Brightness Controls Not Working

Asked by Sean Merrill

I am using a MacBook Pro 5.5 with Ubuntu 12.10. I cannot get the brightness controls to change the physical brightness of the screen. The buttons do activate the screen brightness bar but nothing happens to the actual brightness. I have tried the suggestion in 211457 but it didn't help. Here are the results of my diagnostic:

X.Org X Server 1.13.0
Release Date: 2012-09-05
X Protocol Version 11, Revision 0
Build Operating System: Linux 3.2.0-26-generic i686 Ubuntu
Current Operating System: Linux sean-MacBookPro 3.5.0-21-generic #32-Ubuntu SMP Tue Dec 11 18:52:46 UTC 2012 i686
Kernel command line: BOOT_IMAGE=/boot/vmlinuz-3.5.0-21-generic root=UUID=ef4f6591-3775-4974-84a2-174945713ce4 ro quiet splash acpi_osi = Linux
Build Date: 27 November 2012 07:44:37AM
xorg-server 2:1.13.0-0ubuntu6.1 (For technical support please see http://www.ubuntu.com/support)
Current version of pixman: 0.26.0
 Before reporting problems, check http://wiki.x.org
 to make sure that you have the latest version.
[sudo] password for sean:
Ign http://us.archive.ubuntu.com quantal InRelease
Ign http://extras.ubuntu.com quantal InRelease
Ign http://security.ubuntu.com quantal-security InRelease
Ign http://us.archive.ubuntu.com quantal-updates InRelease
Ign http://ppa.launchpad.net natty InRelease
Ign http://us.archive.ubuntu.com quantal-backports InRelease
Hit http://extras.ubuntu.com quantal Release.gpg
Hit http://security.ubuntu.com quantal-security Release.gpg
Ign http://ppa.launchpad.net quantal InRelease
Hit http://us.archive.ubuntu.com quantal Release.gpg
Hit http://extras.ubuntu.com quantal Release
Hit http://us.archive.ubuntu.com quantal-updates Release.gpg
Hit http://security.ubuntu.com quantal-security Release
Ign http://ppa.launchpad.net quantal InRelease
Hit http://us.archive.ubuntu.com quantal-backports Release.gpg
Hit http://us.archive.ubuntu.com quantal Release
Hit http://extras.ubuntu.com quantal/main Sources
Hit http://security.ubuntu.com quantal-security/main Sources
Ign http://ppa.launchpad.net quantal InRelease
Hit http://us.archive.ubuntu.com quantal-updates Release
Hit http://extras.ubuntu.com quantal/main i386 Packages
Hit http://security.ubuntu.com quantal-security/restricted Sources
Hit http://ppa.launchpad.net natty Release.gpg
Hit http://us.archive.ubuntu.com quantal-backports Release
Hit http://us.archive.ubuntu.com quantal/main Sources
Hit http://security.ubuntu.com quantal-security/universe Sources
Hit http://ppa.launchpad.net quantal Release.gpg
Hit http://us.archive.ubuntu.com quantal/restricted Sources
Hit http://us.archive.ubuntu.com quantal/universe Sources
Hit http://security.ubuntu.com quantal-security/multiverse Sources
Hit http://ppa.launchpad.net quantal Release.gpg
Hit http://security.ubuntu.com quantal-security/main i386 Packages
Hit http://ppa.launchpad.net quantal Release.gpg
Hit http://security.ubuntu.com quantal-security/restricted i386 Packages
Hit http://ppa.launchpad.net natty Release
Hit http://us.archive.ubuntu.com quantal/multiverse Sources
Hit http://security.ubuntu.com quantal-security/universe i386 Packages
Hit http://ppa.launchpad.net quantal Release
Hit http://us.archive.ubuntu.com quantal/main i386 Packages
Hit http://security.ubuntu.com quantal-security/multiverse i386 Packages
Hit http://ppa.launchpad.net quantal Release
Hit http://us.archive.ubuntu.com quantal/restricted i386 Packages
Hit http://us.archive.ubuntu.com quantal/universe i386 Packages
Hit http://ppa.launchpad.net quantal Release
Hit http://us.archive.ubuntu.com quantal/multiverse i386 Packages
Hit http://security.ubuntu.com quantal-security/main Translation-en
Hit http://ppa.launchpad.net natty/main Sources
Ign http://extras.ubuntu.com quantal/main Translation-en_US
Hit http://ppa.launchpad.net natty/main i386 Packages
Hit http://us.archive.ubuntu.com quantal/main Translation-en
Ign http://extras.ubuntu.com quantal/main Translation-en
Hit http://security.ubuntu.com quantal-security/multiverse Translation-en
Hit http://us.archive.ubuntu.com quantal/multiverse Translation-en
Hit http://us.archive.ubuntu.com quantal/restricted Translation-en
Hit http://ppa.launchpad.net quantal/main Sources
Hit http://us.archive.ubuntu.com quantal/universe Translation-en
Hit http://security.ubuntu.com quantal-security/restricted Translation-en
Hit http://us.archive.ubuntu.com quantal-updates/main Sources
Hit http://us.archive.ubuntu.com quantal-updates/restricted Sources
Hit http://ppa.launchpad.net quantal/main i386 Packages
Hit http://us.archive.ubuntu.com quantal-updates/universe Sources
