• Registered: 2010-02-02
  • Posts: 7

Topic: New #! and Linux User

Hi everyone, I'm completely new to actually using Linux, though I have been interested in learning it for a while. I just got an ASUS 1005pe netbook, and it has opened it up so that I can experiment without worrying about breaking my primary laptop (because I need something reliable to do homework on).  I am an intended CS major (though not in the program quite yet, I'm still crossing my fingers!), and they teach a bit about linux, and I want to get a head start.

#! actually piqued my interest when I first heard about it, in my search for an eee-pc optimized distro. I first tried easy-peasy, but I didn't like the layout very much, and the streamlined but sophisticated design of #! appealed to me. Right now I'm running #! lite, but still just getting used to how everything works. I read a basic introduction to using the terminal, and I definitely want to learn more on that, as it seems it makes everything a lot more efficient.

Not having too many problems so far, but just some curious issues. One major problem I'm having right now is that I can't get eee-control to work (which allows the function keys to work so I can adjust my brightness, etc), since my model of eee isn't supported quite yet. I've searched, but there is no fix quite yet, so I guess I'll have to be patient for an update. 

One curious thing is that when I plug in or unplug the power adaptor, my screen goes down to the lowest brightness setting. Strangely enough it goes back to full brightness if I put it to sleep and then wake it up. Dunno if this is just a bug, or a strange side effect I'll just have to deal with until I can get my brightness control working.

I'll definitely be lurking around here looking for advice, and hopefully helping in the future!

  • From: Lincoln, UK
  • Registered: 2008-11-20
  • Posts: 4,244

Re: New #! and Linux User

Hello chainsonviolet, welcome to the forums! smile

chainsonviolet wrote:

One curious thing is that when I plug in or unplug the power adaptor, my screen goes down to the lowest brightness setting. Strangely enough it goes back to full brightness if I put it to sleep and then wake it up. Dunno if this is just a bug, or a strange side effect I'll just have to deal with until I can get my brightness control working.

This could be related to power management, i.e. the screen brightness reducing to save battery power. I am not on my CrunchBang system at the moment, but can this be adjusted via the "Preferences -> Screensaver & Power Management" menu item?

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  • pvsage
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  • Registered: 2009-10-18
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Re: New #! and Linux User

You're half-way there, Philip.  Once you're at Screensaver Preferences, click the Power Management button and go to the On Battery Power tab.  Untick both checkboxes and your screen brightness will stay the same when you unplug.

While you're there, you might want to go back to the On AC Power tab and set your screen brightness to something you find comfortable.  I think the default is 100%?  I don't like bright screens, so I usually roll it down to 30%.  YMMV.

while ( ! ( succeed = try() ) );
  • Registered: 2010-02-02
  • Posts: 7

Re: New #! and Linux User

Funny thing is, I've tried this before. The "Reduce backlight brightness" checkbox under On Battery Power is unchecked, and it still reduces the brightness when I unplug it. Also, if it's on full brightness, using battery power, and then plug the power adapter in, it also reduces the brightness to minimum.

pvsage, I'm not seeing the screen brightness option under On AC Power on my menu. I'm running #! lite, so maybe there is a difference here?

Thanks for the prompt replies!

  • pvsage
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Re: New #! and Linux User

These settings tend to "take" best if you adjust them when on AC power.

The "Set display brightness to" slider should be directly underneath "Put display to sleep when inactive for" in the Display section.  Here's the settings I use on my netbook:
http://omploader.org/tM2ZyZw http://omploader.org/tM2ZyaA http://omploader.org/tM2ZyaQ

Last edited by pvsage (2010-02-03 14:30:24)

while ( ! ( succeed = try() ) );
  • Registered: 2010-02-02
  • Posts: 7

Re: New #! and Linux User

Here are some screenshots of what I see when under that menu.

http://omploader.org/tM2Z3ag http://omploader.org/tM2Z3aw

I seem to be missing a few sliders and options.

Another tidbit is that no matter if I'm plugged in or not, when I boot up, brightness is reset down to the lowest setting again. However, putting it to sleep and waking back up always works to get the brightness back up to max.

  • pvsage
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Re: New #! and Linux User

Bonus round:  Are you using 8.10 or 9.04?

while ( ! ( succeed = try() ) );
  • Registered: 2010-02-02
  • Posts: 7

Re: New #! and Linux User

I'm running 9.04.

  • pvsage
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Re: New #! and Linux User

Odd.  Maybe the options are hardware-specific?  You wouldn't happen to know what kind of graphics your Eee has?
hmm
If you untick "Reduce backlight brightness" that should at least make the brightness stable between AC & battery operation.

:idea: Have you run `sudo apt-get update` and `sudo apt-get dist-upgrade` from a terminal?  Maybe the version of the power management panel that ships with #! is out of date.  After a fresh install, I never change any settings until after I've run the above commands (or the Synaptic equivalent).

while ( ! ( succeed = try() ) );
  • Registered: 2010-02-02
  • Posts: 7

Re: New #! and Linux User

Odd is right. One of my more linux-familiar friends also has no idea what might be going on.  My eee is a very new model (1005peb), so support is hard to find at the moment (eee-control doesn't support it at all, so I'm looking for another solution to get my function keys working).

Only thing I can really find on the graphics in it is that it's Intel UMA.

I thought I did do an upgrade, but maybe I did something else. I'll try it again, and see what happens.

  • Registered: 2010-02-02
  • Posts: 7

Re: New #! and Linux User

Well it did update some things when I ran 'sudo apt-get dist-upgrade'  but nothing changed.  Another interesting tidbit; brightness goes to minimum when I reboot as well. Perhaps I should post this in another thread, to see if anyone else has ideas.

  • Registered: 2010-07-19
  • Posts: 1

Re: New #! and Linux User

Hi there... this might be a bit old, but i think it`s helpful nonetheless...

I had the same problem with linux mint.... what I did, that solved everything, was:

1. in terminal edit one of the three following files (the one that isn't blank when you open it)

sudo gedit /boot/grub/menu.lst

or

sudo gedit /boot/grub/grub.conf

or

sudo gedit /etc/default/grub

2. once in the file, look for the line that actually boots the kernel (usually ends with "...splash") and after a space from "splash" add:

acpi_osi=Linux acpi_backlight=vendor

3. save (if it doesn't allow you, you might have forgotten to edit as root -sudo!!).

4. back in terminal run:

sudo apt-get upgrade grub

5. reboot.

After that, you should have any problem with the backlight... plus, you should get the Fn volume keys working and everything.
Hope it helps, let us know how it goes.

Last edited by fioghual (2010-07-19 15:19:15)