- Microsoft’s attempt tries to put PC manufacturers online to ensure that USB-C ports are correctly configured
- A bad configuration of the manufacturer could lead to USB-C ports not work as they should, or not produce correct notifications
- Microsoft urges the use of Windows hardware laboratory kit to completely validate USB-C ports
Microsoft is trying to put the creators of the Windows 11 PCs online when it comes to ensuring that all USB-C ports work properly.
If you have ever bought a new PC and discovered that you have a failed port, while it is generally not an exhibition experience, it will undoubtedly be frustrating; Particularly if you are missing ports with a laptop, say. And failures with USB-C ports can be caused by PC manufacturers that do not configure them correctly.
The latest Windows reports that Microsoft recently wrote a blog post on what the OEM (PC manufacturers) need to know about USB-C ports and relevant notifications in Windows 11, which highlighted the problems around these ports that were badly labeled.
That includes a USB-C connector that is labeled as USB-A, or vice versa, which in the case of the first will have the functionality of the port. The data will not be transferred as fast as it should be, and the load will be slower, for example (as the system believes that the USB-C port is USB-A).
In addition, notifications about problems with a USB-C port will not be shown whether it is wrongly identified as USB-A, so the details of problem solving or warnings will be lost, as if the laptop is slowly loading through the USB-C port, or if there are problems by connecting a USB device.
It is possible that these capabilities do not work if the PC manufacturer has not correctly configured the configuration controller and advanced Windows energy interface (ACPI). And, as mentioned, if the connectors are poorly labeled as the incorrect type (USB-A instead of USB-C).
Therefore, to address these problems, Microsoft is making it clear that PC manufacturers should use the Windows hardware laboratory kit as part of the configuration process of a new Windows 11 device. This tool allows you to test controllers, validate USB ports to ensure that they are correctly configured, and more.
Analysis: Avoid frustration with USB-C ports
Proper validation using the hardware laboratory kit must ensure that USB ports with scales or malfunction become rarely. There could still be manufacturing defects with a port, or any component, but at least the erroneous configation incidents by the PC manufacturer can be greatly reduced in this way.
That is whether companies that produce PC that follow the Microsoft guide, of course, and a key part of this movement will be how it applies. Particularly when it comes to cheap and unknown PC brands, which are the most likely manufacturers to hurry the configuration of a device and make mistakes.
In summary, this is a great movement in theory, but how the practical side develops, and if certain low -budget PC manufacturers listen to Microsoft, it could be another story.
However, establishing the law in this way should have a positive impact. In addition, this last initiative is in addition to a scheme revealed earlier this year that is designed to guarantee consistency with USB -C ports, which means that each connector offers all the key aspects of the functionality of the standard (data transfer, energy delivery – load – and exit to a screen).
When combined, these two strides should help the USB-C ports much less confused, and much more reliable on Windows 11 PCs, which has to be something good. Perhaps the main question here is: why have these initiatives not be implemented before now?