Hit http://us.archive.ubuntu.com quantal-updates/multiverse Sources
Hit http://security.ubuntu.com quantal-security/universe Translation-en
Hit http://us.archive.ubuntu.com quantal-updates/main i386 Packages
Hit http://us.archive.ubuntu.com quantal-updates/restricted i386 Packages
Hit http://us.archive.ubuntu.com quantal-updates/universe i386 Packages
Hit http://ppa.launchpad.net quantal/main Sources
Hit http://us.archive.ubuntu.com quantal-updates/multiverse i386 Packages
Hit http://ppa.launchpad.net quantal/main i386 Packages
Hit http://us.archive.ubuntu.com quantal-updates/main Translation-en
Hit http://us.archive.ubuntu.com quantal-updates/multiverse Translation-en
Hit http://ppa.launchpad.net quantal/main Sources
Hit http://us.archive.ubuntu.com quantal-updates/restricted Translation-en
Hit http://ppa.launchpad.net quantal/main i386 Packages
Hit http://us.archive.ubuntu.com quantal-updates/universe Translation-en
Hit http://us.archive.ubuntu.com quantal-backports/main Sources
Hit http://us.archive.ubuntu.com quantal-backports/restricted Sources
Hit http://us.archive.ubuntu.com quantal-backports/universe Sources
Hit http://us.archive.ubuntu.com quantal-backports/multiverse Sources
Hit http://us.archive.ubuntu.com quantal-backports/main i386 Packages
Hit http://us.archive.ubuntu.com quantal-backports/restricted i386 Packages
Hit http://us.archive.ubuntu.com quantal-backports/universe i386 Packages
Hit http://us.archive.ubuntu.com quantal-backports/multiverse i386 Packages
Ign http://security.ubuntu.com quantal-security/main Translation-en_US
Ign http://security.ubuntu.com quantal-security/multiverse Translation-en_US
Hit http://us.archive.ubuntu.com quantal-backports/main Translation-en
Ign http://security.ubuntu.com quantal-security/restricted Translation-en_US
Hit http://us.archive.ubuntu.com quantal-backports/multiverse Translation-en
Ign http://security.ubuntu.com quantal-security/universe Translation-en_US
Hit http://us.archive.ubuntu.com quantal-backports/restricted Translation-en
Hit http://us.archive.ubuntu.com quantal-backports/universe Translation-en
Ign http://ppa.launchpad.net natty/main Translation-en_US
Ign http://ppa.launchpad.net natty/main Translation-en
Ign http://ppa.launchpad.net quantal/main Translation-en_US
Ign http://ppa.launchpad.net quantal/main Translation-en
Ign http://ppa.launchpad.net quantal/main Translation-en_US
Ign http://ppa.launchpad.net quantal/main Translation-en
Ign http://us.archive.ubuntu.com quantal/main Translation-en_US
Ign http://us.archive.ubuntu.com quantal/multiverse Translation-en_US
Ign http://ppa.launchpad.net quantal/main Translation-en_US
Ign http://us.archive.ubuntu.com quantal/restricted Translation-en_US
Ign http://us.archive.ubuntu.com quantal/universe Translation-en_US
Ign http://ppa.launchpad.net quantal/main Translation-en
Ign http://us.archive.ubuntu.com quantal-updates/main Translation-en_US
Ign http://us.archive.ubuntu.com quantal-updates/multiverse Translation-en_US
Ign http://us.archive.ubuntu.com quantal-updates/restricted Translation-en_US
Ign http://us.archive.ubuntu.com quantal-updates/universe Translation-en_US
Ign http://us.archive.ubuntu.com quantal-backports/main Translation-en_US
Ign http://us.archive.ubuntu.com quantal-backports/multiverse Translation-en_US
Ign http://us.archive.ubuntu.com quantal-backports/restricted Translation-en_US
Ign http://us.archive.ubuntu.com quantal-backports/universe Translation-en_US
Reading package lists... Done
Reading package lists... Done
Building dependency tree
Reading state information... Done
hwinfo is already the newest version.
0 upgraded, 0 newly installed, 0 to remove and 0 not upgraded.
Version: 1:7.7+1ubuntu4
Screen 0: minimum 8 x 8, current 1280 x 800, maximum 8192 x 8192
LVDS-0 connected 1280x800+0+0 (normal left inverted right x axis y axis) 286mm x 179mm
   1280x800 60.2*+
DP-0 disconnected (normal left inverted right x axis y axis)
DP-1 disconnected (normal left inverted right x axis y axis)
fglrxinfo: command not found
GLX Information for sean-MacBookPro:0.0:
  direct rendering: Yes
  GLX extensions:
    GLX_EXT_visual_info, GLX_EXT_visual_rating, GLX_SGIX_fbconfig,
    GLX_SGIX_pbuffer, GLX_SGI_video_sync, GLX_SGI_swap_control,
    GLX_EXT_swap_control, GLX_EXT_swap_control_tear,
    GLX_EXT_texture_from_pixmap, GLX_ARB_create_context,
    GLX_ARB_create_context_profile, GLX_EXT_create_context_es2_profile,
    GLX_ARB_create_context_robustness, GLX_ARB_multisample,
    GLX_NV_float_buffer, GLX_ARB_fbconfig_float, GLX_EXT_framebuffer_sRGB,
    GLX_NV_multisample_coverage, GLX_ARB_get_proc_address

