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

Anonymous

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.

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Anonymous

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:

Make and model of external displays
Make/model of adapters if present
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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Answer accepted by question author

Anonymous

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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315 additional answers

Anonymous

2016-01-10T17:05:11+00:00

"... a waste of money.

Fundamentally, I have been driving multiple screens for the last five to ten years using a range of kit. This is not new or difficult technology - my four year old Toshiba Dynadock U3 worked flawlessly with the same setup, the only downside being the separate power supply required - so MS have NO excuse for not being able to make this work and NO excuse for not getting it fixed rapidly."

How does your Toshiba Dynadock U3 connect to the computer?

Can you try your Toshiba Dynadock U3 with your Surface Book and current monitor setup?

I have highlighted the answer in my original post above. The Dynadock is USB from dock to PC and a combination of HDMI and DVI from dock to monitor.
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Anonymous

2016-01-10T16:17:33+00:00

For me this is an issue that MS appeared to have introduced with an update in mid-late December. I had initial problems which were solved with switching to active adapters and all was fine for a month...other than the raft of other issues with drivers and the like...then an update seemed to introduce this issue.

I have identical monitors, identical cables and identical adapters; currently one monitor flashes on and off at intervals between one and five minutes. Switching the cables around leaves the problem with the same monitor but physically moving the monitors around also leaves the issue in the same place, so I can only think hardware/ drivers.

I'm tempted to fork out for adapters that MS claim are working but feel it would be a waste of money.

Fundamentally, I have been driving multiple screens for the last five to ten years using a range of kit. This is not new or difficult technology - my four year old Toshiba Dynadock U3 worked flawlessly with the same setup, the only downside being the separate power supply required - so MS have NO excuse for not being able to make this work and NO excuse for not getting it fixed rapidly.

How does your Toshiba Dynadock U3 connect to the computer?

Can you try your Toshiba Dynadock U3 with your Surface Book and current monitor setup?
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Anonymous

2016-01-10T10:14:33+00:00

For me this is an issue that MS appeared to have introduced with an update in mid-late December. I had initial problems which were solved with switching to active adapters and all was fine for a month...other than the raft of other issues with drivers and the like...then an update seemed to introduce this issue.

I have identical monitors, identical cables and identical adapters; currently one monitor flashes on and off at intervals between one and five minutes. Switching the cables around leaves the problem with the same monitor but physically moving the monitors around also leaves the issue in the same place, so I can only think hardware/ drivers.

I'm tempted to fork out for adapters that MS claim are working but feel it would be a waste of money.

Fundamentally, I have been driving multiple screens for the last five to ten years using a range of kit. This is not new or difficult technology - my four year old Toshiba Dynadock U3 worked flawlessly with the same setup, the only downside being the separate power supply required - so MS have NO excuse for not being able to make this work and NO excuse for not getting it fixed rapidly.
Was this answer helpful?

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