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Old 09-24-2011, 11:41 AM   #1
edbarx
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kernels >= 2.6.38 fail to modeset resulting in NO CLI and NO GUI!


About a couple of months ago I have submitted a bug report at debian.org and then I was instructed to submit the same bug upstream at freedesktop.org. The bug has to do with the new modesetting kernel addition that has been added to kernels >= 2.6.38. This is causing my laptop (Acer Aspire 7715z) to fail with any Linux kernel >= 2.6.38. The result is an appalling no terminals and no GUI situation. I tested my laptop whether Squeeze (Debian Testing) was properly loaded and confirmed that it was in fact properly loaded. I tried to bypass the problem by using other Linux distributions and found the same ugly bug preventing me from using my computer.

I am suspecting this bug will remain and eventually I will not be able to use Linux on my laptop.
 
Old 09-24-2011, 11:50 AM   #2
andrewthomas
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Is this your bug?:

Quote:
Originally Posted by https://bugs.freedesktop.org/show_bug.cgi?id=40455
As suggested here http://forums.gentoo.org/viewtopic-p...8.html#6797468 ,
adding "acpi_osi= " or "acpi_osi=Linux" to the kernel boot command line in
grub, lets me adjust brightness with the keys provided on the laptop (Fn +
left/right arrow).

I added "acpi_osi=Linux" to grub so the machine now always boots with this
parameter. It still boots to a blank screen, but I can press Fn + left arrow to
switch the backlight on. Afterwards I can adjust the brightness with the
keyboard controls.
Here is another possible solution:
Backlight off at boot on 4500M
Quote:
There is an issue for Acer Aspire 5736z with a GMA 4500M graphics chip, this seems to affect other laptops too. When you boot this laptop the screen is blank because the backlight is extinguished (you can read it with a good flashlight). This issue is present in at least kernels 2.6.39 and 3.0.3, but seems to affect other versions also. The issue arises when you configure the kernel with the i915 drivers and kernel mode setting.
You can get a display by appending "nomodeset" to the Grub boot command, but this may stop X from working and you will only have low resolution.
One solution is given here https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+s...ux/+bug/752165 : run "setpci -s 00:02.0 F4.B=00" as root to turn the backlight back on. You may be able to do this over ssh, depending on your setup, otherwise you will have to do this with the dark screen.
You can do this automatically on boot : make a script with this line in "/etc/local.d/fixbacklight.start" for example. Make sure to begin your script with "#!/bin/sh" and make it executable ("chmod +x /etc/local.d/fixbacklight.start"). When your machine comes out of hybernation the issue may repeat.
This issue is independent from the problem that occurs when the drivers are built as modules and appears even when they are built into the kernel. This issue exists as of august 2011 and doesn't seem new, it should hopefully be fixed in future kernel versions.
 
Old 09-24-2011, 12:07 PM   #3
edbarx
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My bug report is at: https://bugs.freedesktop.org/show_bug.cgi?id=38718

I tried to turn the backlight on but I never succeeded. I only succeeded to boot with a very poor resolution using the i915.modeset=0 kernel parameter.
 
Old 09-24-2011, 12:23 PM   #4
andrewthomas
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Quote:
Originally Posted by edbarx View Post
My bug report is at: https://bugs.freedesktop.org/show_bug.cgi?id=38718

I tried to turn the backlight on but I never succeeded. I only succeeded to boot with a very poor resolution using the i915.modeset=0 kernel parameter.
So, you have tried the
Code:
acpi_osi=Linux
kernel parameter, followed by

Quote:
press Fn + left arrow to switch the backlight on. Afterwards I can adjust the brightness with the keyboard controls.
?
 
Old 09-24-2011, 12:44 PM   #5
edbarx
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Quote:
Originally Posted by andrewthomas View Post
So, you have tried the
Code:
acpi_osi=Linux
kernel parameter, followed by

?
I don't remember myself passing acpi_osi=Linux to the kernel. Maybe, that is why I was never able to turn the back light on again.
 
Old 09-24-2011, 01:01 PM   #6
edbarx
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My friend, because you must be a real friend, you saved me! Nobody at forums.debian.net was capable of solving my issue and I have been posting about it for at least the whole Summer. Moreover, I don't remember the number of kernels I compiled and installed in vain!

Now, how can I include acpi_osi=Linux and Fn + Left Arrow in a script assuming it is possible?

Thanks a lot.
 
Old 09-24-2011, 02:15 PM   #7
andrewthomas
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Quote:
Originally Posted by edbarx View Post
My friend, because you must be a real friend, you saved me! Nobody at forums.debian.net was capable of solving my issue and I have been posting about it for at least the whole Summer. Moreover, I don't remember the number of kernels I compiled and installed in vain!

Now, how can I include acpi_osi=Linux and Fn + Left Arrow in a script assuming it is possible?

Thanks a lot.
You're welcome.

Glad to be of help.

If you are using grub2 you can edit /etc/default/grub

Code:
nano /etc/default/grub
and change

Code:
GRUB_CMDLINE_LINUX=""
to
Code:
GRUB_CMDLINE_LINUX="acpi_osi=Linux"
(If that does not work for some reason, try to add it to GRUB_CMDLINE_LINUX_DEFAULT entry. Be sure to

Code:
update-grub
after making any changes to the /etc/default/grub file to apply your changes.)

If you are still using grub then just add acpi_osi=Linux to the end of your kernel line in your /boot/grub/menu.lst

I am not sure how to accomplish the Fn + Left Arrow in a script, although I am sure it is possible.

Last edited by andrewthomas; 09-24-2011 at 02:18 PM.
 
  


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