  server glx vendor string: NVIDIA Corporation
  server glx version string: 1.4
  server glx extensions:
    GLX_EXT_visual_info, GLX_EXT_visual_rating, GLX_SGIX_fbconfig,
    GLX_SGIX_pbuffer, GLX_SGI_video_sync, GLX_SGI_swap_control,
    GLX_EXT_swap_control, GLX_EXT_swap_control_tear,
    GLX_EXT_texture_from_pixmap, GLX_ARB_create_context,
    GLX_ARB_create_context_profile, GLX_EXT_create_context_es_profile,
    GLX_EXT_create_context_es2_profile, GLX_ARB_create_context_robustness,
    GLX_ARB_multisample, GLX_NV_float_buffer, GLX_ARB_fbconfig_float,
    GLX_EXT_framebuffer_sRGB, GLX_NV_multisample_coverage

  client glx vendor string: NVIDIA Corporation
  client glx version string: 1.4
  client glx extensions:
    GLX_ARB_get_proc_address, GLX_ARB_multisample, GLX_EXT_visual_info,
    GLX_EXT_visual_rating, GLX_EXT_import_context, GLX_SGI_video_sync,
    GLX_NV_swap_group, GLX_NV_video_out, GLX_SGIX_fbconfig, GLX_SGIX_pbuffer,
02:00.0 VGA compatible controller [0300]: NVIDIA Corporation C79 [GeForce 9400M] [10de:0863] (rev b1)
 Subsystem: Apple Inc. Device [106b:00b9]
 Kernel driver in use: nvidia
H/W path Device Class Description
=================================================
                          system MacBookPro5,5 (System SKU#)
/0 bus Mac-F2268AC8
/0/0 processor Intel(R) Core(TM)2 Duo CPU P7550 @ 2.
/0/0/2 memory 32KiB L1 cache
/0/0/1.1 processor Logical CPU
/0/0/1.2 processor Logical CPU
/0/1 memory 32KiB L1 cache
/0/3 processor CPU
/0/3/5 memory 32KiB L1 cache
/0/3/1.1 processor Logical CPU
/0/3/1.2 processor Logical CPU
/0/4 memory 32KiB L1 cache
/0/6 memory 2GiB System Memory
/0/6/0 memory 1GiB SODIMM DDR3 Synchronous 1067 MHz (0.9
/0/6/1 memory 1GiB SODIMM DDR3 Synchronous 1067 MHz (0.9
/0/e memory 1MiB BIOS
/0/100 bridge MCP79 Host Bridge
/0/100/0.1 memory RAM memory
/0/100/3 bridge MCP79 LPC Bridge
/0/100/3.1 memory RAM memory
/0/100/3.2 bus MCP79 SMBus
/0/100/3.3 memory RAM memory
/0/100/3.4 memory RAM memory
/0/100/3.5 processor MCP79 Co-processor
/0/100/4 bus MCP79 OHCI USB 1.1 Controller
/0/100/4.1 bus MCP79 EHCI USB 2.0 Controller
/0/100/6 bus MCP79 OHCI USB 1.1 Controller
/0/100/6.1 bus MCP79 EHCI USB 2.0 Controller
/0/100/8 multimedia MCP79 High Definition Audio
/0/100/9 bridge MCP79 PCI Bridge
/0/100/a eth0 network MCP79 Ethernet
/0/100/b storage MCP79 SATA Controller
/0/100/10 bridge MCP79 PCI Express Bridge
/0/100/10/0 display C79 [GeForce 9400M]
/0/100/15 bridge MCP79 PCI Express Bridge
/0/100/15/0 eth1 network BCM4322 802.11a/b/g/n Wireless LAN Control
/0/100/16 bridge MCP79 PCI Express Bridge
/0/100/16/0 bus FW643 [TrueFire] PCIe 1394b Controller
/0/2 scsi0 storage
/0/2/0.0.0 /dev/sda disk 160GB Hitachi HTS54501
/0/2/0.0.0/1 volume 200MiB EFI GPT partition
/0/2/0.0.0/2 /dev/sda2 volume 130GiB Darwin/OS X HFS+ partition
/0/2/0.0.0/3 /dev/sda3 volume 1000MiB Linux swap / Solaris partition
/0/2/0.0.0/4 /dev/sda4 volume 17GiB EXT4 volume
/0/5 scsi1 storage
/0/5/0.0.0 /dev/cdrom disk DVDRW GS23N
/0/7 scsi6 storage
/0/7/0.0.0 /dev/sdb disk SD Card Reader
/0/7/0.0.0/0 /dev/sdb disk
/1 power Unknown
  *-display
       description: VGA compatible controller
       product: C79 [GeForce 9400M]
       vendor: NVIDIA Corporation
       physical id: 0
       bus info: pci@0000:02:00.0
       version: b1
       width: 64 bits
       clock: 33MHz
       capabilities: pm msi vga_controller bus_master cap_list rom
       configuration: driver=nvidia latency=0
       resources: irq:22 memory:92000000-92ffffff memory:80000000-8fffffff memory:90000000-91ffffff ioport:1000(size=128) memory:93000000-9301ffff
> hal.1: read hal dataprocess 20871: arguments to dbus_move_error() were incorrect, assertion "(dest) == NULL || !dbus_error_is_set ((dest))" failed in file ../../dbus/dbus-errors.c line 282.
This is normally a bug in some application using the D-Bus library.
libhal.c 3483 : Error unsubscribing to signals, error=The name org.freedesktop.Hal was not provided by any .service files
27: PCI 200.0: 0300 VGA compatible controller (VGA)
  [Created at pci.318]
  Unique ID: B35A.bGZVS_rVX7D
  Parent ID: 37TO.rhOQxRJg2zB
  SysFS ID: /devices/pci0000:00/0000:00:10.0/0000:02:00.0
  SysFS BusID: 0000:02:00.0
  Hardware Class: graphics card
  Model: "nVidia GeForce 9400M"
  Vendor: pci 0x10de "nVidia Corporation"
  Device: pci 0x0863 "GeForce 9400M"
  SubVendor: pci 0x106b "Apple Computer Inc."
  SubDevice: pci 0x00b9
  Revision: 0xb1
  Driver: "nvidia"
  Driver Modules: "nvidia"
  Memory Range: 0x92000000-0x92ffffff (rw,non-prefetchable)
  Memory Range: 0x80000000-0x8fffffff (ro,non-prefetchable)
  Memory Range: 0x90000000-0x91ffffff (ro,non-prefetchable)
  I/O Ports: 0x1000-0x1fff (rw)
  Memory Range: 0x93000000-0x9301ffff (ro,non-prefetchable,disabled)
  IRQ: 22 (587 events)
  I/O Ports: 0x3c0-0x3df (rw)
  Module Alias: "pci:v000010DEd00000863sv0000106Bsd000000B9bc03sc00i00"
  Driver Info #0:
    Driver Status: nvidiafb is not active
    Driver Activation Cmd: "modprobe nvidiafb"
  Driver Info #1:
    Driver Status: nouveau is not active
    Driver Activation Cmd: "modprobe nouveau"
  Driver Info #2:
    Driver Status: nvidia_current is not active
    Driver Activation Cmd: "modprobe nvidia_current"
  Config Status: cfg=new, avail=yes, need=no, active=unknown
  Attached to: #22 (PCI bridge)

