I’ll be writing with as much detail as I remember. Hopefully I’ll help somebody learn something. I’m sorry if this is too verbose for those with more knowledge, though I would love to see more of this kind of post.
Since many days ago, I’ve been unable to modify my Pocket Reform’s screen’s brightness. After running apt full-upgrade yesterday, though, I noticed I could modify it again. Until the next reboot, that’s it.
I ran apt-file list reform-tools | grep /bin | less to list all reform tools.
Running reform-check gave me a lead:
E: mnt_sc is not loaded (likely broken: battery status, brightness control and poweroff)
E: /usr/lib/modules/7.1.5-mnt-reform-arm64/kernel/drivers/firmware/mnt-sc.ko{.xz} does not exist
This file is contained in the package linux-modules-7.1.5-mnt-reform-arm64, found by using apt-file search mnt-reform-arm64. So I tried to execute dpkg-reconfigure linux-image-7.1.5-mnt-reform-arm64. Lo and behold, I could modify my screen’s brightness again! It outputted the following:
/etc/kernel/preinst.d/dkms:
dkms: removing module reform2_lpc/1.88 for kernel 7.1.5-mnt-reform-arm64 (aarch64)
Module reform2_lpc/1.88 for kernel 7.1.5-mnt-reform-arm64 (aarch64):
Before uninstall, this module version was ACTIVE on this kernel.
Deleting /lib/modules/7.1.5-mnt-reform-arm64/updates/dkms/reform2_lpc.ko.xz
Running depmod... done.
/etc/kernel/postinst.d/dkms:
Sign command: /lib/modules/7.1.5-mnt-reform-arm64/build/scripts/sign-file
Signing key: /var/lib/dkms/mok.key
Public certificate (MOK): /var/lib/dkms/mok.pub
Autoinstall of module reform2_lpc/1.88 for kernel 7.1.5-mnt-reform-arm64 (aarch64)
Building module(s).... done.
Signing module /var/lib/dkms/reform2_lpc/1.88/build/reform2_lpc.ko
Installing /lib/modules/7.1.5-mnt-reform-arm64/updates/dkms/reform2_lpc.ko.xz
Running depmod...... done.
Autoinstall on 7.1.5-mnt-reform-arm64 succeeded for module(s) reform2_lpc.
/etc/kernel/postinst.d/initramfs-tools:
update-initramfs: Generating /boot/initrd.img-7.1.5-mnt-reform-arm64
I: skipping reform_set_root in favour of flash_kernel_set_root
I: The initramfs will attempt to resume from /dev/nvme0n1p1
I: (UUID=0b29cc8f-5e9c-422e-8bed-2cd61ad89d16)
I: Set the RESUME variable to override this.
Using DTB: rockchip/rk3588-mnt-pocket-reform.dtb
Installing /usr/lib/linux-image-7.1.5-mnt-reform-arm64/rockchip/rk3588-mnt-pocket-reform.dtb into /boot/dtbs/7.1.5-mnt-reform-arm64/rockchip/rk3588-mnt-pocket-reform.dtb
Taking backup of rk3588-mnt-pocket-reform.dtb.
Installing new rk3588-mnt-pocket-reform.dtb.
flash-kernel: deferring update (trigger activated)
/etc/kernel/postinst.d/zz-flash-kernel:
Using DTB: rockchip/rk3588-mnt-pocket-reform.dtb
Installing /usr/lib/linux-image-7.1.5-mnt-reform-arm64/rockchip/rk3588-mnt-pocket-reform.dtb into /boot/dtbs/7.1.5-mnt-reform-arm64/rockchip/rk3588-mnt-pocket-reform.dtb
Taking backup of rk3588-mnt-pocket-reform.dtb.
Installing new rk3588-mnt-pocket-reform.dtb.
