Problems with Brightness

[FlareDerg]

I've got a problem with brightness. I've had Mint for a little while but haven't been on it in quite some time. Recently updated from 17 to 18, and when I went to log in afterward I was stuck at the highest brightness I could go.
I wasn't too worried at first because this is what happened when I first installed Mint. So I went through all the old stuff, checked to see if xbacklight made it through the update and rebooted my laptop. Still highest brightness. I've gone on to look at all the old ask me stuff about brightness and try to do them but so far I've had no progress in changing it. when I press the buttons on my keyboard it shows the bar moving up or down, same thing if I go to the power icon and move the slider there, but the brightness does not change one bit

Here is my laptop Specs

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System:    Host: flare-Lenovo-G50-45 Kernel: 4.4.0-97-generic x86_64 (64 bit gcc: 5.4.0)
           Desktop: Cinnamon 3.0.7 (Gtk 3.18.9-1ubuntu3.3)
           Distro: Linux Mint 18 Sarah
Machine:   System: LENOVO product: 80E3 v: Lenovo G50-45
           Mobo: LENOVO model: Lancer 5B2 v: 31900058 WIN
           Bios: LENOVO v: A2CN26WW(V1.08) date: 10/29/2014
CPU:       Quad core AMD A8-6410 APU with AMD Radeon R5 Graphics (-MCP-) cache: 8192 KB
           flags: (lm nx sse sse2 sse3 sse4_1 sse4_2 sse4a ssse3 svm) bmips: 15969
           clock speeds: max: 2000 MHz 1: 1200 MHz 2: 1000 MHz 3: 1800 MHz
           4: 1000 MHz
Graphics:  Card: Advanced Micro Devices [AMD/ATI] Mullins [Radeon R4/R5 Graphics]
           bus-ID: 00:01.0
           Display Server: X.Org 1.18.4 drivers: fbdev,ati (unloaded: vesa,radeon)
           Resolution: 1366x768@76.00hz
           GLX Renderer: Gallium 0.4 on llvmpipe (LLVM 4.0, 128 bits)
           GLX Version: 3.0 Mesa 17.0.7 Direct Rendering: Yes
Audio:     Card-1 Advanced Micro Devices [AMD] FCH Azalia Controller
           driver: snd_hda_intel bus-ID: 00:14.2
           Card-2 Advanced Micro Devices [AMD/ATI] Kabini HDMI/DP Audio
           driver: snd_hda_intel bus-ID: 00:01.1
           Card-3 Logitech driver: USB Audio usb-ID: 001-006
           Sound: Advanced Linux Sound Architecture v: k4.4.0-97-generic
Network:   Card-1: Realtek RTL8723BE PCIe Wireless Network Adapter
           driver: rtl8723be port: 3000 bus-ID: 01:00.0
           IF: wlan0 state: up mac: <filter>
           Card-2: Realtek RTL8111/8168/8411 PCI Express Gigabit Ethernet Controller
           driver: r8169 v: 2.3LK-NAPI port: 2000 bus-ID: 02:00.0
           IF: eth0 state: down mac: <filter>
Drives:    HDD Total Size: 500.1GB (5.5% used)
           ID-1: /dev/sda model: WDC_WD5000LPCX size: 500.1GB
Partition: ID-1: / size: 131G used: 23G (18%) fs: ext4 dev: /dev/sda7
           ID-2: swap-1 size: 4.00GB used: 0.00GB (0%) fs: swap dev: /dev/sda8
RAID:      No RAID devices: /proc/mdstat, md_mod kernel module present
Sensors:   System Temperatures: cpu: 56.0C mobo: N/A
           Fan Speeds (in rpm): cpu: N/A
Info:      Processes: 175 Uptime: 13 min Memory: 1333.2/6936.1MB
           Init: systemd runlevel: 5 Gcc sys: 5.4.0
           Client: Shell (bash 4.3.481) inxi: 2.2.35 

Any help would be nice if possible.

[Pjotr]

Try this progressive scheme:
https://sites.google.com/site/easylinux ... adjustable
(item 6 and further, left column)

In this case (AMD graphics) you'd probably best start at 6.3, which is in the column on the right.

If that doesn't help, install the latest kernel from the 4.11 series, reboot and try again.
Update Manager - panel: View - Linux kernels

[FlareDerg]

Unfortunately that link you sent was probably the first thing I did when searching around, went all the way through and still no differences. Just updated the kernal to 4.11.0-14 So should I try going through the list again?

EDIT: I also forgot to mention that for some reason it's running in software rendering mode despite me setting it to a normal session. Would that also affect how I can change the brightness or settings?

[Pjotr]

You might try a BIOS update (when available; check the support section of the Lenovo website).

[FlareDerg]

Okay, went through the GRUB and loaded the system in recovery mode, checked for any problems to fix there and updated the GRUB if necessary, so no longer running in software render mode for no reason, just have the problem with brightness now, so I'll try running through the website checklist again to see if that can help any

[FlareDerg]

Interestingly enough, when I go through xrandr and try to find the default brightness, I come out with this result

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xrandr | grep -w connected | cut -f1 -d" "
xrandr: Failed to get size of gamma for output default
default

[phd21]

Hi "FlareDerg",

I just read your post and the good replies to it. Here are my thoughts on this as well.

1.) Previous posts regarding brightness
- Screen too bright
- has links to various brightness applications
viewtopic.php?f=47&t=247674&hilit=brightness

- Re: brightness
viewtopic.php?f=56&t=244054&hilit=brightness



2.) You can also use the various "Night Shift" type applications to control screen brightness and or temperature colors as some call it. Like: "F.Lux", "Redshift", "Iris", etc... "Iris" has options specifically for Brightness and Bluelight. I have redshift installed which automatically changes my screen depending upon the time of day, but I can mouse over its system tray icon and use the mouse wheel to adjust the screen's "temperature" which is sort of like adjusting the brightness.

Get Night Shift Feature In Ubuntu Linux With "f.lux", March 3, 2017
https://itsfoss.com/night-shift-flux-ubuntu-linux/

Redshift
http://jonls.dk/redshift/

Iris - has various versions including an "Iris mini" which uses very little system resources.
Iris
https://iristech.co/iris/

Iris Mini
https://iristech.co/iris-mini-linux/


Hope this helps ...