Primary display adapter: #27
ii intel-gpu-tools 1.3-0ubuntu2 i386 tools for debugging the Intel graphics driver
ii libdrm-intel1:i386 2.4.39-0ubuntu1 i386 Userspace interface to intel-specific kernel DRM services -- runtime
ii libdrm-nouveau1a:i386 2.4.39-0ubuntu1 i386 Userspace interface to nouveau-specific kernel DRM services -- runtime
ii libdrm-nouveau2:i386 2.4.39-0ubuntu1 i386 Userspace interface to nouveau-specific kernel DRM services -- runtime
ii libdrm-radeon1:i386 2.4.39-0ubuntu1 i386 Userspace interface to radeon-specific kernel DRM services -- runtime
ii libgl1-mesa-dri:i386 9.0-0ubuntu1 i386 free implementation of the OpenGL API -- DRI modules
ii libgl1-mesa-glx:i386 9.0-0ubuntu1 i386 free implementation of the OpenGL API -- GLX runtime
ii libglapi-mesa:i386 9.0-0ubuntu1 i386 free implementation of the GL API -- shared library
ii libglu1-mesa:i386 9.0.0-0ubuntu1 i386 Mesa OpenGL utility library (GLU)
ii nvidia-bl-dkms 0.17.3~natty all Supplementary Nvidia laptop display backlight support
ii nvidia-current 304.51.really.304.43-0ubuntu1 i386 NVIDIA binary Xorg driver, kernel module and VDPAU library
ii nvidia-settings 304.51-0ubuntu2 i386 Tool for configuring the NVIDIA graphics driver
ii radeontool 1.6.2-1.1build1 i386 utility to control ATI Radeon backlight functions on laptops
ii xserver-xorg-video-ati 1:6.99.99~git20120913.8637f772-0ubuntu1 i386 X.Org X server -- AMD/ATI display driver wrapper
ii xserver-xorg-video-intel 2:2.20.9-0ubuntu2 i386 X.Org X server -- Intel i8xx, i9xx display driver
ii xserver-xorg-video-nouveau 1:1.0.2-0ubuntu3 i386 X.Org X server -- Nouveau display driver
ii xserver-xorg-video-radeon 1:6.99.99~git20120913.8637f772-0ubuntu1 i386 X.Org X server -- AMD/ATI Radeon display driver
DISTRIB_ID=Ubuntu
DISTRIB_RELEASE=12.10
DISTRIB_CODENAME=quantal
DISTRIB_DESCRIPTION="Ubuntu 12.10"
[ 0.000000] Console: colour VGA+ 80x25
[ 0.255272] ACPI: PCI Interrupt Link [LGPU] (IRQs 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23) *11
[ 0.465663] intel_idle: does not run on family 6 model 23
[ 25.593524] nvidia_bl: MacBookPro 5,5 detected
[ 25.593549] nvidia_bl: Nvidia graphics adapter 10de:0863 (106b:00b9) detected
[ 25.593573] nvidia_backlight: invalid backlight type
[ 25.593576] Modules linked in: nvidia_bl(O+) i2c_nforce2 apple_bl mac_hid lp parport hid_apple usbhid hid usb_storage uas firewire_ohci firewire_core crc_itu_t forcedeth
[ 25.593615] [<f84f5316>] nvidia_bl_init+0x316/0x1000 [nvidia_bl]
[ 25.771840] EXT4-fs (sda4): re-mounted. Opts: errors=remount-ro
[ 26.249752] init: failsafe main process (842) killed by TERM signal
[ 26.267636] nvidia: probe of 0000:00:03.5 failed with error -1
[ 26.267784] ACPI: PCI Interrupt Link [LGPU] enabled at IRQ 22
[ 26.267792] nvidia 0000:02:00.0: setting latency timer to 64
[ 26.268249] NVRM: loading NVIDIA UNIX x86 Kernel Module 304.43 Sun Aug 19 20:20:21 PDT 2012
[ 26.354878] hda_intel: Disabling MSI
[ 26.354903] snd_hda_intel 0000:00:08.0: setting latency timer to 64
[ 28.520431] NVRM: GPU at 0000:02:00: GPU-4958714c-d7af-bfab-d5e4-cd291361bbcd
 (WW) warning, (EE) error, (NI) not implemented, (??) unknown.
[ 27.885] (==) Automatically adding GPU devices
[ 27.885] (WW) The directory "/usr/share/fonts/X11/cyrillic" does not exist.
[ 27.885] (WW) The directory "/usr/share/fonts/X11/100dpi/" does not exist.
[ 27.885] (WW) The directory "/usr/share/fonts/X11/75dpi/" does not exist.
