New installation of Cinnamon v20.3 brightness issue + others

dave67 · 02-15-2022, 07:40 PM

I was wondering have you looked at the battery management settings that is on the panel for adjusting the brightness. this could have dimming on and with the app that you installed for the brightness there could be a conflict with the settings. Just use application for setting for the brightness.

paxolin · 02-15-2022, 10:10 PM

Thanks for asking, but the battery settings don't affect me one bit.

The laptop is ten years old and the batteries died years ago, with no replacement available. It runs on mains power all the time.

So I can't see that will affect anything, especially the ongoing brightness issue?

ondoho · 02-16-2022, 01:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by paxolin

The way it appears to me when I reduce the brightness, the blank screen still appears 'well lit'.
I appreciate I'm not too good at explaining this, but if the brightness is reduced, the 'background' is still bright.
I'm using the Brightness Controller as in the attachment pic.
As I said earlier, when the functions keys were working in v18.3, the 'background (light?)' was also equally reduced at the same time as the main screen.
https://www.linuxquestions.org/quest...9&d=1644914602

That software does exactly what I suspected earlier: it's a software hack that does not affect the backlight at all.

dave67 · 02-17-2022, 10:05 AM

The easiest option would be to change the graphics card in the bios to Intel. Nvidia drivers in my experience do not install when installing a new installation. So we can check what is going on with.

Code:

sudo lspci-v

This will show the entire hardware on the laptop and drivers being used. What I want to check is if there is Nvidia drivers being used etc.

On the menu search for driver manager load it up and see what it states is installed and what is available. The reason the fix you did in 18.x of mint did not work in 20.x is most likely the new kernel being used.

paxolin · 02-17-2022, 07:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dave67

The easiest option would be to change the graphics card in the bios to Intel. Nvidia drivers in my experience do not install when installing a new installation. So we can check what is going on with.

Code:

sudo lspci-v

This will show the entire hardware on the laptop and drivers being used. What I want to check is if there is Nvidia drivers being used etc.

On the menu search for driver manager load it up and see what it states is installed and what is available. The reason the fix you did in 18.x of mint did not work in 20.x is most likely the new kernel being used.

This was easier than I'd imagined (ha ha!):

Code:

lspci-v: command not found

ondoho · 02-17-2022, 10:36 PM

deleted

dave67 · 02-18-2022, 12:44 AM

You must use the entire command

sudo lspci -v

paxolin · 02-18-2022, 01:02 AM

Is this what you wanted to see?

Code:

01:00.0 VGA compatible controller: NVIDIA Corporation GF108M [GeForce GT 540M] (rev a1) (prog-if 00 [VGA controller])
	Subsystem: Acer Incorporated [ALI] GF108M [GeForce GT 540M]
	Flags: bus master, fast devsel, latency 0, IRQ 36
	Memory at d0000000 (32-bit, non-prefetchable) [size=16M]
	Memory at a0000000 (64-bit, prefetchable) [size=256M]
	Memory at b0000000 (64-bit, prefetchable) [size=32M]
	I/O ports at 3000 [size=128]
	Expansion ROM at d1080000 [virtual] [disabled] [size=512K]
	Capabilities: [60] Power Management version 3
	Capabilities: [68] MSI: Enable+ Count=1/1 Maskable- 64bit+
	Capabilities: [78] Express Endpoint, MSI 00
	Capabilities: [b4] Vendor Specific Information: Len=14 <?>
	Capabilities: [100] Virtual Channel
	Capabilities: [128] Power Budgeting <?>
	Capabilities: [600] Vendor Specific Information: ID=0001 Rev=1 Len=024 <?>
	Kernel driver in use: nvidia
	Kernel modules: nvidiafb, nouveau, nvidia_drm, nvidia

dave67 · 02-18-2022, 09:28 AM

There is not other VGA compatible controller listed in that output that states Intel?

paxolin · 02-18-2022, 02:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dave67

There is not other VGA compatible controller listed in that output that states Intel?

You're quite right, there is. I'm glad you know the right questions to ask!
I whizzed down the list and saw "VGA compatible controller", and copied it. It hadn't occurred to me there could be two items listed, but not together.
So here's the other one. There are no others, I've since checked at the way down the list.

Code:

00:02.0 VGA compatible controller: Intel Corporation 2nd Generation Core Processor Family Integrated Graphics Controller (rev 09) (prog-if 00 [VGA controller])
	Subsystem: Acer Incorporated [ALI] 2nd Generation Core Processor Family Integrated Graphics Controller
	Flags: bus master, fast devsel, latency 0, IRQ 32
	Memory at d1400000 (64-bit, non-prefetchable) [size=4M]
	Memory at c0000000 (64-bit, prefetchable) [size=256M]
	I/O ports at 4000 [size=64]
	Expansion ROM at 000c0000 [virtual] [disabled] [size=128K]
	Capabilities: [90] MSI: Enable+ Count=1/1 Maskable- 64bit-
	Capabilities: [d0] Power Management version 2
	Capabilities: [a4] PCI Advanced Features
	Kernel driver in use: i915
	Kernel modules: i915

dave67 · 02-20-2022, 02:37 PM

With both GPUs active there are two drivers in use.

Nvidia
Kernel driver in use: nvidia

Intel CPU on board GPU
Kernel driver in use: i915

In windows this is not an issue do to the Nvidia Optimus drivers which are not supported by nvidia in Linux. Even though Ubuntu is trying its unstable. This is why I turn off one of the graphics cards. which could be why this screen to dimmed to much.

Quote:

On your gateway model press F2 as the laptop booting up to access the bios. Look for graphics or video. The Intel graphics could be labeled as integrated and the Nvidia PCI with no label but PCI on some systems. The options can be drop down list. Select the Intel option than save the changes by pressing F10 than reboot.

paxolin · 02-20-2022, 09:14 PM

Although I can see the BIOS I'm not too sure how to understand what is says about the graphics card and changing the settings.
I used my phone to take the photos of the screen, so I hope you can read it OK?
See the three pics.

I don't know why it lists graphics twice - Intel and nVidia?
Then when I go to edit, says it's set to Switchable, and offers Integrated or Switchable.
Any suggestions?

dave67 · 02-21-2022, 11:39 AM

Yes Change to the integrated than press f10 and save and reboot. than see how the screen is.

dave67 · 02-21-2022, 07:02 PM

There are two graphics cards Intel and Nvidia. The switchable is with MS windows Nvidia optimus driver is used as I mentioned in post 26. By selecting the Intel ( integrated ) than the Nvidia will not be be used. In my ThinkPad I have choice of Intell- integrated, PCI - Nvidia, or both in your case its switchable.

This is off topic but something to think about.

https://www.replacement-laptop-batte...ery-79945.html

paxolin · 02-21-2022, 07:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dave67

Yes Change to the integrated than press f10 and save and reboot. than see how the screen is.

Hi dave67.
I changed to Integrated.
I was hoping I would be able to use the function keys for the brightness? No difference, if that was what was supposed to happen?
Or is there something else to do next?

BTW, thanks for the link you posted for replacement batteries. I see it works out as 1,500 Baht (Thai). I'll need to look into it more if they deliver to Thailand, & the cost (plus import duty).

Acer took over Gateway for support.
I contacted Acer Thailand about three/four years ago, who said the batteries were no longer available.

Someone local in my town said they could get a replacement, but when I said I wanted to order one, they just never got back to me.