AMD USB 3.10 eXtensible Host Controller not fully backward compatible

Question

I have been directed here from the support community page. I don't think this is a Windows 11 issue as such but I am hoping that Windows 11 has a tweak in settings or perhaps registry that can fix it. I have to trick my current laptop to work with my ESP32's. They are USB connected devices that use Silicone Labs CP2102 USB to UART chips.

What is the trick? When I plug in the ESP32's Windows ignores them, they are simply not recognised. If I plug in an external USB hub first the ESP32's then start to work normally either plugged into the hub or plugged directly into the laptop. If you unplug the external hub the ESP32 connection instantly drops as well. No external hub equals no recognition of the ESP32.

I suspect the external hub is changing a mode on the onboard AMD USB 3.10 eXtensible Host Controller and it drops back to standard USB3. Can we permanently set the USB3.1 ports to act like standard USB3 ports in Windows somewhere? I don't care if I lose the 10Gbps transfer as I have no real use for it anyway but I would like to leave the USB hub on my desk. Thanks.

Answer 1

Hello

I understand your issue with the ESP32’s not being recognized when plugged directly into your laptop’s USB ports. This seems to be a common issue with certain USB to UART bridge chips like the Silicon Labs CP2102, especially on newer operating systems like Windows 11.

 

Here are some steps you can try to resolve this issue:

 

Check USB Port Types: You can check which USB port types are supported on your Windows 11 PC by opening the Device Manager (devmgmt.msc) and expanding the Universal Serial Bus controllers section.

 

Update USB Drivers: Ensure that you have the latest drivers for the CP210x USB to UART Bridge VCP from the Silicon Labs website. If you are using a 5.x driver and need support, you can download Legacy OS Software.

 

Reinstall Faulty Device Drivers: Right-click on the USB Controllers with an exclamation mark in the Device Manager and select the Uninstall option. Once the computer restarts, Windows 11 should automatically load the right drivers for USB Ports on your computer.

 

Change Power Management Settings: Windows 11 has a default tendency to switch OFF power supply to unused USB ports. You can disable this setting by right-clicking on USB Root Hub in the Device Manager, clicking on Properties, switching to the Power Management tab, and unchecking the ‘Allow the computer to turn off this device to save power’ option.

 

Disable Fast Startup: The Fast Startup feature in Windows 11 can sometimes lead to USB Device drivers not being properly loaded or skipped during the startup process. You can disable this feature in the Power Options in the Control Panel.

 

Check for Updates: The problem could be due to a Windows update being downloaded or waiting to be installed on the computer. Check for updates and follow the instructions to download and Install Updates (If available).

 

If these steps do not resolve the issue, it might be worth reaching out to the support teams of your laptop manufacturer or Silicon Labs for further assistance. They may have specific advice or drivers for your particular hardware configuration.