[ 27.885] (WW) The directory "/usr/share/fonts/X11/100dpi" does not exist.
[ 27.885] (WW) The directory "/usr/share/fonts/X11/75dpi" does not exist.
[ 27.886] (WW) The directory "/var/lib/defoma/x-ttcidfont-conf.d/dirs/TrueType" does not exist.
[ 27.921] (II) Module glx: vendor="NVIDIA Corporation"
[ 27.921] (II) NVIDIA GLX Module 304.43 Sun Aug 19 20:41:51 PDT 2012
[ 27.921] Loading extension GLX
[ 27.921] (==) Matched nvidia as autoconfigured driver 0
[ 27.921] (==) Matched nouveau as autoconfigured driver 1
[ 27.921] (II) LoadModule: "nvidia"
[ 27.922] (II) Loading /usr/lib/i386-linux-gnu/xorg/extra-modules/nvidia_drv.so
[ 27.922] (II) Module nvidia: vendor="NVIDIA Corporation"
[ 27.922] (II) LoadModule: "nouveau"
[ 27.944] (II) Loading /usr/lib/xorg/modules/drivers/nouveau_drv.so
[ 27.945] (II) Module nouveau: vendor="X.Org Foundation"
[ 27.945] (WW) Warning, couldn't open module nv
[ 27.946] (EE) Failed to load module "nv" (module does not exist, 0)
[ 27.947] (==) Matched nvidia as autoconfigured driver 0
[ 27.947] (==) Matched nouveau as autoconfigured driver 1
[ 27.947] (II) LoadModule: "nvidia"
[ 27.947] (II) Loading /usr/lib/i386-linux-gnu/xorg/extra-modules/nvidia_drv.so
[ 27.947] (II) Module nvidia: vendor="NVIDIA Corporation"
[ 27.947] (II) UnloadModule: "nvidia"
[ 27.947] (II) Unloading nvidia
[ 27.947] (II) Failed to load module "nvidia" (already loaded, -1217328222)
[ 27.947] (II) LoadModule: "nouveau"
[ 27.947] (II) Loading /usr/lib/xorg/modules/drivers/nouveau_drv.so
[ 27.947] (II) Module nouveau: vendor="X.Org Foundation"
[ 27.947] (II) UnloadModule: "nouveau"
[ 27.947] (II) Unloading nouveau
[ 27.947] (II) Failed to load module "nouveau" (already loaded, -1217328222)
[ 27.948] (WW) Warning, couldn't open module nv
[ 27.948] (EE) Failed to load module "nv" (module does not exist, 0)
[ 27.948] (II) Failed to load module "vesa" (already loaded, 0)
[ 27.948] (II) Failed to load module "modesetting" (already loaded, 0)
[ 27.949] (II) Failed to load module "fbdev" (already loaded, 0)
[ 27.949] (II) NVIDIA dlloader X Driver 304.43 Sun Aug 19 20:21:53 PDT 2012
[ 27.949] (II) NVIDIA Unified Driver for all Supported NVIDIA GPUs
[ 27.949] (II) NOUVEAU driver for NVIDIA chipset families :
[ 27.949] (II) VESA: driver for VESA chipsets: vesa
[ 27.951] (II) Loading sub module "wfb"
[ 27.951] (II) LoadModule: "wfb"
[ 27.951] (II) Loading /usr/lib/xorg/modules/libwfb.so
[ 27.951] (II) Module wfb: vendor="X.Org Foundation"
[ 27.951] (WW) Falling back to old probe method for vesa
[ 27.951] (WW) Falling back to old probe method for modesetting
[ 27.951] (EE) open /dev/dri/card0: No such file or directory
[ 27.952] (EE) open /dev/dri/card0: No such file or directory
[ 27.952] (WW) Falling back to old probe method for fbdev
[ 27.952] (EE) open /dev/fb0: No such file or directory
[ 27.952] (II) NVIDIA(0): Creating default Display subsection in Screen section
[ 27.952] (==) NVIDIA(0): Depth 24, (==) framebuffer bpp 32
[ 27.952] (==) NVIDIA(0): RGB weight 888
[ 27.952] (==) NVIDIA(0): Default visual is TrueColor
[ 27.952] (==) NVIDIA(0): Using gamma correction (1.0, 1.0, 1.0)
[ 27.952] (**) NVIDIA(0): Enabling 2D acceleration
[ 28.525] (II) NVIDIA(GPU-0): Display (Apple Color LCD (DFP-0)) does not support NVIDIA 3D
[ 28.525] (II) NVIDIA(GPU-0): Vision stereo.
[ 28.526] (II) NVIDIA(0): NVIDIA GPU GeForce 9400M (C79) at PCI:2:0:0 (GPU-0)
[ 28.526] (--) NVIDIA(0): Memory: 524288 kBytes
