Surface Pro 4 Bulging Battery / Screen. 3 1/2 years old.

Anonymous
2019-06-30T14:34:09+00:00

So, like many others on this forum, we have a Surface Pro 4, in which the battery has decided to self-destruct, destroying a £1,700 machine.

The screen hasn't popped off, but the battery has swollen enough to prevent the hinge from opening as it should and for the glass on the front to be very distorted, and it registers random screen input, all the while running hotter than the central heating.

I've spoken to support. They unhelpfully told me that because my warranty is up, I would have to pay several hundred pounds (£333) to replace the machine with a refurbished unit. To me, this is completely unacceptable. These devices are clearly flawed by design. This issue is too wide spread for it to be a coincidence. The batteries used in these devices are obviously flawed, and when I suggested as such, Sean L, the person dealing with my case, stopped responding (A few days after that, I wrote to Microsoft's twitter support who confirmed that the case had been closed. Thanks Sean L.)

If the device is dangerous (as suggested by the agent who I spoke to on the phone in the first instance) and it does catch fire while we are away this summer, and it subsequently burns down a multi-million pound Cambridge University building? What then, Microsoft? You'll wish you'd just replaced it then, won't you.

Surface | Surface Pro | Power and battery

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  1. Anonymous
    2022-01-25T21:20:54+00:00

    check out my post from a few days ago above ^^

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  2. Anonymous
    2022-01-22T19:00:08+00:00

    I have the same problem with my Microsoft Surface Pro 4, the screen is popping up on one side. From my research it a bulged battery. After calling Microsoft they said the the device is out of warranty and the device is discontinued. There is no option to get it fixed even if I pay. Their recommendation is to stop using the device and buy a new one. They think that the device is unsafe to be charged therefore my only option is to recycle through their program and get $15 credit on a device I paid $1000 a few years ago. I noticed the bulge after flying on vacation, I wonder if the airplane trip caused this to happen and if it will get worse if I travel again.

    I will never buy a Microsoft product again, I may consider switching to an Apple computer since I'm very happy with my iPhone.

    What would be the best option is this case?

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  3. Anonymous
    2022-01-17T16:44:38+00:00

    Your white macbook more than likely uses 18650 cells or some form of metal-cased Lithium Ion cells, whereas the SP4 uses a pouch Lithium cell.

    Pouch cells do not respond well to heat, and whilst 18650s and hard-case Lithiums may die, they rarely swell.

    Luckily the older Macbooks (like alot of old Windows laptops of the era too) are relatively easy to get new batteries for. (unless you're like me and own an old Powerbook G4!)

    Meanwhile to get a Surface battery replaced, it's going to cost you a new screen, possibly an outer frame, a battery, and new Thermal Interface Material for your CPU.

    "Refurbishment" could be something as easy as swapping out a screen to an almost complete overhaul. It's rolling the dice really.

    My advice? if you love your SP4, get it fixed. If the data on said SP4 is precious to you, go behind the screen, grab that M.2, slap it in an external case, strip all the needed data off of it and buy a replacement.

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  4. Anonymous
    2022-01-16T16:56:05+00:00

    hope you find something good. if it turns out to be too onerous. i regularly come to london for work (when covid allows), so can assist if you are stuck.

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  5. Anonymous
    2022-01-16T09:05:57+00:00

    Thankyou - very positive option, I will try and get my unit repaired by them, hopefully postage wont be too expensive as I live in the UK.

    Alan

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