1

Topic: Questions about used hardware

Hi. Unfortunately, I'm using Asus FX517ZM which is proprietary (aka modern). I can't change my screen brightness (my eyes are burning right now). My touchpad isn't working, neither my wifi.
I'm looking forward to contribute to this project.
Also I want to buy a new lap top, if you got any suggestions for a powerfull free lap top, feel free to share with me on XMPP mkoushan@macaw.me

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Re: Questions about used hardware

Does a distro like debian or Arch work on the laptop of which the touchpad doesn't work ?

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Re: Questions about used hardware

benyouyou wrote:

Does a distro like debian or Arch work on the laptop of which the touchpad doesn't work ?

Indeed. You can see my arch linux config here.

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Re: Questions about used hardware

mkoushan wrote:

Hi. Unfortunately, I'm using Asus FX517ZM which is proprietary (aka modern). I can't change my screen brightness (my eyes are burning right now). My touchpad isn't working, neither my wifi.
I'm looking forward to contribute to this project.
Also I want to buy a new lap top, if you got any suggestions for a powerfull free lap top, feel free to share with me on XMPP mkoushan@macaw.me

The program redshift may help change the screen brightness.

https://www.hyperbola.info/packages/?so … p;flagged=

There are also some programs for a touchpad.

https://www.hyperbola.info/packages/?so … p;flagged=

About wifi maybe this link will help.

https://wiki.hyperbola.info/doku.php?id … ed_working

I think there are other programs as well that may help. These may not be installed by the reference installation.

https://wiki.hyperbola.info/doku.php?id … stallation

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Re: Questions about used hardware

benyouyou wrote:

Does a distro like debian or Arch work on the laptop of which the touchpad doesn't work ?

I think some laptop touchpads work with a default install with Trisquel, but there may be some programs in Hyperbola as well as extra "config" files that may be setup first with Hyperbola.

I did not test the touchpad programs or setup any "config" for those yet though.

https://www.hyperbola.info/packages/?so … p;flagged=

So your touchpad may still be able to work with Hyperbola, though maybe programs have to be installed or/and "config" files have to be setup first.

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Re: Questions about used hardware

Other_Cody wrote:
mkoushan wrote:

Hi. Unfortunately, I'm using Asus FX517ZM which is proprietary (aka modern). I can't change my screen brightness (my eyes are burning right now). My touchpad isn't working, neither my wifi.
I'm looking forward to contribute to this project.
Also I want to buy a new lap top, if you got any suggestions for a powerfull free lap top, feel free to share with me on XMPP mkoushan@macaw.me

The program redshift may help change the screen brightness.

https://www.hyperbola.info/packages/?so … p;flagged=

There are also some programs for a touchpad.

https://www.hyperbola.info/packages/?so … p;flagged=

About wifi maybe this link will help.

https://wiki.hyperbola.info/doku.php?id … ed_working

I think there are other programs as well that may help. These may not be installed by the reference installation.

https://wiki.hyperbola.info/doku.php?id … stallation

Thanks for the afort. I installed redshift and it says:

Gamma ramp size too small: 0
Failed to start adjustment method randr.
Trying next method...
Using method `vidmode'.
Waiting for initial location to become available...
Location: XX.XX N, XX.XX E

and it won't work.

Also I did find the xenocara-input-synaptics before, it didn't change anything.
And indeed I read all the wiki, I know that my wifi firmware is proprietary and that's why it isn't working (I'm using my phone to connect)

7 (edited by Other_Cody 2024-07-19 18:51:47)

Re: Questions about used hardware

I'm using an Acer Aspire E 15.

I think at https://trisquel.info
there is a download for Trisquel's default installer, and I got a touchpad working with it's default install with my computer as well as redshift.

But I also may not get wifi to run with Trisquel on some newer computers. Though at this time it has an offline installer.

I also use Hyperbola, but also do not yet know how to setup redshift or my touchpad in Hyperbola.

I think Hyperbola may also use/start services to run some things.

So as to not have too many services or programs installed or running after the reference/default_like installation.

But both a touchpad and redshift may somehow still work on Hyperbola, I think, somehow.

