Victus 16 USB-C issue with Dell Wd19S USB Dock

[VictusUser000]

Hello,

The laptop I am using is HP Victus.

When I connect the Dell WD19S USB dock to this laptop, I encounter an interesting situation. Whenever I plug the power adapter of the laptop, it works normally for about 1 minute. Then the USB hub disconnects and cannot be reconnected.

Also, when I restart the computer (without the power adapter connected), the display looks distorted. I have to go to the graphic settings, set to refresh rate to 60hz and then reset again to 120hz to resolve the display problem.

When I look at the Windows 11 event logs, all I see is "Source: Kernel-Power, event ID:105". If I unplug the laptop's power connector, the USB hub starts working again but the image is distorted.

When I connect the Dell WD19S to another laptop, iPad and Samsung phone it works absolutely fine. With another laptop, I can set my display features to the maximum (1440p @120hz 10-bit HDR with dynamic refresh rate enabled). But with my HP Victus laptop, I can't enable 10-bit HDR and dynamic refresh rate. So, there is nothing wrong with the USB dock.

One more thing, I tried to connect with another USB hub (unbranded one, displayport 1.4 supported) to HP Victus laptop, it works absolutely fine. I can get 1440p @120hz 10-bit HDR with dynamic refresh rate enabled.

My question is: What is causing this problem? Is it related to "Kernel-power 105" in the event log? What are the actions I should try to solve this problem

Thanks.

[VictusUser000]

Any advice for this issue? It seems there is an undetected issue on either USB drivers or power management.

[Garp_senchau]

@VictusUser000, Welcome to HP Support Community,

Thank you for posting your query; I’m here to help by guiding you through steps to resolve this issue

This issue seems like it's related to a combination of hardware and software conflicts between the HP Victus laptop and the Dell WD19S USB dock. The fact that everything works fine with other devices and hubs suggests that the issue lies specifically with your HP laptop and how it interacts with the dock.

Root Cause:

Based on your description, the "Kernel-Power, event ID: 105" error typically occurs when there is an unexpected shutdown or restart, usually because of power or driver issues. In your case, it might indicate that the system is not handling power distribution or USB devices properly when the laptop is plugged into the power adapter.

The issues with the USB hub disconnecting and the distorted display may be linked to:

1. Power Management Conflicts: Some laptops experience power management conflicts when using docks, especially when certain features (e.g., USB, display, and power management) are interacting. The system might be trying to allocate resources and power to multiple components, leading to a failure in reconnecting the USB hub or rendering the display incorrectly.
2. Display Settings Issue: The display issue after restarting (requiring a refresh rate reset) could be related to a driver or firmware issue. It's possible that the HP laptop doesn't properly detect or configure the external monitor without intervention.
3. Driver Conflicts: There may be a driver or firmware issue with the display and USB drivers for the HP laptop. This can cause instability when the laptop is plugged in and connected to the dock.
4. Dock Compatibility: While the Dell WD19S works fine with other devices, it's possible there is a compatibility issue between the dock and the HP laptop, particularly in the way that the USB hubs or display interfaces are interacting.

Troubleshooting Steps:

Update BIOS and Drivers:

• Make sure that the BIOS on your HP Victus laptop is fully up to date. HP often release updates to fix power management issues.
• Update Chipset Drivers, USB Drivers, Display Drivers (especially for integrated graphics or dedicated GPU), and Thunderbolt Drivers (if applicable) on your HP Victus. Go to HP’s official support page and download the latest drivers for your model.
• Also, check for any firmware updates for the docking station (this can be done via Firmware Update Utility).

Power Settings Adjustments:

• Go to Control Panel > Power Options and ensure you're using a power plan that’s best suited for high-performance tasks (like “High Performance”).
• In the Device Manager, expand the Universal Serial Bus Controllers section and right-click on each USB Root Hub. Then, go to Power Management and uncheck the option "Allow the computer to turn off this device to save power."
• Check the power settings under Control Panel > Power Options > Change plan settings > Change advanced power settings. Specifically, under USB settings, disable USB selective suspend setting.
• Disable Fast Startup by going to Control Panel > Power Options > Choose what the power buttons do and uncheck the option “Turn on fast startup.”

[Garp_senchau]

Monitor Driver Settings:

• If you're using an external monitor, check that the monitor's drivers are up to date.
• Try setting a custom refresh rate (120 Hz or higher) in the Display Settings > Advanced Display Settings.
• Re-enable Dynamic Refresh Rate by making sure that the Windows HDR settings are configured properly. In the Display Settings tab, check for Display HDR and enable Dynamic Refresh Rate if possible.

Uninstall USB Root Hub & Reconnect:

• Go to Device Manager > Universal Serial Bus Controllers and uninstall the USB Root Hub drivers (right-click on each one). Restart the laptop, and Windows will automatically reinstall the drivers. This can sometimes help resolve USB connectivity issues.

Test Without Power Adapter:

• Try using the laptop in battery mode only while connected to the Dell dock and check if the issue persists. If the dock and USB work fine without the power adapter, the issue could be related to power management conflicts when the power adapter is plugged in.

Disable Hardware Acceleration:

• Sometimes, hardware acceleration can cause display issues with docks. Disable this in your browser or any applications that may be using it.

