X220 USB is not working in Dock Plus Series 3 with i7 CPU

[Funzi]

Hi,

I was using a X220 (i5 w/o USB 3) for a long time. This loyal companion died last week and I checked eBay for a replacement. Luckily, I was able to get a model with i7-2620M CPU. Then I moved the harddisk to the new machine and put it on my Mini Dock Plus Series 3 (4338-x0x) - the one with eSATA but w/o USB 3.0 with 135W power adapter.

Unfortunately, USB is not working on the dock with the new machine anymore. Network, DVI, DisplayPort and power supply are working fine. If I connect the USB device (keyboard, USB-Hub and mouse) directly to the Thinkpad it's working fine.
I have another Series 3 Dock (you never know when this comes in handy) but USB is also not working there.
After a bit of research I found a few tips for this issue with a different model, like unplugging the Dock before inserting the Thinkpad or booting w/o battery - none of this works. I have replaced all USB devices and connected them after boot one by one, this also doesn't help.

To be on the safe side, I also updated the BIOS to the latest version (from 2018).

I am using Linux (Fedora 31) but also tried using Windows 10 and the BIOS. The USB keyboard doesn't work in either of those.
These are the devices shown by lsblk when connected the Keyboard to the dock (well, you don't see the keyboard):

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Bus 002 Device 003: ID 0bdb:1911 Ericsson Business Mobile Networks BV 
Bus 002 Device 002: ID 8087:0024 Intel Corp. Integrated Rate Matching Hub
Bus 002 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0002 Linux Foundation 2.0 root hub
Bus 001 Device 003: ID 0a5c:217f Broadcom Corp. BCM2045B (BDC-2.1)
Bus 001 Device 002: ID 8087:0024 Intel Corp. Integrated Rate Matching Hub
Bus 001 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0002 Linux Foundation 2.0 root hub

A forum search only showed a similar issue but only for one port and only Windows.

Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks,
Funzi

[dr_st]

Welcome to the forum. Please specify your location in the profile, as requested in the forum rules.

The i7 variant of the X220 has a dedicated USB 3.0 controller. I don't see it listed in the lsblk output. Do you see it in lsusb? If you plug a device directly to the USB 3.0 port on the laptop (the rear left port marked in blue) - does it work?

[Funzi]

Thanks for welcoming me. I have updated the location now. It's a bit embarassing, I overlooked the Location field but filled out the City and Country field. Updated now. Thanks.

lsusb only lists

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Bus 002 Device 003: ID 0bdb:1911 Ericsson Business Mobile Networks BV 
Bus 002 Device 002: ID 8087:0024 Intel Corp. Integrated Rate Matching Hub
Bus 002 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0002 Linux Foundation 2.0 root hub
Bus 001 Device 003: ID 0a5c:217f Broadcom Corp. BCM2045B (BDC-2.1)
Bus 001 Device 010: ID 0a12:0001 Cambridge Silicon Radio, Ltd Bluetooth Dongle (HCI mode)
Bus 001 Device 008: ID 046a:0021 Cherry GmbH CyMotion Expert Combo
Bus 001 Device 007: ID 1a40:0101 Terminus Technology Inc. Hub
Bus 001 Device 002: ID 8087:0024 Intel Corp. Integrated Rate Matching Hub
Bus 001 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0002 Linux Foundation 2.0 root hub

Just tried a device on the rear left USB 3 port on the Thinkpad. That doesn't work.
Oh my, what does that mean for me, is that something I could fix?

Thanks

[dr_st]

Since you say it doesn't work in Windows 10 or Fedora 31, I suspect it is not a driver issue.

I don't recall whether this laptop has an option to disable the USB 3.0 controller in the BIOS, but it is worth a shot.

If it still doesn't work, I would have to suspect a hardware failure.

If you plug a mouse into the USB 3.0 port, does it at least get power (LED lights up?)

[Funzi]

When you asked me to plug in a mouse, I plugged in my Arduino (because the mouse has no indication I could use). That didn't work.

I entered the BIOS then and disabled VT-x and VT-d and toggled all USB settings to disabled, powered off, then to enabled. The Arduino now gets powered by the USB 3 port and I am writing you while I am using mouse and keyboard connected to the dock.

Thank you! I will turn on VT-x and VT-d again now because I need it and let you know if that is related or if then apparently toggling the USB settings helped.

[theterminator93]

I don't recall whether this laptop has an option to disable the USB 3.0 controller in the BIOS, but it is worth a shot.

I just checked mine, and could not find such an option - but it seems like the OP was able to flip everything off then on again which did the trick!

[Funzi]

It works also with VT-x and VT-d enabled:

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Bus 002 Device 003: ID 0bdb:1911 Ericsson Business Mobile Networks BV 
Bus 002 Device 002: ID 8087:0024 Intel Corp. Integrated Rate Matching Hub
Bus 002 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0002 Linux Foundation 2.0 root hub
Bus 004 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0003 Linux Foundation 3.0 root hub
Bus 003 Device 005: ID 0a12:0001 Cambridge Silicon Radio, Ltd Bluetooth Dongle (HCI mode)
Bus 003 Device 004: ID 046a:0021 Cherry GmbH CyMotion Expert Combo
Bus 003 Device 003: ID 1a40:0101 Terminus Technology Inc. Hub
Bus 003 Device 002: ID 17ef:100a Lenovo ThinkPad Mini Dock Plus Series 3
Bus 003 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0002 Linux Foundation 2.0 root hub
Bus 001 Device 005: ID 04f2:b217 Chicony Electronics Co., Ltd Lenovo Integrated Camera (0.3MP)
Bus 001 Device 004: ID 0a5c:217f Broadcom Corp. BCM2045B (BDC-2.1)
Bus 001 Device 003: ID 147e:2016 Upek Biometric Touchchip/Touchstrip Fingerprint Sensor
Bus 001 Device 002: ID 8087:0024 Intel Corp. Integrated Rate Matching Hub
Bus 001 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0002 Linux Foundation 2.0 root hub

The settings I toggled in BIOS were in the USB section (power devices on power off, always charge) and in the security section regarding ports where you can enable camera, fingerprint and the like. That worked.

Thanks again.