The Synaptics I2C-HID touchpad on the MSI Modern C14 fails intermittently on Ubuntu 25.10 (kernel 6.17) due to I²C controller timeouts and ACPI reference failures.
This regression did not exist on earlier kernels (≤ 6.5).
I am submitting this detailed report to help kernel/Ubuntu developers diagnose and fix the issue.
Affected Hardware
| Component | Details |
|---|---|
| Laptop | MSI Modern C14 |
| Touchpad | Synaptics I2C-HID |
| Device ID | PNP0C50:02 06CB:CEBD |
| Bus | Intel I²C DesignWare |
| Ubuntu Version | Ubuntu 25.10 (Daily) |
| Kernel | 6.17.0-6-generic |
Problem Description
The touchpad:
- Fails to initialize randomly on cold boot
- Stops responding intermittently after a few seconds
- Frequently fails after suspend/resume
- Is recognized by the kernel but unusable due to I2C controller timeout
USB mouse works fine — issue is isolated to I²C-HID touchpad.
Relevant Kernel Logs
ACPI errors during boot
ACPI Error: AE_NOT_FOUND, While resolving a named reference package element - ^XHCI.RHUB.HS04.VI2C
I²C controller failures
i2c_designware i2c_designware.1: controller timed out
i2c_designware i2c_designware.1: controller timed out
Touchpad is detected but fails to function
PNP0C50:02 06CB:CEBD Touchpad detected
Regression Behavior
The same hardware is fully functional on:
| OS | Kernel | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Ubuntu 25.04 | 6.2 | Working |
| Ubuntu 24.10 | 5.15 | Working |
| Fedora 38/39 | 6.2–6.6 | Working |
The issue starts appearing from kernels 6.10+, and is severe on 6.17.x.
This strongly suggests:
- A kernel regression in i2c-hid, i2c-designware, or ACPI evaluation
- Timing or initialization change that MSI firmware cannot handle
- Possibly missing quirks for MSI Modern laptops
Steps I Already Took (for developers)
Kernel parameters tested
psmouse.synaptics_intertouch=1
i8042.nomux=1
i8042.reset
i8042.nopnp=1
Driver-level attempts
- Forced loading
hid_multitouch - Added udev rule to disable I²C autosuspend
- Disabled modern standby (S0ix) in firmware
- Enabled Intel Serial IO, XHCI handoff in BIOS
- Switched touchpad between “Advanced” and “Basic”
Kernel versions tested
- 6.17 → Broken
- 6.10–6.16 → Intermittent failures
- 6.8 LTS → Still intermittent
- 6.5 → Fully stable (no timeouts)
Why I Believe This Is a Kernel Bug
The device is detected
→ So HID stack works.
The I²C controller fails
→ DesignWare controller timeout = I2C bus is stuck before HID probe finishes.
ACPI cross-reference fails
→ MSI ACPI tables reference ^XHCI.RHUB.HS04.VI2C which the kernel cannot resolve.
Only happens on new kernels
→ Clear regression.
What I Can Provide to Help Fix This
I am fully prepared to attach:
- Full dmesg logs
i2c_hid.debug=1verbose outputacpidumpfor complete ACPI table review- /sys/bus/i2c/devices topology
- Kernel bisect testing (if needed)
- Testing patched kernels or quirks
I want to help Ubuntu/Kubuntu identify and close this regression before 25.10 release.
Request for Help / Guidance
I would appreciate support from kernel/input/I²C maintainers on:
Identifying whether this requires an MSI-specific quirk
(possibly for ACPI or DesignWare timing)
Confirming if I²C-HID init sequence changed in 6.10+
(the behavior suggests a timing or probe-order change)
Whether the ACPI reference failure
^XHCI.RHUB.HS04.VI2C
is related to device routing or initialization
Suggested kernel parameters or patches for further testing
Expected Behavior
Touchpad should initialize every boot, remain stable, and resume correctly.
Actual Behavior
I2C controller times out → touchpad becomes unusable.
Conclusion
This is a reproducible I²C-HID regression affecting MSI Modern C14 laptops on Ubuntu 25.10 (kernel 6.17).
I am committed to providing logs, testing patches, and assisting developers until the issue is fully resolved.
Any guidance would be greatly appreciated.
