ecdh_generic           16384  1 bluetooth
ecc                    36864  1 ecdh_generic
ghash_clmulni_intel    16384  0
snd_pcm               143360  8 snd_hda_codec_hdmi,snd_hda_intel,snd_hda_codec,snd_soc_core,snd_soc_skl,snd_hda_core,snd_pcm_dmaengine
wmi_bmof               16384  0
mac80211             1032192  1 iwlmvm
i915                 2498560  17
aesni_intel           368640  41
crypto_simd            16384  1 aesni_intel
cryptd                 24576  15 crypto_simd,ghash_clmulni_intel
glue_helper            16384  1 aesni_intel
libarc4                16384  1 mac80211
intel_cstate           16384  0
intel_uncore          147456  0
iwlwifi               409600  1 iwlmvm
nls_iso8859_1          16384  1
intel_rapl_perf        16384  0
usbhid                 65536  0
snd_timer              40960  1 snd_pcm
nls_cp437              20480  1
vfat                   24576  1
intel_xhci_usb_role_switch    16384  0
fat                    86016  1 vfat
roles                  16384  1 intel_xhci_usb_role_switch
snd                   110592  19 snd_hda_codec_generic,snd_hda_codec_conexant,snd_hda_codec_hdmi,snd_hwdep,snd_hda_intel,snd_hda_codec,snd_timer,snd_compress,snd_soc_core,snd_pcm
i2c_algo_bit           16384  1 i915
psmouse               180224  0
input_leds             16384  0
cfg80211              884736  3 iwlmvm,iwlwifi,mac80211
soundcore              16384  1 snd
i2c_i801               36864  0
uvcvideo              114688  0
drm_kms_helper        241664  1 i915
r8169                  90112  0
videobuf2_vmalloc      20480  1 uvcvideo
videobuf2_memops       20480  1 videobuf2_vmalloc
realtek                24576  0
rfkill                 28672  5 bluetooth,cfg80211
libphy                139264  2 r8169,realtek
cec                    65536  2 drm_kms_helper,i915
videobuf2_v4l2         28672  1 uvcvideo
mei_me                 45056  1
rc_core                61440  1 cec
videobuf2_common       57344  2 videobuf2_v4l2,uvcvideo
mei                   122880  3 mei_hdcp,mei_me
intel_gtt              24576  1 i915
processor_thermal_device    20480  0
intel_lpss_pci         20480  0
syscopyarea            16384  1 drm_kms_helper
sysfillrect            16384  1 drm_kms_helper
intel_rapl_common      32768  2 intel_rapl_msr,processor_thermal_device
intel_lpss             16384  1 intel_lpss_pci
sysimgblt              16384  1 drm_kms_helper
videodev              270336  3 videobuf2_v4l2,uvcvideo,videobuf2_common
fb_sys_fops            16384  1 drm_kms_helper
idma64                 20480  0
intel_soc_dts_iosf     20480  1 processor_thermal_device
intel_pch_thermal      16384  0
i2c_hid                32768  0
wmi                    36864  1 wmi_bmof
hid                   147456  4 i2c_hid,usbhid,hid_multitouch,hid_generic
battery                24576  0
tpm_crb                20480  0
mc                     61440  4 videodev,videobuf2_v4l2,uvcvideo,videobuf2_common
tpm_tis                16384  0
tpm_tis_core           32768  1 tpm_tis
hp_accel               28672  0
int3403_thermal        16384  0
int340x_thermal_zone    16384  2 int3403_thermal,processor_thermal_device
lis3lv02d              32768  1 hp_accel
tpm                    73728  3 tpm_tis,tpm_crb,tpm_tis_core
int3400_thermal        20480  0
rng_core               16384  1 tpm
evdev                  24576  29
acpi_thermal_rel       16384  1 int3400_thermal
mac_hid                16384  0
hp_wireless            16384  0
ac                     16384  0
vboxnetflt             32768  0
vboxnetadp             28672  0
vboxdrv               528384  2 vboxnetadp,vboxnetflt
drm                   565248  17 drm_kms_helper,i915
loop                   40960  0
i2c_dev                24576  0
crypto_user            16384  0
agpgart                53248  2 intel_gtt,drm
ip_tables              36864  0
x_tables               53248  1 ip_tables
rtsx_pci_sdmmc         32768  0
mmc_core              188416  1 rtsx_pci_sdmmc
serio_raw              20480  0
atkbd                  36864  0
libps2                 20480  2 atkbd,psmouse
xhci_pci               20480  0
rtsx_pci               90112  1 rtsx_pci_sdmmc
xhci_hcd              290816  1 xhci_pci
i8042                  32768  1 hp_accel
serio                  28672  10 serio_raw,atkbd,hp_accel,psmouse,i8042
ext4                  794624  1
crc32c_generic         16384  0
crc32c_intel           24576  1
crc16                  16384  2 bluetooth,ext4
mbcache                16384  1 ext4
jbd2                  139264  1 ext4

seth

Member

From: Won't reply 2 private help req

Registered: 2012-09-03

Posts: 77,706

Re: Multimedia keys stopped working

I don't see a vendor specific/new WMI prone to configure that.
Does this also happen with the lts kernel?
What particular notebook model is this?

