Ubuntu
acpi package

The Ubuntu screen is black, only way to see screen is to tilt it toward light.

Asked by Jayson Tucker

I just downloaded Ubuntu and it went through all the needed processes. When the Ubuntu software loads and it goes to the Ubuntu log in page it's opaque black. Only way to see the screen is to tilt it toward light. I can see where I need to type my password in. I typed it in and it went to the main screen and it's still opaque black, and I still can't see anything, and I tried changing the brightness and contrast.

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Eliah Kagan (degeneracypressure) said : 		#1

This sounds like bug 765438. Assuming you are running Ubuntu 11.04 or Ubuntu 11.10, it is reasonable to assume this, so in that case I recommend subscribing to the bug and using the green "This bug affects..." link near the top of the bug page.

Then I recommend trying the workarounds listed in bug 765438:

(1) https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/linux/+bug/765438/comments/2

(2) If that doesn't work, you can try the workaround described in the bug's description, i.e., after booting, run this command (in a Terminal window or virtual console) to manually set your backlight to the highest brightness:

sudo setpci -s 00:02.0 F4.B=00

(If that works, you can set up your computer to run that automatically as part of the start-up process.)

(3) If that doesn't work either, you can try using a patched kernel and power manager, as described at https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/linux/+bug/765438/comments/11.

(4) If that fails, and you're on a 2.6.38-series kernel, you can downgrade to the 2.6.35-series, which does not seem to have this problem (or does not have it as often).

If you have trouble implementing any of these workarounds, please feel free to post another reply in this question to get help. Workarounds (3) and (4) would be difficult to do on a live CD, since rebooting is necessary in order to start running a new kernel. It would therefore be necessary for you to make a custom CD (https://help.ubuntu.com/community/LiveCDCustomization), which is somewhat technical.

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