Redshift shows

Failed to run Redshift
Trying location provider 'manual
Latitude and longitude must be set.

In a popup window (I think) when using it's launcher (I think) in the lumina desktop to start it.

And in a terminal it shows

[cody@localhost ~]$ redshift
Trying location provider `manual'...
Latitude and longitude must be set.

https://forums.hyperbola.info/viewtopic.php?id=1080

has some information about

lspci -v

and

aplay -l

I think those may help you see more about hardware information.

Maybe some extra programs or service needs to be started first, but I do not know yet.

I did not try redshift yet on that newer computer yet though, as I would likely need to get an external USB dongle to get source code to put redshift on it.

I think Hyperbola's roadmap shows v0.4.5 may have an offline installer.

https://wiki.hyperbola.info/doku.php?id … y_way_v045

Maybe a local/home folder config file can be changed so

Location: XX.XX N, XX.XX E

shows some sort of latitude and longitude.
As I think any may help, but I do not know yet.
Or what to change/where/how to change/find that file.

8 (edited by mkoushan 2024-07-19 18:57:32)

Re: Questions about used hardware

Other_Cody wrote:

...
shows some sort of latitude and longitude.
As I think any may help, but I do not know yet.
Or what to change/where/how to change/find that file.

Thanks, indeed I found this website which gives coordinates needed for redshift. Also I checked the manpage, you have to run the command something like this:

redshift -l LAT:LON -t 5700:3600 -g 0.1

but still no success.

Do anyone here knows how can I work with my hardware firmware so maybe I can program it manually? or even develop a free firmware for it, I would really appreciate it.

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Re: Questions about used hardware

mkoushan wrote:
Other_Cody wrote:

...
shows some sort of latitude and longitude.
As I think any may help, but I do not know yet.
Or what to change/where/how to change/find that file.

Thanks, indeed I found this website which gives coordinates needed for redshift. Also I checked the manpage, you have to run the command something like this:

redshift -l LAT:LON -t 5700:3600 -g 0.1

but still no success.

Do anyone here knows how can I work with my hardware firmware so maybe I can program it manually? or even develop a free firmware for it, I would really appreciate it.

redshift -l 0:0 -t 1000:25000 -g 0.1

Did change my screen color and brightness, but it may have been set too low. The color was mostly red and dark.

Maybe for setting and keeping a screen brightness set to something, xsct can work better.
I did not know about that before. Though still did not test that one yet.

https://www.hyperbola.info/packages/?so … p;flagged=

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Re: Questions about used hardware

I used xsct.

First I think I typed

xsct -c 0

than I tested

xsct 0.5 0.5

to dim the screen.

It was more dim.
Than

xsct 0.5 1.0

to get my screen bright again.

Though I do not yet know how to set redshift, but this may help dim a screen.
I did not check about getting a touchpad to work yet.

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Re: Questions about used hardware

I installed xenocara-input-synaptics with tkPacman and saw

xenocara-input-synaptics driver is on maintenance mode and
    xorg-input-evdev driver must be prefered over

but do not know about both of these yet.

I have xorg-input-evdev installed, but I do not know yet how to get my touchpad to work.

Though I hope xsct can help you set your screen brightness. As I think redshift shifts brightness with the time of day.

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Re: Questions about used hardware

The

/home/cody/.config/lumina-desktop

on my computer has a file called fluxbox-keys

in it that shows some shortcuts, in-case you do not have a mouse, but only a touchpad.

My user account on my computer is called cody.

I'm still looking for a way to get a touchpad to work.

I'm using the lumina desktop, but I just saw that I could somehow "use" by mistake the touchpad to "right click" in the badwolf browser by moving my finger back and forth on it or holding my finger on it.

Though I do not know how well that touchpad even works, even when I in use it with Trisquel.

I used other touchpads that worked better before. I do not yet know why this touchpad with any OS works(somewhat) the way it does.

In Trisquel I think the touchpad can be used to move the cursor, but it could also be something with the hardware on my touchpad, as I can only get a "right click" to work sometimes. Like when using the badwolf browser, but not the lumina desktop or insight.