[ 28.526] (--) NVIDIA(0): VideoBIOS: 62.79.67.00.00
[ 28.526] (--) NVIDIA(0): Interlaced video modes are supported on this GPU
[ 28.529] (--) NVIDIA(0): Valid display device(s) on GeForce 9400M at PCI:2:0:0
[ 28.529] (--) NVIDIA(0): Apple Color LCD (DFP-0) (connected)
[ 28.529] (--) NVIDIA(0): DFP-1
[ 28.529] (--) NVIDIA(0): DFP-2
[ 28.529] (--) NVIDIA(0): Apple Color LCD (DFP-0): 165.0 MHz maximum pixel clock
[ 28.529] (--) NVIDIA(0): Apple Color LCD (DFP-0): Internal Single Link LVDS
[ 28.529] (--) NVIDIA(0): DFP-1: 165.0 MHz maximum pixel clock
[ 28.529] (--) NVIDIA(0): DFP-1: Internal Single Link TMDS
[ 28.529] (--) NVIDIA(0): DFP-2: 480.0 MHz maximum pixel clock
[ 28.529] (--) NVIDIA(0): DFP-2: Internal DisplayPort
[ 28.529] (**) NVIDIA(0): Using HorizSync/VertRefresh ranges from the EDID for display
[ 28.529] (**) NVIDIA(0): device Apple Color LCD (DFP-0) (Using EDID frequencies has
[ 28.529] (**) NVIDIA(0): been enabled on all display devices.)
[ 28.530] (==) NVIDIA(0):
[ 28.530] (==) NVIDIA(0): No modes were requested; the default mode "nvidia-auto-select"
[ 28.530] (==) NVIDIA(0): will be used as the requested mode.
[ 28.530] (==) NVIDIA(0):
[ 28.530] (II) NVIDIA(0): Validated MetaModes:
[ 28.530] (II) NVIDIA(0): "DFP-0:nvidia-auto-select"
[ 28.530] (II) NVIDIA(0): Virtual screen size determined to be 1280 x 800
[ 29.581] (--) NVIDIA(0): DPI set to (112, 112); computed from "UseEdidDpi" X config
[ 29.581] (--) NVIDIA(0): option
[ 29.581] (II) UnloadModule: "nouveau"
[ 29.581] (II) Unloading nouveau
[ 29.582] (II) NVIDIA: Using 768.00 MB of virtual memory for indirect memory access.
[ 29.589] (II) NVIDIA(0): Setting mode "DFP-0:nvidia-auto-select"
[ 29.879] Loading extension NV-GLX
[ 29.900] (==) NVIDIA(0): Disabling shared memory pixmaps
[ 29.900] (==) NVIDIA(0): Backing store disabled
[ 29.900] (==) NVIDIA(0): Silken mouse enabled
[ 29.901] (==) NVIDIA(0): DPMS enabled
[ 29.901] (II) NVIDIA(0): [DRI2] Setup complete
[ 29.901] (II) NVIDIA(0): [DRI2] VDPAU driver: nvidia
[ 29.910] (II) Initializing extension GLX
[ 30.530] (II) NVIDIA(GPU-0): Display (Apple Color LCD (DFP-0)) does not support NVIDIA 3D
[ 30.530] (II) NVIDIA(GPU-0): Vision stereo.
[ 30.530] (**) NVIDIA(0): Using HorizSync/VertRefresh ranges from the EDID for display
[ 30.530] (**) NVIDIA(0): device Apple Color LCD (DFP-0) (Using EDID frequencies has
[ 30.530] (**) NVIDIA(0): been enabled on all display devices.)
[ 31.516] (II) NVIDIA(GPU-0): Display (Apple Color LCD (DFP-0)) does not support NVIDIA 3D
[ 31.516] (II) NVIDIA(GPU-0): Vision stereo.
[ 31.516] (**) NVIDIA(0): Using HorizSync/VertRefresh ranges from the EDID for display
[ 31.516] (**) NVIDIA(0): device Apple Color LCD (DFP-0) (Using EDID frequencies has
[ 31.516] (**) NVIDIA(0): been enabled on all display devices.)
[ 38.795] (II) NVIDIA(GPU-0): Display (Apple Color LCD (DFP-0)) does not support NVIDIA 3D
[ 38.795] (II) NVIDIA(GPU-0): Vision stereo.
[ 38.795] (**) NVIDIA(0): Using HorizSync/VertRefresh ranges from the EDID for display
[ 38.795] (**) NVIDIA(0): device Apple Color LCD (DFP-0) (Using EDID frequencies has
[ 38.795] (**) NVIDIA(0): been enabled on all display devices.)
[ 39.101] (II) NVIDIA(GPU-0): Display (Apple Color LCD (DFP-0)) does not support NVIDIA 3D
[ 39.101] (II) NVIDIA(GPU-0): Vision stereo.
[ 39.101] (**) NVIDIA(0): Using HorizSync/VertRefresh ranges from the EDID for display