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Rattletat

Member

Registered: 2020-04-24

Posts: 7

Re: Multimedia keys stopped working

Thanks for you time, seth.
I really appreciate it!

It's a HP ProBook 470 G5.

I have to say that I have another problem, which I silently accept last three years:
Whenever I update my system, and new linux kernel is installed, my system does not reboot and says something like

premature end of vm-linux

and I have to reboot linux using a usb stick and run mkinitcpio -p linux and grub-mkconfig /boot.
But I think this is rather unrelated.

seth

Member

From: Won't reply 2 private help req

Registered: 2012-09-03

Posts: 77,706

Re: Multimedia keys stopped working

Wow. Sanity check:

uname -a
pacman -Qs '^linux'

On topic: the device seems to have an Fn lock feature (on the shift key) and  you *may* be able to toggle the default behavior in the BIOS/UEFI (it's the only way in older models)
Since the system acts as if the Fn feature was flipped, did you check those settings?

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Rattletat

Member

Registered: 2020-04-24

Posts: 7

Re: Multimedia keys stopped working

 $ uname -a 
Linux tau 5.6.4-arch1-1 #1 SMP PREEMPT Mon, 13 Apr 2020 12:21:19 +0000 x86_64 GNU/Linux

$ pacman -Qs '^linux'
local/efibootmgr 17-1
    Linux user-space application to modify the EFI Boot Manager
local/iptables 1:1.8.4-1
    Linux kernel packet control tool (using legacy interface)
local/keyutils 1.6.1-3
    Linux Key Management Utilities
local/kmod 27-1
    Linux kernel module management tools and library
local/ladspa 1.15-1
    Linux Audio Developer's Simple Plugin API (LADSPA)
local/lib32-keyutils 1.6.1-1
    Linux Key Management Utilities (32-bit)
local/linux 5.6.4.arch1-1
    The Linux kernel and modules
local/linux-api-headers 5.4.17-1
    Kernel headers sanitized for use in userspace
local/linux-firmware 20200316.8eb0b28-1
    Firmware files for Linux
local/linux-headers 5.6.4.arch1-1
    Headers and scripts for building modules for the Linux kernel
local/lirc 1:0.10.1-4
    Linux Infrared Remote Control utilities
local/man-pages 5.06-1
    Linux man pages
local/python-distro 1.4.0-3
    Linux OS platform information API

seth

Member

From: Won't reply 2 private help req

Registered: 2012-09-03

Posts: 77,706

Re: Multimedia keys stopped working

Yeah, no. The intalled kernel and the running one are the same.
Did you try the Fn lock?

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Rattletat

Member

Registered: 2020-04-24

Posts: 7

Re: Multimedia keys stopped working

Mhh did not find anything in the boot options. Only a button so I can switch Ctrl and Fn
Mhh but I think that this is rather the default, isn't it? Pressing on F3 results in xev displaying F3 and Fn-F3 triggering the Media key.

One thing which I consider interesting is that in the past I mapped the F3/F4 keys, which were recognized as media keys i3 to xbacklight. Now, the F3/F4 keys are recognized as F3/F4 and FnF3/F4 as media keys.
Now xbackligh -dec 10 gives me

 /usr/bin/xbacklight: [Errno 13] Permission denied: '/sys/class/backlight/intel_backlight/brightness' 

error.

Rattletat

Member

Registered: 2020-04-24

Posts: 7

Re: Multimedia keys stopped working

I uninstalled the Intel video driver a while ago, because it caused some problems with the chromium backend.

Last edited by Rattletat (2020-04-27 15:48:47)

Head_on_a_Stick

Member

From: The Wirral

Registered: 2014-02-20

Posts: 9,003

Website

Re: Multimedia keys stopped working

I uninstalled the Intel video driver

Do you mean xf86-video-intel? I don't think xbacklight works with the modesetting DDX driver so try reinstalling the Intel package.

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seth

Member

From: Won't reply 2 private help req

Registered: 2012-09-03

Posts: 77,706

Re: Multimedia keys stopped working

https://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/Backlight

However that doesn't explain the reversed Fn behavior.

Does this also happen with the lts kernel?

If not, check whether the hp-wmi module is loaded there.

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