Troubleshooting multiple monitors on a Surface Dock 2 (Surface Pro 7)

Anonymous
2020-08-24T04:46:23+00:00

I'm trying to connect a new Pro 7 to two external monitors (Acer) through the Surface Dock. I'm using two USB C to HDMI cables. 

The Surface can detect the monitors and assigns them numbers (2 and 3) but the screens remain black and no numbers (or other display) shows up.

If I disconnect one of the monitors, the other one immediately turns on. It's quite bizarre.

I have updated the driver, downloaded firmware updates, disconnected/reconnected everything, and generally done everything that it says on the support page. 

I would be grateful if someone could let me know what I need to do to fix this.

Surface | Accessories | Surface Dock

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  1. Anonymous
    2021-12-11T11:16:17+00:00

    Thanks. I've tried all the above and sometimes they work other times it's a struggle so I've given up went back to my original surface dock that has no problems with dual monitors and the surface screen every single time.

    I am a long-time Surface user since day one. Just bought a new (maxed out) Surface Laptop 4 and Surface Dock 2. Can't connect both of my monitors consistently (just one, as all the people above mentioned). Cannot change to 30Hz for some reason. It's crazy that this is still an issue, ~2yrs after introducing the Surface Dock 2. I'll now try the Surface Dock 1, hope this works. (Thanks Microsoft for all the time and money waste 😒)

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  2. Anonymous
    2021-12-14T18:04:30+00:00

    Hi,

    If one wanted to quickly get rid of the issue then I recommend changing the monitors. With ViewSonic I had no end of trouble. Other colleagues in the office had no issues at all. I noticed that all of them are on different monitors so I just went around connecting myself to their docks. There was no delays, no turning on and off again. The surface connects instantly like it used to be with my laptop. The monitors I got now are BenQ GW2480. Whatever it is that hey got it seems to be what the surface wants.

    Cheers!

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  3. Anonymous
    2021-12-20T15:58:29+00:00

    Add another to the growing chorus.

    Prior to November 2021, I could plug a monitor into the SD2 and one into my SP7. No longer.

    I've tried the CTRL + Start + Shift + B schtick dozens of times, with both monitors in the SD2, and also with one in the SD2 and one in the SP7. Nothing doing.

    This is *incredibly* frustrating....especially since my boss absconded my SD1 (which worked flawlessly with 2 screens).

    It really sucks to be me....and all of y'all.

    My monitors are twin Acer VA24DQ, and I'm using twin USBC-HDMI cables.

    This is SUPER irritating.

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  4. Anonymous
    2021-12-20T16:48:47+00:00

    Surface Dock What's New

    I wonder if that link will help anybody. I just found this out to be odd from the link that the front and back USB-C ports don't supply the same power output. It's even further unclear whether the front USB-C ports are DP1.4 compliant like the rear ports are labeled to be.

    Furthermore, in their first footnote, it says that devices must be configured for Wake on Lan via their proprietary software to wake from hibernation or power-off states. That's my first time running across any of that bewildering information. Hopefully this can lead to a solution for most of you that are having problems with their SD2 encase you haven't already noticed this information before.

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  5. Anonymous
    2022-02-07T23:23:06+00:00

    Hi @Crest_Z - just a query on this one - I realise this post is a little aged at this point but I'm having similar issues and have posted something similar within this Community group on a similar issue and wanted to get your insight on something.

    I'm having similar issues with the Surface Dock 2 connecting via USB-C to HDMI and some of the online assistance required me to get the latest firmware for Surface Dock 2. At the moment, the Microsoft website that points you to update the firmware is this one:

    Download Surface Dock 2 Firmware and Drivers from Official Microsoft Download Center

    Note that this site currently shows drivers for almost all Surface devices EXCEPT the Surface Pro 8. This could be the reason why I have issues with monitors not waking up after Surface goes to sleep, but note that almost all other Surface Devices (Laptop, SP 6, 7, even Surface Go) have drivers for them, but when you select any of those MSI files, it fails to install because it requires a particular Surface Pro.

    Can Microsoft please attend to this and ensure there are Surface Dock 2 drivers available that are compatible with the Surface Pro 8, as it might be the reason why I am encountering the issues I am.

    Thank you in advance - if there is another avenue for resolution here I'm open to that too.

    Note, my firmware version for the Surface Dock 2 is 5.202.139

    Cheers,

    Mike.

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