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[SOLVED] Function key on Asus Laptop

PostPosted: Dec 31st, '13, 16:26
by aldevar
Hi,

First excuse me for my approximative english.
I was using Ubuntu 13.10 on my Asus UX32VD laptop because it was the only linux distro that support the fn keys on ma laptop. I wanted to get back on Mageia so I recently installed Mageia 3.
All is OK, except some fn keys.
fn + f1 (Zz) => OK
fn + f2 (toggle wifi) => Nothing happens
fn + f3/f4 (decrease, increase keyboard backlight) => Nothing happens
fn + f5/f6 (decrease, increase screen brightness) => Nothing happens
fn + f7 (turn off Screen 0) => OK
fn + f8 (toggle screens) => Not tested
fn + f9 (toggle trackpad) => Nothing happens
fn + f10/f11/f12 (mute, decrease, increase volume) => OK

using the tool xev, I can see that when I hit the combination keys to increase or decrease the brightness, xev sees nothing, so, it seems to be a kernel problem.
To be able to modifiy the screen brightness, I have to manually modify the file using echo :
Code: Select all
echo 900 > sys/class/backlight/intel_backlight/brightness

Or, to modify the keyboard backlight :
Code: Select all
echo 3 > /sys/class/leds/asus::kbd_backligh/brighness


I found some old bug report about this problem in Mageia 2, the problem is still present in Mageia 3. Do you know if it will be solved in Magiea 4?
Or maybe do you know how to solve this problem in Mageia 3 ?

Regards,

Re: Function key on Asus Laptop

PostPosted: Dec 31st, '13, 19:18
by doktor5000
aldevar wrote:I found some old bug report about this problem in Mageia 2, the problem is still present in Mageia 3. Do you know if it will be solved in Magiea 4?

Could you at least provide a link to that bugreport?

For the function keys also check http://www.linlap.com/asus_ux32vd#keyboard_backlight
Maybe it would have been an idea to look in Ubuntu how they got it working, you could use that on Mageia now.

Also please provide the output as root of
Code: Select all
lsmod | grep asus

Re: Function key on Asus Laptop

PostPosted: Dec 31st, '13, 19:21
by aldevar

Re: Function key on Asus Laptop

PostPosted: Dec 31st, '13, 19:25
by doktor5000
Please also see the above additions in my post.

For the bugreport, maybe you haven't read the last comment: https://bugs.mageia.org/show_bug.cgi?id=7857#c7

Mageia 2 is no longer maintained, which means that it will not receive any further security or bug fix updates. As a result we are closing this bug.

If you can reproduce this bug against a currently maintained version of Mageia please feel free to click on "Version" change it against that version of Mageia and reopen this bug.


So nobody will work on this bug until it has been reopened and confirmed for Mageia 3.

Re: Function key on Asus Laptop

PostPosted: Jan 1st, '14, 13:37
by blas
Have you tried modifying the boot parameters?

I had to add the acpi_osi="!Windows 2012" boot flag to the kernel to make my fn brightness key to work on a dell vostro 5470. (using mageia 4)

To modify the boot parameters open up MCC/boot/setup boot system/next/modify there at the and of the append field you can add additional flags: acpi_osi="x"
where x can be "!Windows 2012" or "Linux" or "Windows" ... For me the first option worked.

Re: Function key on Asus Laptop

PostPosted: Jan 1st, '14, 21:09
by paultgg
I've reopened the bug report (the brightness keys aren't working on my wife's Asus x202e).

Re: Function key on Asus Laptop

PostPosted: Jan 1st, '14, 21:18
by paultgg
....aaaaaand having looked at the Mageia 3 errata, adding

acpi_osi="!Windows 2012"

To the grub boot options seems to fix the issue on the x202e.

Re: Function key on Asus Laptop

PostPosted: Jan 2nd, '14, 12:59
by wintpe
for KDE i did

Using the "system setting" -> short cuts and gestures ->

global keyboard shortcuts -> kde-componant (kde-daemon) -> i set all the non working shortcuts to ALT-F{} versions of there FN key. this works fine for brightness, sleep, int/external monitor.

that was with asus zenbook prime.

hope thats provides an alternative.

regards peter

Re: Function key on Asus Laptop

PostPosted: Jan 3rd, '14, 12:38
by aldevar
Hi,

Thank you all for these informations.
I added acpi_osi="!Windows 2012" to the boot options and I can now change de screen brightness.

Thank you all for your help!

Re: [SOLVED]Function key on Asus Laptop

PostPosted: Jan 3rd, '14, 12:45
by aldevar
BTW, this trick also brings a solution to other problems :
- My laptop was unable to shutdown properly. The shutdown process was stopped at [acpid : exiting]. Then, I had to manually shutdown the computer, using the power button. Now, Reboot and Shutdown works well.
- Managing energy works better. While on battery, KDE is now able to decrease brightness by itself.

I hope this will work out of the box with Mageia 4.

Thanks again for your help