Trackpad Malfunctions When Using Ethernet Expansion Module

Community Support
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1

The trackpad on my Framework laptop normally works as intended but whenever I use the Framework Ethernet expansion it malfunctions. The pointer can no longer be moved with any degree of control though it can sometimes be triggered to glitch around different positions across the screen and the click function of the trackpad also does not work reliably.

For reference:
Framework 13 - with 13th Gen Intel Core
32GB RAM
BIOS - IFR30.03.08
EC - hx30_v0.0.1-f6620a8
PD1/2 - 0.1.2E
OS - Windows 10

I will add, normally when using the Ethernet, it’s because I’m on (say) a four-way video call and want the best/most-stable network performance so I will typically also be charging via a USB-C expansion port module at the same time to avoid draining the battery.

I’ve seen some discussion here previously around charging being a potential contributor to trackpad issues - I’ve got two main charging options, one is a fairly recently acquired Belkin 108W GAN charger and the other is a Bluetti EB55 portable power station - with selection between these two depending on whether or not I’m close to a mains socket.

I’ll generally live with this problem for the duration by switching to an actual mouse but would be interested to see whether this remains an issue for anyone else currently and whether there are other things I could check/test to fix the issue.

I’ve checked keyboard/trackpad connectors - and will shortly be installing a second 16GB RAM module so will again be checking - but am surmising this may be something more complex.

I also have access to an ANKER dongle which has USB-A ports and an ethernet port built in. I will be checking if this triggers the same behaviour - though that dongle connects over USB-A so I’ll need to swap-in a USB-A expansion port module to do so.

Thanks in advance for any thoughts/advice/help. :slight_smile:

(Edited - updated to 32GB RAM from 16GB RAM since making original post.)

2

Is there any chance that it’s a matter of physical interference? Have you tried putting the Ethernet module on the other side of the computer?

The odds may be slim, but I can’t think how it would logically or electrically interfere.

3

Most of the time I have the USB PD connected to the back-left expansion port and the ethernet connected to the back-right expansion port. I could probably spend some time checking if the problem occurs as reliably if I try all combinations and permutations but intuitively I am not sure that is likely to make a difference. But I’ll test it later and confirm here if it does.