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Re: Questions about used hardware

For issues with the touchpad, please look here for a solution: https://forums.hyperbola.info/viewtopic.php?id=1011

Human being in favor with clear principles and so also for freedom in soft- and hardware!

Certainly anyone who has the power to make you believe absurdities has the power to make you commit injustices: For a life of every being full with peace and kindness, including diversity and freedom. Capitalism is destroying our minds, the planet itself and the universe in the end!

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Re: Questions about used hardware

Thank you, throgh, jim, and maran for the information about getting a touchpad to work. My touchpad is working now.

Thank you mkoushan, for the information about the website.

I hope the information here and at the other post can also help both mkoushan and benyouyou, as well as others to get screen brightness and touchpad controls working well.

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Re: Questions about used hardware

Other_Cody wrote:

I used xsct.
...

I tried xsct and again, no success.

throgh wrote:

For issues with the touchpad, please look here for a solution: https://forums.hyperbola.info/viewtopic.php?id=1011

I did read this post before, both solutions did not work for me.

Do you know how can I work manually with my hardware?

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Re: Questions about used hardware

From my current information about the hardware: Not in those details you have mentioned. Especially because redshift and xsct would need also access to the screen-interfaces and not all are supported or offering those.

Human being in favor with clear principles and so also for freedom in soft- and hardware!

Certainly anyone who has the power to make you believe absurdities has the power to make you commit injustices: For a life of every being full with peace and kindness, including diversity and freedom. Capitalism is destroying our minds, the planet itself and the universe in the end!

17 (edited by benyouyou 2024-07-20 11:17:40)

Re: Questions about used hardware

Does executing: "echo 1000 > /sys/class/backlight/intel_backlight/brightness" change your brightness. Change "intel_backlight" according to what you have. You may need sudo and to change the "1000" value.

Also, which window manager or desktop environment do you use ?

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Re: Questions about used hardware

benyouyou wrote:

Does executing: "echo 1000 > /sys/class/backlight/intel_backlight/brightness" change your brightness. Change "intel_backlight" according to what you have. You may need root
Also, which window manager or desktop environment do you use ?

I use lumina desktop environment. I have checked what you suggest for doing before, I don't have anything in /sys/class/backlight

19 (edited by benyouyou 2024-07-20 11:25:11)

Re: Questions about used hardware

That's very strange. Because I too have an Asus laptop.

Does the "lumina-config" command offer an option for brightness ?

And is there a directory on Arch ?

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Re: Questions about used hardware

benyouyou wrote:

That's very strange. Because I too have an Asus laptop.

Does the "lumina-config" command offer an option for brightness ?

And is there a directory on Arch ?

no, lumina-config doesn't offer any option for my screen. It can't detect the resolutions either. I have to first boot into system bios configuration page (to make my resolution wider) then boot directly to the hyperbola to have the correct resolution (but still wrong refresh rate).
And yes, in Arch I had that. I even used to have my own script to change the brightness before switching to brighnessctl

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Re: Questions about used hardware

Ok, it seems you should follow this: https://bbs.archlinux.org/viewtopic.php?id=289989

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Re: Questions about used hardware

benyouyou wrote:

Ok, it seems you should follow this: https://bbs.archlinux.org/viewtopic.php?id=289989

modprobe: FATAL: Module ddcci_backlight not found in directory /lib/modules/5.10.191-gnu1-1-lts

I think I have to implement it myself

23 (edited by benyouyou 2024-07-20 11:50:29)

Re: Questions about used hardware

Just follow the "Installation" section at https://github.com/joshuataylor/ddcci-driver-linux (prefer dkms)

24 (edited by mkoushan 2024-07-20 12:29:33)

Re: Questions about used hardware

benyouyou wrote:

Just follow the "Installation" section at https://github.com/joshuataylor/ddcci-driver-linux (prefer dkms)

it doesn't compile.

