If your Steam Deck control goes wrong

[DoomS | PapaBiceps]

Hi,

I face today a behavior for which i found a workaround, that i like to share with you guys, as Steam Support advice me to do.

The problem

After a charge from 25 to 100%, i take my Deck to play with it. Everything was fine until 20-30 minutes of game.

At this time, I was asking myself if better control could work on the game I was playing (which is not involved in the problem we'll figure) so i press Steam button. Nothing happen. So to see if there was freeze on the OS, I press °°° button, and... Nothing.

I press start to leave the game manually, cause I was on a savestate place, so there was no issue to leave the game. Back to Steam OS in gamemode, menu goes to the right. I could stop it by rotating to the left my left joystick, but as i let it go, the menu again, goes all to the right.

I thought there was some kind of ghosting from the game i've just leave, so, i make an entire boot cycle (turn it off, wait 10 seconds, turn it on) to fix it.

Welcome back on the Steam OS Gamemode, with, seems like, no problem. But, it appears that the right Dpad button was not working anymore, LEFT was OK, UP OK, DOWN, OK, but RIGHT would'nt work. I thought at first glance "ok, probably the dpad is break." i press Steam button to go to the settings and check the test device input, but, what a surprise, pressing Steam button act like A+Right. I was like "OK.... What the Deck ?" then try to press °°° button to see what happened. It act like B+Right !

At this moment, I still have on my mind to test the dpad to see if it was related to the problem i was experiencing, so i use the touch screen to go into steam menu, settings, system then test device input. All the input was detected right (even Steam and °°° button) but the dpad still off, which was confirming my first idea.

I contact Steam support, explain them the problem i was facing, knowing that my Steam Deck was out of warranty time.

They explain me that they couldn't really help me with the problem cause they thought it was not related to a faulty device, and the only solution was to offer me a paid repair. They also advised me, if i was confident enough to do it, to open the deck and make the repair by myself by buying parts on ifixit.

I've already check at this time if there was a way to buy controller panel from ifixit. It's not possible. Anyways, i was asking myself if, possibly, there was some sort of dust that could have make it way into the deck and those differents contactors.

The Solution

But first, i noticed something in the deck BIOS. In USB Configuration, you can actually turn off both controllers panels and make the Deck act as a PC, without control on it. You'll need to plug a mouse and keyboard to use it. It make the problem disappear, which was confirming that the problem was probably from the controllers panels.

After that, I turn it off and open the deck, to find myself in front of a totally clean console. Really. I do not use my deck often, it always store in a dry and safe place and keep in it protection case, so, there was nothing wrong in it and even the fan looks like it was about 2 week ago, without any dust in it.

From there, all i did is to make sure every ZIF connectors were tightly plugged. There is a white mark on them so it's easy to see if they are in place or not. Actually, every one of them were very in good shape and tighten to where they belong. I do unplugged them, replug them, Turn on the Deck again, press + volume to go in BIOS then make USB configuration control panel enable again. AND IT WORKS !

I've informed Steam Support of this, as long as I said, there was no issue on my side and ask them if they could fill an internal escalation about this situation, in case it could be related to a firmware error.

They told me they'll do it to try if they can reproduce the situation and ask me to share this solution with you as long at it could maybe help you.

For information, the only other people with nearest situation I found on internet was a guy who's, somehow, pour water in is Deck, which was not my case, as i said, cause my Deck is always in a dry and safe place. (And actually, openning and unplugging connectors make not disappear water.

I hope you'll find it helpful. Thanks for reading.

[nicoper]

Did you try re-enabling the controllers in BIOS before you opened it up and replugged the ZIF connectors? Just wondering if it might've just been a firmware issue all along and the physical intervention wasn't necessary. Judging by that you said they were all seemed to be plugged in correctly when you first looked at them I suspect that might be the case.

Either way, this is good to know. Thanks for sharing!

[DoomS | PapaBiceps]

Originally posted by nicoper:

Did you try re-enabling the controllers in BIOS before you opened it up and replugged the ZIF connectors? Just wondering if it might've just been a firmware issue all along and the physical intervention wasn't necessary. Judging by that you said they were all seemed to be plugged in correctly when you first looked at them I suspect that might be the case.

Either way, this is good to know. Thanks for sharing!

I was actually think about it while writing. I couldn't tell you if it could've been fixed this way, as long as Steam Support put the seed of opening it before i even consider it could be a USB or firmware related problem.

[rogertor3]

It seems that I have exactly the same problem as you, I will try your method. I hope it works, thanks for posting it.

[DoomS | PapaBiceps]

Originally posted by rogertor3:

It seems that I have exactly the same problem as you, I will try your method. I hope it works, thanks for posting it.

Don't forget to inform if it's ok after

[DoomS | PapaBiceps]

Originally posted by rogertor3:

It seems that I have exactly the same problem as you, I will try your method. I hope it works, thanks for posting it.

Hey, did it works so ?

[ax.aaa]

My oled is having this issue but steam button and (...) button act as Y button. I tried disabling and re-enable controller in bios but it didnt solve the issue. Next is I opened the steam deck cover, unplugged and replugged the cable of (A,B,X,Y) button and the issue is fixed!!
Thanks man

[DoomS | PapaBiceps]

Originally posted by ax.aaa:

My oled is having this issue but steam button and (...) button act as Y button. I tried disabling and re-enable controller in bios but it didnt solve the issue. Next is I opened the steam deck cover, unplugged and replugged the cable of (A,B,X,Y) button and the issue is fixed!!
Thanks man

Hey ! I'm happy that my guide was helpful for you. Let's hope Valve will see it and fix it forever in a next update, reliable to software or hardware problem.