flash-kernel: deferring update (trigger activated)
/usr/share/kernel/postinst.d/zz-reform-bootspec:
I: Now running: /usr/share/kernel/postinst.d/zz-reform-bootspec 7.1.5-mnt-reform-arm64 /boot/vmlinuz-7.1.5-mnt-reform-arm64
I: with DEB_MAINT_PARAMS=configure 7.1.5-1+reform20260803T142422Z
I: installed /boot/loader/entries/meson-g12b-bananapi-cm4-mnt-pocket-reform-7.1.5-mnt-reform-arm64.conf
I: installed /boot/loader/entries/qcs6490-mnt-pocket-reform-7.1.5-mnt-reform-arm64.conf
I: installed /boot/loader/entries/qcs8550-mnt-pocket-reform-7.1.5-mnt-reform-arm64.conf
I: installed /boot/loader/entries/rk3588-mnt-pocket-reform-7.1.5-mnt-reform-arm64.conf
I: installed /boot/loader/entries/imx8mp-mnt-pocket-reform-7.1.5-mnt-reform-arm64.conf
I: installed /boot/loader/entries/imx8mq-mnt-reform2-hdmi-7.1.5-mnt-reform-arm64.conf
I: installed /boot/loader/entries/meson-g12b-bananapi-cm4-mnt-reform2-7.1.5-mnt-reform-arm64.conf
I: installed /boot/loader/entries/fsl-ls1028a-mnt-reform2-7.1.5-mnt-reform-arm64.conf
I: installed /boot/loader/entries/qcs6490-mnt-reform2-7.1.5-mnt-reform-arm64.conf
I: installed /boot/loader/entries/qcs8550-mnt-reform2-7.1.5-mnt-reform-arm64.conf
I: installed /boot/loader/entries/rk3588-mnt-reform2-7.1.5-mnt-reform-arm64.conf
I: installed /boot/loader/entries/rk3588-mnt-reform2-dsi-7.1.5-mnt-reform-arm64.conf
I: installed /boot/loader/entries/imx8mp-mnt-reform2-7.1.5-mnt-reform-arm64.conf
I: installed /boot/loader/entries/imx8mq-mnt-reform2-7.1.5-mnt-reform-arm64.conf
I: installed /boot/loader/entries/qcs6490-mnt-reform-next-7.1.5-mnt-reform-arm64.conf
I: installed /boot/loader/entries/qcs8550-mnt-reform-next-7.1.5-mnt-reform-arm64.conf
I: installed /boot/loader/entries/rk3588-mnt-reform-next-7.1.5-mnt-reform-arm64.conf
I: installed /boot/loader/entries/rk3588-mnt-station-7.1.5-mnt-reform-arm64.conf
/etc/kernel/postinst.d/zz-reform-qcacld2:
Starting background process to update reform-qcacld2 driver package (for Wi-Fi) to match kernel version.
/etc/kernel/postinst.d/zz-reform-tools:
I: Now running: /etc/kernel/postinst.d/zz-reform-tools 7.1.5-mnt-reform-arm64 /boot/vmlinuz-7.1.5-mnt-reform-arm64
I: with DEB_MAINT_PARAMS=configure 7.1.5-1+reform20260803T142422Z
I: copying /usr/lib/modules/7.1.5-mnt-reform-arm64/dtb/amlogic/meson-g12b-bananapi-cm4-mnt-pocket-reform.dtb to /boot/dtbs/7.1.5-mnt-reform-arm64/amlogic/meson-g12b-bananapi-cm4-mnt-pocket-reform.dtb
I: copying /usr/lib/modules/7.1.5-mnt-reform-arm64/dtb/qcom/qcs6490-mnt-pocket-reform.dtb to /boot/dtbs/7.1.5-mnt-reform-arm64/qcom/qcs6490-mnt-pocket-reform.dtb
I: copying /usr/lib/modules/7.1.5-mnt-reform-arm64/dtb/qcom/qcs8550-mnt-pocket-reform.dtb to /boot/dtbs/7.1.5-mnt-reform-arm64/qcom/qcs8550-mnt-pocket-reform.dtb
I: copying /usr/lib/modules/7.1.5-mnt-reform-arm64/dtb/rockchip/rk3588-mnt-pocket-reform.dtb to /boot/dtbs/7.1.5-mnt-reform-arm64/rockchip/rk3588-mnt-pocket-reform.dtb
I: copying /usr/lib/modules/7.1.5-mnt-reform-arm64/dtb/freescale/imx8mp-mnt-pocket-reform.dtb to /boot/dtbs/7.1.5-mnt-reform-arm64/freescale/imx8mp-mnt-pocket-reform.dtb
I: copying /usr/lib/modules/7.1.5-mnt-reform-arm64/dtb/freescale/imx8mq-mnt-reform2-hdmi.dtb to /boot/dtbs/7.1.5-mnt-reform-arm64/freescale/imx8mq-mnt-reform2-hdmi.dtb
