I made the mistake (against all advice) of being one of the first group to purchase a Framework Laptop. I was so jazzed about supporting this project that I put 32 gigs of RAM in it, BIG HDD, bought tons of extra ports and was really excited when I received it.
Four months later, the power cord had frayed and had to be replaced. Then the fan went. Wi-Fi never worked no matter how many driver updates, BIOS updates I Installed. Nothing I tried tinkering with Settings worked. Every time something else went wrong I just put it aside and bought another less expensive laptop to use “in the meantime”. 100 hours in, a few days ago, I decided to try again. This morning, it is dead in the water - no lights, no hard drive activity - Just dead.
I have to say I’m almost relieved. I’m so tired of worrying about this stupid laptop with less than 100 hours on it over three years - wondering (and worrying) about what’s going to break next? For those of you wondering why Support didn’t help did reach out to them, but frankly cookie cutter responses weren’t useful. I got tired just being told to “update your BIOS” - that was supposed to fix everything.
Having it completely dead is a relief. This was a sad $1800 learning experience and not an experience I would wish on my worst enemy.
I can understand your frustration. I just really struggle with understanding how your power cord could fray so quickly. (I mean based on your first post, this happened 4 months after getting the laptop.) I mean I bought the Framework 13 with the 11th gen. I believe I was a batch 1 then. I have been using that laptop ever since. It currently has a 12th gen mainboard in it and the heavier CNC’d display lid.
I use the cable(s) every day at home to charge my laptop(s) (wife has a 11th gen FW 13 as well) . I have 2 mainboard being used as server and media centers. I have another 13th gen mainboard being used in a UMPC project I am working on. All of this to say that I just don’t see how things could be this bad so quickly. They show no signs of fraying of any kind.
I mean electronics are delicate. Computers especially are just very complex machines. I am really sorry that you experienced things the way you did. If you were able to use the laptop for 3 years but had problems intermittently that is unfortunate. There can be flukes, and things wear out. Without knowing how you used the device it is hard to know either way.
My own experience is that things are built well and last. I only offer this as a counter point, and in no way to discredit your issues here.
It could be that the [ML 1220] CMOS/RTC battery has died. In the 12th Gen the ML 1220 is charged from the main battery so if that ‘dies’ then the ML1220 will to as it only has power for about three weeks.
You can try a main board reset maybe.
My cable is fine, it depends upon use. If you twist it and pack it like that then yes it could fray. Mine is pretty staitonary on my ‘desk’ and fine after some 32 months. The laptop end I velcrow to a plate so it’s doesn’t also pull on the USB port
RTC battery physically cannot cause a no-boot issue on 12th gen and newer. If the system has power from the wall or the battery, so does the RTC circuit. The issue where a dead RTC could require a board reset was an Intel 11th gen silicon bug, which is not present on subsequent chips.
On 12th gen and newer, you can remove the RTC battery entirely, as 13th gen has done from the factory, with no ill effects. It does not matter if the RTC battery is dead. If the main battery is dead enough that it cannot power the RTC circuit, then the laptop will not boot on battery. Since 11th gen, AC power has been able to power the RTC circuit – the only thing that changed on 12th gen and newer is that the main battery can too.
OK. I thought the RTC battery took power from the main battery if not plugged in only, so not plugged in for ages and the main battery dies . . . then plugging into the mains won’t help . . . will it ?
I’ll have to read up more on that.
Thanks
UPDATE:
However the 12th Gen doesn’t require an ML 1220 at all The RTC will run from the main battery, if charged otherwise the powe input
If it is within 4 months, the cable is still covered by warranty, so you can reach out to support to get it replaced.
As for the other issues you’ve experienced, perhaps the community would be able to help if you described them in more detail (including the OS, OS version and BIOS version, for reference). You wrote that you don’t expect a solution, which begs the question – what purpose does this post serve, exactly?
Isn’t it OK for people to vent a bit? Surely the community forum is a lot to do with people’s feelings and disappointments. This issue of people giving sad stories isn’t unique
Thanks for your response. Believe me, I am as baffled as you are. And I actually didn’t use it over three years with intermittent problems. I would guess that the actual number of hours on this laptop are 100 +- hours - in that area.
Perhaps I just got a lemon and everything has been resolved since then. This is the very first generation laptop from Frame.workwas one of the first group to receive one. I was warned by others that I was taking a chance on first generation machine.
Other people had the same problem with the cord fraying on that first machine and someone on this form was able to point me in the right direction to replace that. But again, the Wi-Fi has never worked on this machine. I continually had to use an Ethernet connection… which, as you can imagine dramatically reduces its daily utility.
A fan is notoriously a weak spot - and mine gave out within hours (50?) after getting a new cable.
There are several responses below of things to look at - but I guess the whole point at this juncture is that I’m just tired of trying to make machine work. It was a new design and it was a risk I took. I’m just profoundly disappointed in what a terrible experience it’s been. (BTW, you asked how I used it. It was used an average of 30 hours a year for email, research, etc. I was planning on using it for PhD research in cyber security, but I was never able to do that. There was always something wrong with it.
Why you didn’t RMA is a mystery to me. It really sounds like you got a lemon. Also if your laptop is a 12th gen then technically you were already on the 2nd interation of the Framework 13. The 11th gen mainboard was the very first iteration of the Framework 13.
You came on here, effectively f*rted in the room, then expected a warm response? Sorry, no, you’re not going to get one.
And now, to put on my jerk hat, you had no business buying this product. You are unwilling or incapable of articulating what different things you tried or went wrong, or of providing basic information regarding your setup. If you had a lemon you should have RMA’d the machine. If not, you should have worked with Support and/or the community to resolve the issues. You seem to have chosen to do neither.
I’m sorry if this is harsh, but if you want help, this forum will bend over backwards. If you want to show up and b^tch just to b^tch, go elsewhere.
As pointed out this was a second generation, I have the first and it’s fine ~ use it every day for 32 months.
However as explained even the 12th requires the CMOS/RTC battery to be charged and it looks like you let it go flat. Please see if the voltage on the ML1220 is above 2.4V ideally around 3V. if not see if you can get a new one to try, though I do note you said you are fed up.
Apparently it doesn’t require an Ml 1220 at all
And I don’t think your post is demanding, you asked for nothing and I understand it’s comforting to get a response even if any practical advice doesn’t work or isn’t taken.
Anyway I’ll leave with the CMOS/RTC battery thing to consider.
I did note your text but it wasn’t an explanation and I read otherwise.
I have now confirmed what you said and have edited my posts.
Thank you.
Another smaller change we’ve made is not populating the RTC battery by default. With 12th Gen, we made the RTC battery optional, . . . . The impact of this is that your system clock will reset if you unplug the main battery, Framework | What’s new in this year’s Framework Laptop 13: Part 2
Should also note similarly if the battery goes flat . . .
To be honest I had a completely different experience. I bought a 13 Gen Intel DIY and the RAM and SSD myself, and everything assembled and works great. I use it every day pretty much, I take it on the train downtown to work, I’ve taken it on trips, it’s been a solid laptop and is not a slouch in performance despite the sleek design.
