usb c antics on a surface go 2

os details:
win11 25h2, build 26200.7840
device model 1901
hardware specs:
device name- flat-duck(we know what its really named, right? -winks conspiratorially- )
cpu-intel 4425y
ram-4gb
storage-64gb
gpu-intel uhd 615
so, my microsoft surface go 2 has been a...shall we say..interesting experience getting it to make nice.
turns out 98% of my issues..are because the BMR method failed and I had to do a bog standard vanilla win11 install.

lots of patches, fixes etc later..including discovering I shoulda had a dolby access oem entitlement as its baked into the surface go 2's license....

now the problem I'm having is that its having a hissy fit with my external usb c ssd.

so the setup is thus.

I do have a microsoft surface go 2 typecase cover installed.

I'm running a ugreen usb c hub, with one usb-c pd(100watt rated), one hdmi, one usb3 c port, two usb a ports, the latter three rated at 5gbps, one sd card slot, one microsd slot.
plugged in are typically one 45 watt usb c anker charger, a usb a mouse dongle.

I do have a usb-a to ethernet adapter I plug in whenever its 'let it sit and choke on the net' update day but this is not routinely connected.

the issue is thus..

whenever I use the 'safe device removal' option..it has a fit with the drive on subsequent sessions where I need to use it.

it flat out refuses to do more than show a drive icon and letter, refusing to load into the drive, and refusing to show its capacity.

disconnecting and flipping the cable(and which end is connected where) eventually yields a viable usable connection.

but this song and dance is almost always touched off by using safe hardware removal.

note, the drive does this when direct connected to device, sans hub, as well.

note, drive does NOT misbehave when connected to problem child(desktop).

so, what are the odds that all that jiggery pokery over a couple of days hasn't potentially winchestered my usb drivers, or some aspect of windows itself at least partially?

I would begin to simplify your USB connections by removing everything and then directly connecting your ext. SSD to the Surface (if possible). And see if that makes a difference.
Then add in the Ugreen hub and see if anything changes. Working methodically will get you nearer to a reasonable answer. You can use Windows Device Manager to help diagnose any device driver issues. Could be that a device driver needs re-installing.

note, the drive does this when direct connected to device, sans hub, as well.

Click to expand...

i already did that..

decided to say frakkit and put linux mint on it.
the device is far happier on mint...
the os install on windows was an asinine size, leaving me 17gb of space free.
mint? takes up maybe 15gb? leaving me with the bulk of my storage available to me.

runs far better on anemic hardware too.

the original problem, of the device not recognizing the external usb c ssd? solved.

still a windows user on the desktop however.