[ 39.101] (**) NVIDIA(0): device Apple Color LCD (DFP-0) (Using EDID frequencies has
[ 39.102] (**) NVIDIA(0): been enabled on all display devices.)
[ 39.732] (II) NVIDIA(GPU-0): Display (Apple Color LCD (DFP-0)) does not support NVIDIA 3D
[ 39.732] (II) NVIDIA(GPU-0): Vision stereo.
[ 39.732] (**) NVIDIA(0): Using HorizSync/VertRefresh ranges from the EDID for display
[ 39.732] (**) NVIDIA(0): device Apple Color LCD (DFP-0) (Using EDID frequencies has
[ 39.732] (**) NVIDIA(0): been enabled on all display devices.)
[ 298.863] (II) NVIDIA(GPU-0): Display (Apple Color LCD (DFP-0)) does not support NVIDIA 3D
[ 298.863] (II) NVIDIA(GPU-0): Vision stereo.
[ 298.863] (**) NVIDIA(0): Using HorizSync/VertRefresh ranges from the EDID for display
[ 298.863] (**) NVIDIA(0): device Apple Color LCD (DFP-0) (Using EDID frequencies has
[ 298.863] (**) NVIDIA(0): been enabled on all display devices.)
[ 461.020] (II) NVIDIA(GPU-0): Display (Apple Color LCD (DFP-0)) does not support NVIDIA 3D
[ 461.020] (II) NVIDIA(GPU-0): Vision stereo.
[ 461.020] (**) NVIDIA(0): Using HorizSync/VertRefresh ranges from the EDID for display
[ 461.020] (**) NVIDIA(0): device Apple Color LCD (DFP-0) (Using EDID frequencies has
[ 461.020] (**) NVIDIA(0): been enabled on all display devices.)
 Manufacturer: Intel(R) Corporation
 Serial Number: Not Specified
 Manufacturer: Intel(R) Corporation
 Serial Number: Not Specified
 Manufacturer: 0x80AD
 Serial Number: 0x14207DE9
 Manufacturer: 0x80AD
 Serial Number: 0x20506D4B
 Release Date: 06/15/09
 Manufacturer: Apple Inc.
 Product Name: MacBookPro5,5
 Serial Number: WQ930JDG66D
 Manufacturer: Apple Inc.
 Product Name: Mac-F2268AC8
 Serial Number: Base Board Serial#
 Manufacturer: Apple Inc.
 Serial Number: WQ930JDG66D
 Manufacturer: Unknown
 Manufacture Date: Unknown
 Serial Number: Unknown
cat: /etc/X11/xorg.conf: No such file or directory
Module Size Used by
michael_mic 12540 8
arc4 12473 4
dm_crypt 22402 1
snd_hda_codec_cirrus 23166 1
kvm_intel 126745 0
kvm 357806 1 kvm_intel
joydev 17161 0
snd_hda_intel 32515 3
snd_hda_codec 111547 2 snd_hda_codec_cirrus,snd_hda_intel
snd_hwdep 13272 1 snd_hda_codec
snd_pcm 80163 2 snd_hda_intel,snd_hda_codec
snd_seq_midi 13132 0
snd_rawmidi 25382 1 snd_seq_midi
nvidia 10236405 42
bcm5974 17131 0
rfcomm 37276 12
btusb 17986 0
uvcvideo 71277 0
videobuf2_core 32070 1 uvcvideo
videodev 95841 2 uvcvideo,videobuf2_core
videobuf2_vmalloc 12756 1 uvcvideo
videobuf2_memops 13184 1 videobuf2_vmalloc
snd_seq_midi_event 14475 1 snd_seq_midi
parport_pc 31968 0
bnep 17707 2
ppdev 12817 0
bluetooth 183228 22 rfcomm,btusb,bnep
snd_seq 51255 2 snd_seq_midi,snd_seq_midi_event
applesmc 18778 0
input_polldev 13648 1 applesmc
snd_timer 24411 2 snd_pcm,snd_seq
binfmt_misc 17260 1
snd_seq_device 14137 3 snd_seq_midi,snd_rawmidi,snd_seq
microcode 18209 0
snd 61991 15 snd_hda_codec_cirrus,snd_hda_intel,snd_hda_codec,snd_hwdep,snd_pcm,snd_rawmidi,snd_seq,snd_timer,snd_seq_device
lib80211_crypt_tkip 17229 0
soundcore 14599 1 snd
shpchp 32189 0
snd_page_alloc 14036 2 snd_hda_intel,snd_pcm
wl 2442848 0
lib80211 14040 2 lib80211_crypt_tkip,wl
coretemp 13168 0
nvidia_bl 17440 0
i2c_nforce2 12869 0
apple_bl 13425 0
mac_hid 13037 0
lp 13299 0
parport 40753 3 parport_pc,ppdev,lp
hid_apple 13045 0
usbhid 41702 0
hid 82142 2 hid_apple,usbhid
usb_storage 39350 0
uas 17556 0
firewire_ohci 35521 0
firewire_core 57492 1 firewire_ohci
crc_itu_t 12627 1 firewire_core
forcedeth 57756 0