I: copying /usr/lib/modules/7.1.5-mnt-reform-arm64/dtb/amlogic/meson-g12b-bananapi-cm4-mnt-reform2.dtb to /boot/dtbs/7.1.5-mnt-reform-arm64/amlogic/meson-g12b-bananapi-cm4-mnt-reform2.dtb
I: copying /usr/lib/modules/7.1.5-mnt-reform-arm64/dtb/freescale/fsl-ls1028a-mnt-reform2.dtb to /boot/dtbs/7.1.5-mnt-reform-arm64/freescale/fsl-ls1028a-mnt-reform2.dtb
I: copying /usr/lib/modules/7.1.5-mnt-reform-arm64/dtb/qcom/qcs6490-mnt-reform2.dtb to /boot/dtbs/7.1.5-mnt-reform-arm64/qcom/qcs6490-mnt-reform2.dtb
I: copying /usr/lib/modules/7.1.5-mnt-reform-arm64/dtb/qcom/qcs8550-mnt-reform2.dtb to /boot/dtbs/7.1.5-mnt-reform-arm64/qcom/qcs8550-mnt-reform2.dtb
I: copying /usr/lib/modules/7.1.5-mnt-reform-arm64/dtb/rockchip/rk3588-mnt-reform2.dtb to /boot/dtbs/7.1.5-mnt-reform-arm64/rockchip/rk3588-mnt-reform2.dtb
I: copying /usr/lib/modules/7.1.5-mnt-reform-arm64/dtb/rockchip/rk3588-mnt-reform2-dsi.dtb to /boot/dtbs/7.1.5-mnt-reform-arm64/rockchip/rk3588-mnt-reform2-dsi.dtb
I: copying /usr/lib/modules/7.1.5-mnt-reform-arm64/dtb/freescale/imx8mp-mnt-reform2.dtb to /boot/dtbs/7.1.5-mnt-reform-arm64/freescale/imx8mp-mnt-reform2.dtb
I: copying /usr/lib/modules/7.1.5-mnt-reform-arm64/dtb/freescale/imx8mq-mnt-reform2.dtb to /boot/dtbs/7.1.5-mnt-reform-arm64/freescale/imx8mq-mnt-reform2.dtb
I: copying /usr/lib/modules/7.1.5-mnt-reform-arm64/dtb/qcom/qcs6490-mnt-reform-next.dtb to /boot/dtbs/7.1.5-mnt-reform-arm64/qcom/qcs6490-mnt-reform-next.dtb
I: copying /usr/lib/modules/7.1.5-mnt-reform-arm64/dtb/qcom/qcs8550-mnt-reform-next.dtb to /boot/dtbs/7.1.5-mnt-reform-arm64/qcom/qcs8550-mnt-reform-next.dtb
I: copying /usr/lib/modules/7.1.5-mnt-reform-arm64/dtb/rockchip/rk3588-mnt-reform-next.dtb to /boot/dtbs/7.1.5-mnt-reform-arm64/rockchip/rk3588-mnt-reform-next.dtb
I: copying /usr/lib/modules/7.1.5-mnt-reform-arm64/dtb/rockchip/rk3588-mnt-station.dtb to /boot/dtbs/7.1.5-mnt-reform-arm64/rockchip/rk3588-mnt-station.dtb
/etc/kernel/postinst.d/zz-u-boot-menu:
P: Checking for EXTLINUX directory... found.
P: Writing config for vmlinuz-7.1.5-mnt-reform-arm64...
P: Writing config for vmlinuz-7.1.3-mnt-reform-arm64...
P: Writing config for vmlinuz-7.0.10-mnt-reform-arm64...
Because sometimes package upgrades will restart one or more services, I thought to execute systemd list-units; try finding something amiss. It was a long shot, but I found out the reform-hw-setup.service unit had failed to activate:
UNIT LOAD ACTIVE SUB DESCRIPTION
● reform-hw-setup.service loaded failed failed MNT Reform Hardware Defaults Setup
If I execute systemctl start reform-hw-setup, there are two things I can see happen at the same time:
- Brightness dimms.
- Waybar turns unresponsive.
Waybar seems to unfreeze after a while, and it responds again to clicks. After that, I can modify my screen brightness again at will.
Unless I start reform-hw-setup.service manually, my system won’t recognize my screen.
Before starting the service, running brightnessctl reports a single device:
Device 'input5::compose' of class 'leds'
After it’s been started, brightnessctl reports the correct device and forgets about the leds:
Device 'mnt_pocket_reform_backlight' of class 'backlight':
Please, can anybody help me with this?