New Surface Dock Does Not Work via mini displayport to HDMI & DVI

Anonymous
2015-10-27T17:18:04+00:00

The specific device I am referring to, is the new Surface Dock for Surface Pro 3/4 and Surface Book. I have described the issue here on Reddit, and a number of others are also experiencing the same problem. Basically, the new dock doesn't work when the monitor is connected using mini displayport to HDMI. The monitor is detected correctly and the correct resolution is set, but the screen remains black. In my case, I randomly get some image on the monitor, but it's compressed to one side of the screen and garbled. The mini displayport to HDMI adapter works properly when connected directly to the Surface, so the adapter itself is fine. If I instead connect the mini displayport to VGA adapter to the dock, the monitor displays correctly. I have tried using a straight mini displayport to DVI cable and the issue remains. Additionally, I have connected a Surface Pro 3 to the dock and experience the same issue.

So to summarize, the dock does not function correctly when using a mini displayport to HDMI adapter to connect the monitor, but does work with a mini displayport to VGA adapter. This problem is repeatable using both a Surface Book and Surface Pro 3.

Surface | Accessories | Surface Dock

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Anonymous
2015-10-29T17:45:57+00:00

I purchased an active mDP to HDMI adapter from Amazon (Plugable is the brand) and so far the external monitor is working correctly through the dock.

Moderator Edit (11/3/2015):  If you are using a passive MDP to DVI adapter and experiencing difficulties, you may need to switch to using an active adapter.

If you switched from a passive to active adapter and continue to experience difficulties using Surface Dock to display to external monitors please consider making some changes to your cabling: different lengths, different quality, different adapters, etc.  If adjusting your cabling fails to resolve please consider sharing the following:

  1. Make and model of external displays
  2. Make/model of adapters if present
  3. Make/model of cables

For more troubleshooting info and steps to confirm your Dock is updated, please view our Troubleshoot Surface Dock article.

Thank you,

Josh

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Anonymous
2017-05-22T09:18:50+00:00

Hi,

 We suggest that you contact our Surface Answer Desk team for further assistance or visit the nearest Microsoft Store if you are in the US. In case you're offshore, contact our Global Customer Service team.

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  1. Anonymous
    2015-10-30T18:30:56+00:00

    ok so I had this issue too.

    Just got off session with Microsoft.

    Now things are working.

    I have SP3.

    First you know Microsoft released updated drivers yesterday? Day before?  Which was after I first installed the dock.

    Since then even with the updated drivers/firmware I couldn't get things working.

    What the Microsoft guy had me do was:

    While the system is already turned on...

    1.) Remove the monitors from the Dock but leave it connected to the Surface.

    2.) Again while turned on... Hold the up rocker for volume and the Power button at the same time for 30 seconds... after a few seconds a screen pops up asking about turning off surface, ignore it, just keep holding the button combination.  After a few more seconds it will turn off.  Keep holding the buttons.  After full 30 seconds have gone by release the buttons.  Surface will now be turned off.

    3.) Press the power button and turn Surface back on.

    4.) Reconnect each monitor to the dock one at a time.

    5.) When done should have all three monitors working but with the duplicate option.

    6.) Go into display properties (I used the settings app version)

    7.) Change to extend (Do not change any other options like scaling!!)

    8.) When extended, resolution should be back to normal?  Change the order of the screens to match what you want.

    Should be working.

    At least this is what fixed everything for me.  Now my Surface Pro 3 has dual monitors working off the dock.

    Terry

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  2. Anonymous
    2015-10-30T17:48:08+00:00

    Works just fine with my passive miniDisplayPort to DVI adapter. Cheap one with a brand name of "BlueRigger" printed on the back.

    Well... most of the time. The dock will randomly stop working on occasion and I'll have to unplug it and reboot the Surface Book to get it working again..

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  3. Anonymous
    2015-10-30T17:41:17+00:00

    I tried reversing the dock connector and changing the frequency to 60hz, but nothing changed. I actually installed an update last night from Windows Update and now I can't even extend to a single screen. Yesterday I had one screen to the Dock and another one directly to the SB using a Wireless Display adapter. Whatever they tried to fix yesterday didn't work, only made things worse.

    Any other ideas?

    I read about those updates and I'm pretty sure they had nothing to do with this issue.  One other thing to note is that I'm using a DP to mDP cable.

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