I can't adjust the screen brightness using the function keys (fn+f7/f8). This problem occurs on Xubuntu 10.10, 11.04-alpha2 (I haven't tested other versions). The version of xfce4-power-manager on 11.04-alpha2 is 1.0.3-0ubuntu1, and on 10.10 is 0.8.5-1ubuntu2 The laptop I am using is a Compaq 610. Other shortcuts (like adjusting volume, which is also done using function keys) are working fine. The current workaround I am doing is uninstalling xfce4-power-manager and installing gnome-power-manager, with which I can adjust the screen brightness using the function keys.
Also, turning numlock on or off doesn't solve the problem.
Can you run: xfce4-power-manager --debug Then press one of the brightness keys, attach everything here please.
I booted Xubuntu 11.04-alpha2 live cd and closed the already-running instance of xfce4-power-manager and then opened the terminal, checked the version of xfce4-power-manager, ran it passing the debug option, pressed the brightness down buttons twice, then the brightness up buttons twice, then closed the xfce4-power-manager. ------- ubuntu@ubuntu:~$ xfce4-power-manager -V Xfce Power Manager 1.0.3 Part of the Xfce Goodies Project http://goodies.xfce.org Licensed under the GNU GPL. ubuntu@ubuntu:~$ xfce4-power-manager --debug TRACE[xfpm-main.c:200] xfpm_start(): Starting the power manager TRACE[xfpm-xfconf.c:154] xfpm_xfconf_load(): Using default configuration for general-notification TRACE[xfpm-xfconf.c:154] xfpm_xfconf_load(): Using default configuration for lock-screen-suspend-hibernate TRACE[xfpm-xfconf.c:154] xfpm_xfconf_load(): Using default configuration for power-save-on-battery TRACE[xfpm-xfconf.c:154] xfpm_xfconf_load(): Using default configuration for enable-cpu-freq-control TRACE[xfpm-xfconf.c:154] xfpm_xfconf_load(): Using default configuration for critical-power-level TRACE[xfpm-xfconf.c:154] xfpm_xfconf_load(): Using default configuration for show-brightness-popup TRACE[xfpm-xfconf.c:154] xfpm_xfconf_load(): Using default configuration for change-brightness-on-key-events TRACE[xfpm-xfconf.c:154] xfpm_xfconf_load(): Using default configuration for show-tray-icon TRACE[xfpm-xfconf.c:154] xfpm_xfconf_load(): Using default configuration for critical-power-action TRACE[xfpm-xfconf.c:154] xfpm_xfconf_load(): Using default configuration for hibernate-button-action TRACE[xfpm-xfconf.c:154] xfpm_xfconf_load(): Using default configuration for sleep-button-action TRACE[xfpm-xfconf.c:154] xfpm_xfconf_load(): Using default configuration for lid-action-on-ac TRACE[xfpm-xfconf.c:154] xfpm_xfconf_load(): Using default configuration for lid-action-on-battery TRACE[xfpm-xfconf.c:154] xfpm_xfconf_load(): Using default configuration for dpms-enabled TRACE[xfpm-xfconf.c:154] xfpm_xfconf_load(): Using default configuration for dpms-on-ac-sleep TRACE[xfpm-xfconf.c:154] xfpm_xfconf_load(): Using default configuration for dpms-on-ac-off TRACE[xfpm-xfconf.c:154] xfpm_xfconf_load(): Using default configuration for dpms-on-battery-sleep TRACE[xfpm-xfconf.c:154] xfpm_xfconf_load(): Using default configuration for dpms-on-battery-off TRACE[xfpm-xfconf.c:154] xfpm_xfconf_load(): Using default configuration for dpms-sleep-mode TRACE[xfpm-xfconf.c:154] xfpm_xfconf_load(): Using default configuration for inactivity-on-ac TRACE[xfpm-xfconf.c:154] xfpm_xfconf_load(): Using default configuration for inactivity-on-battery TRACE[xfpm-xfconf.c:154] xfpm_xfconf_load(): Using default configuration for inactivity-sleep-mode TRACE[xfpm-xfconf.c:154] xfpm_xfconf_load(): Using default configuration for brightness-on-ac TRACE[xfpm-xfconf.c:154] xfpm_xfconf_load(): Using default configuration for brightness-on-battery TRACE[xfpm-xfconf.c:154] xfpm_xfconf_load(): Using default configuration for spin-down-on-ac TRACE[xfpm-xfconf.c:154] xfpm_xfconf_load(): Using default configuration for spin-down-on-battery TRACE[xfpm-xfconf.c:154] xfpm_xfconf_load(): Using default configuration for spin-down-on-ac-timeout TRACE[xfpm-xfconf.c:154] xfpm_xfconf_load(): Using default configuration for spin-down-on-battery-timeout TRACE[xfpm-power.c:949] xfpm_power_get_power_devices(): Power device detected at : /org/freedesktop/UPower/devices/line_power_C244 TRACE[xfpm-power.c:949] xfpm_power_get_power_devices(): Power device detected at : /org/freedesktop/UPower/devices/battery_C245 TRACE[xfpm-power.c:906] xfpm_power_add_device(): Battery device detected at : /org/freedesktop/UPower/devices/battery_C245: ((XfpmDeviceType) XFPM_DEVICE_TYPE_BATTERY) TRACE[xfpm-battery.c:135] xfpm_battery_refresh_visible(): visible=TRUE: ((XfpmShowIcon) SHOW_ICON_WHEN_BATTERY_PRESENT) TRACE[xfpm-battery.c:165] xfpm_battery_refresh_icon(): Battery state 4 TRACE[xfpm-power.c:1048] xfpm_power_refresh_adaptor_visible(): Tray icon configuration: : ((XfpmShowIcon) SHOW_ICON_WHEN_BATTERY_PRESENT) TRACE[xfpm-power.c:1013] xfpm_power_hide_adapter_icon(): Hide adaptor icon TRACE[xfpm-polkit.c:327] xfpm_polkit_init_data(): Using unix session polkit subject TRACE[xfpm-polkit.c:414] xfpm_polkit_check_auth_intern(): Action=org.freedesktop.upower.suspend is authorized=TRUE TRACE[xfpm-polkit.c:414] xfpm_polkit_check_auth_intern(): Action=org.freedesktop.upower.hibernate is authorized=TRUE TRACE[xfpm-power.c:1048] xfpm_power_refresh_adaptor_visible(): Tray icon configuration: : ((XfpmShowIcon) SHOW_ICON_WHEN_BATTERY_PRESENT) TRACE[xfpm-power.c:1013] xfpm_power_hide_adapter_icon(): Hide adaptor icon TRACE[xfpm-button.c:179] xfpm_button_xevent_key(): Grabbed key 124 : ((XfpmButtonKey) BUTTON_POWER_OFF) (xfce4-power-manager:3594): xfce4-power-manager-WARNING **: could not map keysym 1008ffa8 to keycode TRACE[xfpm-button.c:179] xfpm_button_xevent_key(): Grabbed key 213 : ((XfpmButtonKey) BUTTON_HIBERNATE) TRACE[xfpm-button.c:179] xfpm_button_xevent_key(): Grabbed key 150 : ((XfpmButtonKey) BUTTON_SLEEP) TRACE[xfpm-button.c:179] xfpm_button_xevent_key(): Grabbed key 233 : ((XfpmButtonKey) BUTTON_MON_BRIGHTNESS_UP) TRACE[xfpm-button.c:179] xfpm_button_xevent_key(): Grabbed key 232 : ((XfpmButtonKey) BUTTON_MON_BRIGHTNESS_DOWN) TRACE[xfpm-polkit.c:414] xfpm_polkit_check_auth_intern(): Action=org.freedesktop.udisks.drive-set-spindown is authorized=TRUE TRACE[xfpm-disks.c:170] xfpm_disks_get_is_auth_to_spin(): Is auth to spin down disks : 1 TRACE[xfpm-disks.c:147] xfpm_disks_set_spin_timeouts(): On Battery=0 spin_down_enabled=0 timeout=800 ** (xfce4-power-manager:3594): WARNING **: No outputs have backlight property ** (xfce4-power-manager:3594): WARNING **: failed to get value: Failed to execute child process "/usr/sbin/xfpm-power-backlight-helper" (No such file or directory) ** (xfce4-power-manager:3594): DEBUG: xfpm_brightness_setup_helper: get-max-brightness returned -1 ** (xfce4-power-manager:3594): DEBUG: no brightness controls available TRACE[xfpm-button.c:114] xfpm_button_filter_x_events(): Key press: ((XfpmButtonKey) BUTTON_MON_BRIGHTNESS_DOWN) TRACE[xfpm-manager.c:259] xfpm_manager_button_pressed_cb(): Received button press event: ((XfpmButtonKey) BUTTON_MON_BRIGHTNESS_DOWN) TRACE[xfpm-button.c:114] xfpm_button_filter_x_events(): Key press: ((XfpmButtonKey) BUTTON_MON_BRIGHTNESS_DOWN) TRACE[xfpm-manager.c:259] xfpm_manager_button_pressed_cb(): Received button press event: ((XfpmButtonKey) BUTTON_MON_BRIGHTNESS_DOWN) TRACE[xfpm-button.c:114] xfpm_button_filter_x_events(): Key press: ((XfpmButtonKey) BUTTON_MON_BRIGHTNESS_UP) TRACE[xfpm-manager.c:259] xfpm_manager_button_pressed_cb(): Received button press event: ((XfpmButtonKey) BUTTON_MON_BRIGHTNESS_UP) TRACE[xfpm-button.c:114] xfpm_button_filter_x_events(): Key press: ((XfpmButtonKey) BUTTON_MON_BRIGHTNESS_UP) TRACE[xfpm-manager.c:259] xfpm_manager_button_pressed_cb(): Received button press event: ((XfpmButtonKey) BUTTON_MON_BRIGHTNESS_UP) TRACE[xfpm-manager.c:686] xfpm_manager_dbus_quit(): Quit message received TRACE[xfpm-manager.c:164] xfpm_manager_quit(): Exiting TRACE[xfpm-power.c:1013] xfpm_power_hide_adapter_icon(): Hide adaptor icon TRACE[xfpm-polkit.c:197] xfpm_polkit_free_data(): Destroying Polkit data
** (xfce4-power-manager:3594): WARNING **: failed to get value: Failed to execute child process "/usr/sbin/xfpm-power-backlight-helper" (No such file or directory) Oops, looks like we forgot to ship the helper in the Debian/Ubuntu package... I guess it'll work better with it...