Test External GPU (if applicable):

• If you're using a dedicated GPU, ensure the correct GPU is being used for external monitor output and not integrated graphics. This can be set through the Graphic Control Panel (if applicable).

Check for Event Log Errors:

• In Event Viewer, look for any additional errors or warnings related to USB devices, display drivers, or power management. This might give further insight into the specific failure that occurs when the system is connected to the dock.

Test Other Ports on the Dock:

• Test different USB-C/DisplayPort ports on the Dell WD19S dock to rule out a faulty port.

I hope these steps help resolve the issue

Please feel free to reply here if you have any questions or if you need further clarification on any of the steps. 

Take care and have a good day. 

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Regards,

[VictusUser000]

Hello Garp_senchau ,

Thank you very much for the detailed reply.

You may find my answers for each step that you suggested

Power Management Conflicts

I highly suspect that one. It seems the chipset does not accept two power input at the same time. Is there any way to disable USB Power Delivery for this device? I looked at the BIOS (including advance mode) but there is no option for that one. If there is another way, please let me know how I can do.

Uninstall USB Root Hub & Reconnect:

I've tried this but didn't work.

Test Without Power Adapter:

It's working without power supply as I've indicated at my post. But that doesn't enough because I can't play games on full performance on battery power.

Disable Hardware Acceleration:

I've disabled but didn't work

Test External GPU (if applicable):

My monitor doesn't have HDMI 2.1 port, only have HDMI 1.4 and DP 1.4. Laptop's USB-C input or motherboard doesn't have MUX switch so I can't directly use dGPU.

Check for Event Log Errors:

No other logs other than "kernel power 105"

Test Other Ports on the Dock:

Laptop only have one USB-C port.

Driver Conflicts

All drivers are up to date for both laptop & USB dock. Including display, BIOS, chipset, etc.

Power Settings Adjustments:

I've also tried each step that you mentioned.

Please focus on power management part and if applicable, could you please ask this issue to the product team? I need to get confirmation about if two power input at the same time causing this issue. This might be very useful insight for all the users worldwide to not use Victus laptop with the USB docks which has its own power supply.

Thanks.

[Garp_senchau]

@VictusUser000,

Thank you for your response! 😊

After reviewing your concern regarding power consumption, we’ve identified the issue. 

The Dell docking station requires 180W of power to function at its full potential. However, the HP Victus laptop only supports up to 90W of power. This mismatch in power requirements is causing the docking station not to operate at its full capability, which is likely the issue you’re facing.

In simpler terms, when a device needs more power than what the laptop can provide, it leads to limited functionality, slower performance, or even failure to perform certain tasks. 

I hope this clears things up! If you have any further questions or need more clarification, feel free to reach out. 😊

If this solution worked, feel free to mark it as the "Accepted Solution"—that’s like finding a treasure chest full of gold! 💰 And if you could click 'Yes' under ‘Was this reply helpful?’, you’ll make my day better than discovering a hidden island! 🌟

No matter the tech troubles you face, remember this—every great journey has its challenges, but with persistence and the right crew, there’s no storm you can’t weather. Keep sailing forward, and never hesitate to reach out if you need a guiding star! 🌊

Thanks again for being awesome! Wishing you smooth sailing ahead! ⚓

Cheers,

[VictusUser000]

The USB dock has its own power brick (180W) and it's already connected to the dock. So the laptop doesn't supply power to the dock, it is other way around. The dock is charging the laptop when it is connected to the USB-c port. I think that is the problem in this situation. I suspect that Victus laptop does not allow two power sources (USB-C and laptop's power brick) connected at the same.

If there is any chance of disabling USB Power Delivery for USB-C port, that would be worth to try. Could you please ask this question to the product team?

Thanks.

[Garp_senchau]

@VictusUser000, Welcome to HP Support Community,

Thank you for the response

Since the laptop has to distribute power to all its components, the power consumption and distribution from the HP device to the docking station are critical factors. This could be the reason it's not functioning properly.

I hope this helps.

Please feel free to reply here if you have any questions or if you need further clarification on any of the steps. 

Take care and have a good day. 

If my response helped you or made things easier, I’d truly appreciate it if you could mark it as an Accepted Solution! ✅ This not only helps others find the right fix faster but also spreads the support. 💙 And if you found my reply helpful, tapping "Yes" on "Was this reply helpful?" means the world- it ensures more people get the solution they need! 🌟 Your small action can make a big impact! 💪😊

Regards,

[VictusUser000]

Have you read this part in my previous reply? I've said: " the laptop doesn't supply power to the dock, it is other way around. The dock is charging the laptop when it is connected to the USB-c port. I think that is the problem in this situation. "

All I need is to make this clear: Can I prevent or turn off charging the laptop from USB-C?

[Garp_senchau]

@VictusUser000, 

Thank you for your response. To answer your question, yes, USB charging for the laptop can be disabled in the BIOS settings.

Your BIOS may look different, but you would have an option to disable the USB charging.

Take care, and I hope you have an amazing day ahead! 😊

Problem solved? 🎉 That’s fantastic! If you could mark this as the Accepted Solution, it would help others find their way here faster. And if you found this helpful, a simple ‘yes’ would mean a lot – it makes my day and gives this reply a little street cred! 🏅

Regards,