Question information

Language:
English Edit question
Status:
Solved
For:
Ubuntu xserver-xorg-video-nv Edit question
Assignee:
No assignee Edit question
Solved by:
Sean Merrill
Solved:
Last query:
Last reply:
Revision history for this message
actionparsnip (andrew-woodhead666) said :
#1

https://help.ubuntu.com/community/MacBookPro5-5/Precise

You also have a Natty source. Did you upgrade directly from Natty to Quantal?

Revision history for this message
Sean Merrill (sean-p-merrill) said :
#2

I installed Quantal from scratch. The Natty source was based on a
suggestion for getting the brightness control to work from the Precise
installation page:

https://help.ubuntu.com/community/MacBookPro5-5/Precise

The other steps listed above that one did not work.

    LCD Brightness Control

The package nvidia-bl-dkms is not available for 12.04. Fortunately, the
following procedure works (taken from
http://www.voria.org/forum/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=1091):

If backlight control does not work for you, follow these instructions:

  * Edit the file '/etc/X11/xorg.conf' and add this line into the Device
    section:
      o

        Option "RegistryDwords" "EnableBrightnessControl=1"

  * Reboot and check if backlight control works. If so, you're done.
  * If not, edit the file '/etc/default/grub' and change the line:
      o

        GRUB_CMDLINE_LINUX_DEFAULT="quiet splash" to
        GRUB_CMDLINE_LINUX_DEFAULT="quiet splash acpi_backlight=vendor"

  *

    Update grub with this command: sudo update-grub

  * Reboot and backlight control should work.
  *

    If it still doesn't work, try installing the nvidia-bl-dkms package
    from mactel-support for Natty (from
    https://launchpad.net/~mactel-support/+archive/ppa
    <https://launchpad.net/%7Emactel-support/+archive/ppa>), this was
    the only way for me to get the backlight control working on Precise.
    Results may vary as some people claim this driver does not work on
    Precise.

On 01/01/2013 06:45 PM, actionparsnip wrote:
> Your question #218085 on Ubuntu changed:
> https://answers.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+question/218085
>
> Status: Open => Needs information
>
> actionparsnip requested more information:
> https://help.ubuntu.com/community/MacBookPro5-5/Precise
>
> You also have a Natty source. Did you upgrade directly from Natty to
> Quantal?
>

Revision history for this message
N1ck 7h0m4d4k15 (nicktux) said :
#3

Try acpi_osi=

So the /etc/default/grub line : GRUB_CMDLINE_LINUX_DEFAULT="quiet splash acpi_backlight=vendor"

become like this

GRUB_CMDLINE_LINUX_DEFAULT="quiet splash acpi_osi="

Then update grub

sudo update-grub

and reboot.

Thanks

Revision history for this message
Sean Merrill (sean-p-merrill) said :
#4

I changed the GRUB as you suggested but it is still not changing the
brightness of the screen.

On 01/02/2013 12:11 AM, NikTh wrote:
> Your question #218085 on xserver-xorg-video-nv in Ubuntu changed:
> https://answers.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/xserver-xorg-video-nv/+question/218085
>
> Status: Open => Answered
>
> NikTh proposed the following answer:
> Try acpi_osi=
>
> So the /etc/default/grub line : GRUB_CMDLINE_LINUX_DEFAULT="quiet
> splash acpi_backlight=vendor"
>
> become like this
>
> GRUB_CMDLINE_LINUX_DEFAULT="quiet splash acpi_osi="
>
> Then update grub
>
> sudo update-grub
>
> and reboot.
>
> Thanks
>

Revision history for this message
actionparsnip (andrew-woodhead666) said :
#5

Did you even read the link I gave...?

Did you add the PPA mentioned?

Revision history for this message
Sean Merrill (sean-p-merrill) said :
#6

Hi Andrew,
The link you provided was the same steps I went through in which I added the natty source. I tried steps 3-6 under the LCD Backlight section but I don't have a xorg.conf file and didn't know how to properly format one to create from scratch. There are many examples but I didn't know which to emulate. If you have a link to a usable xorg.conf file, I'd be happy to try it out.

Revision history for this message
Sean Merrill (sean-p-merrill) said :
#7

My apologies for the trouble. I reinstalled ubuntu 12.10 and the brightness works out of the box. I must have messed something up while trying things out.