Framework 16 USB Confusion

On a Framework 16 laptop, I have seen the expansion slot guide
Expansion Card Slot functionality on Framework Laptop 16

I have an external USB3 hard drive. I have USB-C expansion cards in slots 1 & 2, and I have a USB-A expansion card in slot 3. When I plug the hard drive into slot 2 using a USB-A to USB-C adapter, it works. When I plug the drive into slot 3 using USB-A without the little conversion adapter, nothing happens. This expansion slot works for other peripherals. Why would slot 3 fail to recognize the existence of a drive that works on slot 2?

The drive has external wall power.

  • Ubuntu 24.04
  • AMD 7040 Series

It is probably a power issue.
On that web page, it says in a paragraph above the picture that ports 3,6 are lower power than the rest.

try swaping port 3 and 2. (put the type-C in 3 and type-A on 2); or just put type-A on 2 and try again.
You can also try flipping the cable (the A to C adapter).

He mentioned that his drive take external wall power (presumably a 3.5) enclosure

Interesting. When I put the USB-A in slot 2, it works. This still doesn’t explain why. (Thank you for reading my previous comment that the drive enclosure takes external wall power). I guess I don’t need any explanation why. I’ll just move on…
Thanks…

Whether is works in one slot and not another is a bit of a mystery.
Looking at the public schematic, it appears different ports are served by different USB chips.

I have found ports 1, 4 to be the most stable for data.
Ports 3 and 6 seem to be incompatible with a few devices.
Ports 2 and 5 seem to be compatible with more devices, but port 1, 4 seem to be the best.

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probably a dead cable or expansion card somewhere.

Extremely infrequently the 16 will think the port is still connected to something (on a USB expansion card), even though there isn’t. This again is probably a connection issue somewhere. Maybe dirty connector or something.

Nope. It’s as James3 said - Different ports are served by different USB chips. Ports 3 and 6 seem to be incompatible with a few devices. When I connect other devices to port 3 (whether using the USB-A or USB-C expansion card) they work, but this external drive does not work on port 3, and it’s not a power issue. All the devices work on Port 2, whether using USB-A or USB-C.

I was able to move on, by just swapping the expansion cards in ports 2 & 3, so my external drive is connected on port 2 via USB-A

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