New heatsink mysteriously interferes with USB

MNT Reform
1

I got the new heatsink for the RK3588 module and wanted to install it. So naturally I removed the old large heatsink and moved the thermal pad to the new one. Then I screwed down the new smaller heatsink down hand tight and tried to boot the laptop.

For some reason when the new heatsink is installed all USB devices (keyboard, touchpad, external USB ports) do not work.

Without a heatsink USB works again.

I noticed that the old heatsink is curved and the new one is flat.

2

No real idea, honestly, other than maybe the copper shorting something under it? (Shouldn’t happen normally, but it’s the only thing I can think of at the moment). Do you have some kapton tape and could cover the areas of the heatsink (only on the bottom side) that are not connecting to the thermal pad? Otherwise, could it have been a fluke with the USB hub, did you try several times or only once?