Screen blacks out after adjusting backlight

Hi, New to Arch but have been using Linux for quite some time.
I am having a very odd problem with my laptop's backlight. After adjusting the backlight with the function keys, my screen will go black with a few random color blocks (it happens when I turn the brightness down very low, then try to turn it back up). I can't recover from this and have to restart the laptop using the power button. I had no issues with Windows, OpenSUSE, and Fedora.
Possible theory: I am thinking maybe the function key, on the other OSs, had a binding and adjust the backlight through an OS function, but with no key binding, its being passed on to some piece of hardware...but I have no clue.
This doesn't happen if I adjust it using dell_backlight or radeon_b10.
here is my backlight directory (acpi_video0 turned into dell_backlight after adding acpi_osi=Linux acpi_backlight=vendor to the kernel parameters)
[22:14][ygamal:/sys/class/backlight]$ ls -al
total 0
drwxr-xr-x 2 root root 0 Dec 4 21:57 .
drwxr-xr-x 43 root root 0 Dec 4 21:57 ..
lrwxrwxrwx 1 root root 0 Dec 4 22:14 dell_backlight -> ../../devices/platform/dell-laptop/backlight/dell_backlight
lrwxrwxrwx 1 root root 0 Dec 4 22:14 radeon_bl0 -> ../../devices/pci0000:00/0000:00:01.0/0000:02:00.0/drm/card0/card0-LVDS-1/radeon_bl0
Video Card (xf86-video-ati driver):
[22:18][ygamal:/sys/class/backlight]$ lspci | grep VGA
02:00.0 VGA compatible controller: Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. [AMD/ATI] Park [Mobility Radeon HD 5430/5450/5470]
xbacklight:
[22:24][ygamal:/sys/class/backlight]$ xbacklight
No outputs have backlight property
Does anyone know the default function key behavior in arch? I think its possible I could bind the function key to adjust one of the backlight drivers and be done with this, but I am curious what is going on. Thanks for any help!
Last edited by Seefo (2013-12-05 02:37:53)

Sounds to me like an issue that requires service.
You can arrange online service here.
Service request.
Or if an Apple store is near you, take it there and have them check your iPod.
You can make an appointment by using this link.
Genius Bar Appointments.

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first of all my laptop is : HP Pavilion dv6-6160se Entertainment Notebook
to the problem now
A few days ago my laptops screen started out of a sudden shutting down/turning black( no lights at all ). This was happening while using the laptop at random. The screen had no lights, and if i use a flashlight on it there is nothing. like its turned off completelly.
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View Solution.

Hi @Ntas
I have read through your post and it seems there are a couple of possibilities, and I noted that you have already tried several of the things I would normally suggest.
I will however post some of those links anyway for you to review, it is always possible there may be something in one of them that may have been missed or may inspire an idea of the cause. Since you mentioned that sometimes just moving the screen will cause the problem or make it disappear, that does seem like either a loose connection or maybe something like pressure on a part of the display causing the issue. Of course that last part may just mean the display is on its last legs, but hopefully not.
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Here are some other sources, that may be helpful to you.
Resolving Problems with Notebook Displays (Windows 7 and Windows 8)
Diagnosing a Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) for Damage
Also for your convenience here is the drivers page for your notebook.
HP Pavilion dv6-6160se Entertainment Notebook PC Drivers
I hope this all helps.
Malygris1
I work on behalf of HP
Please click Accept as Solution if you feel my post solved your issue, it will help others find the solution.
Click Kudos Thumbs Up on the right to say “Thanks” for helping!

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Screen blacks out after adjusting backlight

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