USB PD Firmware Downgrading Itself?

Community Support
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1

Hello y’all :slight_smile:

I’m running a Ryzen AI 9 HX370 Framework 16. I do not have a GPU module. I run Fedora 44 with KDE.

A few weeks ago, I updated the BIOS from the pre-installed 3.04 to the latest 4.01.

Ever since, I’ll sometimes get the following message when booting the laptop, saying my PD2 firmware is mismatched–that it expects 0.0.22, but mine is 2.0.0c.

Sometimes the USB ports on one of the sides stops working when this happens, other times they do not stop working.

fwupdmgr update doesn’t see any updates. The linked QR code takes me to an knowledgebase page about updating BIOS with my graphics module connected–which is not all that helpful considering I do not have and have never had a graphics module. I saw some posts about a similar sounding issue, though where someone recommended a manual BIOS update–and indeed that aligns with the actual error message on the screen itself (see below) which says to manually update the bios.

Thus, the first time I saw this issue, I performed a manual bios update via USB as the screen instructed. It successfully updated Controller 2 to 0.0.22. Then a few days later, controller 1 had the same issue, so I did the same thing again, and it fixed it. Then a few days later, controller 2 had the issue again. I updated bios again, and it fixed it. Then it happened again. Interestingly, I didn’t have the charger plugged in this time when I tried to update the bios, so it said update failed, connect charger. However, it seems to have fixed it anyways even though it said the update failed. And then now, about a week later, it’s happened again.

Somehow, controller 1 and controller 2 seem to be reverting themselves randomly and requiring an EFI BIOS update to “re-update” them every so often, only for them to revert back again eventually.

Any suggestions for what to do? Thanks!

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2

It seems that the BIOS update did not update everything correctly.
Run the BIOS update again, but this time, plug the power into the other side of the laptop.
The version should be the same on both PD Controllers.

3

A few hours later, it fixed itself on its own. I did not touch it. In fact, I turned my laptop off not long after I sent this forum post to go to work and before having taken any steps, and when I turned my computer back on after work, it was fixed and the BIOS reported the controllers matching.

But this is precisely the behavior I was describing. Every few days, it seems one of the controllers reverts itself to 2.0.0. And then I either update the bios, or apparently, it may also just fix itself.

This is clearly unintended behavior.

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4

Welcome to the community.

Start a ticket with support and mention that the BIOS is reverting itself even though you used the UEFI method.

Something is incorrect in an NVRAM register or something and causing it to either loose the version or revert to the previous version as a failsafe.

This might require a special set of instructions from the support team on resetting the main board, doing a UEFI bios update, resetting the main board again, loading the defaults, and then seeing if it stops reverting to the wrong bios. This could be unique to this specific main board or is an issue with whatever version step was taken and something was not cleared correctly (i.e. firmware update bug).

Support will be the best source to help here. Let us know how it goes though. Someone else might have the same issue and just not have posted about it.

5

Thanks! And sorry for going radio silent for a month :laughing:
In the last month, the issue happened twice. Both times, I just ignored it, and it fixed itself within a few reboots. It’s interesting that it’s not completely losing the PD firmware version altogether, since it can somehow fix itself. But I will be opening a support ticket and/or commenting on the GitHub issue linked in the similar thread here where someone reported something similar.

6

Glad that it managed to go away though intermittent issues are harder to pinpoint. Something is causing the version mismatch. Just a matter of finding out what is the issue.

7

I recently ordered a GPU for my Framework laptop.
I have not receieved it yet, and now I got exactly the same error as TS here, but for PD1 instead of PD2.
“Please manually reinstall the BIOS to update PD1 firmware. Currently: 2.0.0C. Expected: 0.0.22.”

When following the QR link via my phone. I get to this page:

So it is about a graphics module, but I do not have any graphics module installed.
Though, I recently ordered one, my conspiracy synapses in the brain is getting triggered …

Edit:

  1. I booted in to the BIOS.
  2. Unplugged AC.
  3. Chose BATTERY DISCONNECT.
  4. Saved and exited.
  5. Let the laptop sit and rest for a while.
  6. Plugged in the AC and powered on.
    Now the error disappeared, knock on wood …