make -C "ddcci"
make[1]: Entering directory '/home/koushan/projects/ddcci-driver-linux/ddcci'
make -C "/lib/modules/5.10.191-gnu1-1-lts/build" M="/home/koushan/projects/ddcci-driver-linux/ddcci" modules
make[2]: Entering directory '/home/koushan/projects/ddcci-driver-linux/ddcci'
make[2]: *** /lib/modules/5.10.191-gnu1-1-lts/build: No such file or directory.  Stop.
make[2]: Leaving directory '/home/koushan/projects/ddcci-driver-linux/ddcci'
make[1]: *** [Makefile:38: ddcci.ko] Error 2
make[1]: Leaving directory '/home/koushan/projects/ddcci-driver-linux/ddcci'
make: *** [Makefile:28: ddcci] Error 2

I checked Makefiles, I it sources build and extra folders in /lib/modules/5.10.191-gnu1-1-lts/ directory which does not exist.
I tried to find the needed folders in that directory but I did not.
I don't know much about Hyperbola kernel, how can I resolve this issue?

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Re: Questions about used hardware

throgh wrote:

From my current information about the hardware: Not in those details you have mentioned. Especially because redshift and xsct would need also access to the screen-interfaces and not all are supported or offering those.

lspci -v

May help people see some details about what hardware is being used. Maybe this could help with finding more details for throgh.

benyouyou wrote:

Does executing: "echo 1000 > /sys/class/backlight/intel_backlight/brightness" change your brightness. Change "intel_backlight" according to what you have. You may need sudo and to change the "1000" value.

Also, which window manager or desktop environment do you use ?

Hyperbola uses things like

doas

rc-service

but not sudo.

https://wiki.hyperbola.info/doku.php?id … complexity

For the touchpad I used

Section "InputClass"
    Identifier "touchpad"
    Driver "synaptics"
    MatchIsTouchpad "on"
        Option "TapButton1" "1"
        Option "TapButton2" "3"
        Option "TapButton3" "2"
        Option "VertEdgeScroll" "on"
        Option "VertTwoFingerScroll" "on"
        Option "HorizEdgeScroll" "on"
        Option "HorizTwoFingerScroll" "on"
        Option "CircularScrolling" "on"
        Option "CircScrollTrigger" "2"
        Option "EmulateTwoFingerMinZ" "40"
        Option "EmulateTwoFingerMinW" "8"
        Option "CoastingSpeed" "0"
        Option "FingerLow" "30"
        Option "FingerHigh" "50"
        Option "MaxTapTime" "180"
EndSection

The solution found/made by maran.

I think there is a file at

/etc/X11/xorg.conf.d/70-synaptics.conf

But I think local/home files may also be set. So as not to use root but user things.

I found out using both in some ways may cause problems.

https://forums.hyperbola.info/viewtopic.php?id=1080
https://forums.hyperbola.info/viewtopic.php?id=1078
https://forums.hyperbola.info/viewtopic.php?id=1079

I used LXTerminal to type in commands when I was using Lumina.

I also have the extra Lumina things.

I do not yet know if that makes much of a difference.

It may be that your screen does need access to the screen-interfaces.
Though I do not know what screen-interfaces you have.

mkoushan wrote:
benyouyou wrote:

Does executing: "echo 1000 > /sys/class/backlight/intel_backlight/brightness" change your brightness. Change "intel_backlight" according to what you have. You may need root
Also, which window manager or desktop environment do you use ?

I use lumina desktop environment. I have checked what you suggest for doing before, I don't have anything in /sys/class/backlight

Maybe a config file can be made for that. I do not know if it has to be in /sys/class/backlight
/etc/X11/xorg.conf.d/70-synaptics.conf

or could also be in a local/home

file.

mkoushan wrote:
benyouyou wrote:

That's very strange. Because I too have an Asus laptop.

Does the "lumina-config" command offer an option for brightness ?

And is there a directory on Arch ?

no, lumina-config doesn't offer any option for my screen. It can't detect the resolutions either. I have to first boot into system bios configuration page (to make my resolution wider) then boot directly to the hyperbola to have the correct resolution (but still wrong refresh rate).
And yes, in Arch I had that. I even used to have my own script to change the brightness before switching to brighnessctl


I do not know if Hyperbola can use an Arch script as Hyperbola is not based on Arch for some time now.

Will it be better to work on solving the screen brightness problem first or the touchscreen problem first?
These may be able to be solved one at a time.