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
    2020-12-03T02:58:26+00:00

    I gave up and bought the old Dock 1. 

    Another responder said it only worked with the $65 microsoft cables,

    i wish they had told me before I wasted hours of time that they only work with their cables!

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  2. Anonymous
    2020-12-03T05:56:00+00:00

    so my work around is (& I have the luxury of having 2 surface Pro (one is a 7 the other is a 4),  and also two docks (Gen 1 and Gen 2) at different locations.    Just for kicks,  i switched my Pro 4 to dock with Gen 2 and Pro 7 to Gen1 to see if that would make any difference.  Well   I hit the lottery with this combo, and they now  work all the time now.    Go figure...

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  3. Anonymous
    2020-12-03T18:08:29+00:00

    Add another one to this list.  I have the EXACT same problem.

    Surface Pro 7 (SP7)

    2 external monitors: HP 27f & HP 27es

    I have worked with MS Support and replaced the computer followed by the Surface Dock 2 (SD2).  This display problem has persisted since April 2020 when the purchase was made.

    The current workaround is one monitor plugged into the SP7 USB-C and the other into the SD2.  If all three monitors don't fire up when the computer is turned on (typically the USB-c monitor fires up reliably), CTRL-START-SHFT-B (go figure) from anywhere between 1 and 10 times will bring up the SD2 monitor (all 3 are running).

    Previously, with both monitors plugged into the SD2, the CTRL-START-SHFT-B sequence, between 1 and 30 times, would consistently bring all monitors up. 

    Since there is a keyboard sequence to get all three working with a SP7 and SD2, this has to be a software problem.

    Microsoft is apparently ignoring their software problem.

    Looking forward to a report on a fix on this extremely frustrating issue, short of acquiring a different setup.

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  4. Anonymous
    2020-12-03T22:10:37+00:00

    I had this same issue - and ended up switching the dock to a different circuit and solved the problem - working perfectly fine now.

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  5. Anonymous
    2020-12-04T18:14:39+00:00

    Hi, Andrew-

    Very interesting.  By a "different circuit," do you mean an entirely different circuit from that which comes out of the breaker box? 

    Perhaps one could run an extension cord from another part of the house or something temporary plugged into an overhead light..  However, the office only has two circuits - one for the plugins and one for the lights.

    Looking forward to some help here.

    Thanks,

    Steve

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