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
    2016-01-26T23:26:41+00:00

    I have been using the Surface Book for a few weeks now here at work.  I'm the IT Manager here and we're trying to work the bugs before we start handing them out to staff.  We purchased the Microsoft Surface Dock and frankly have had almost nothing but trouble.  We were initially running into the monitors using mDP to DVI adapters without much success.  I realized those were passive adapters and we bought active adapters.  Those worked...once.  Every time thereafter when I would try to connect, I would just get a bunch of flashing/blinking monitors until the externals came up as disconnected.  I even tried mDP to VGA with no luck.  Our next stroke of genius was to purchase monitors with a DP input.  Surely eliminating the adapters altogether would fix things.  Nope.  Same problem.  My last-ditch effort was to try a mDP hub.  We purchased a 2-port Startech MSTMDP122DP and I have to say it has been the best performer by a bunch.  My only complaints so far have been a) when the Surface Book goes to sleep, the monitors don't always come back on when the computer wakes.  If I power cycle the monitors, that seems to get things working.  And b) I opened a large spreadsheet, and while scrolling through, black bars appeared randomly throughout the document.  But overall, it's pretty solid.  I'll be keeping my eyes open for future firmware updates, because the Microsoft dock is still more desirable.

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  2. Anonymous
    2016-01-14T09:06:59+00:00

    Same Problem over here.

    • Surface Pro 4 (i5)
    • Surface 4 Dock (PD9-00004)

    Dock itself is working fine, LAN, USB and Audio functional. On my Desk I use a Iiyama 27" UHD Panel connected via Display Port. If I Connect the Display to my Surface directly it works flawless. If I Connect the Display to the Dock just nothing happens, like those DP on the Dock are dead. Display just turns of after 30s because of no Signal. Windows doesn't even response in the Eventlog if I put the display In or plug it out.

    Currently I need to connect the Display to the SP4 directly and just use the Dock for my USB + LAN which is not what I expected from a expensive Dock.

    Is there any chance to get this Display working on the Dock?

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  3. Anonymous
    2016-01-13T05:16:16+00:00

    "Incidentally when you hold down the [power]-[+] keys for 30 secs together if you release it takes you t the Surface UEFI"

    If you read my instructions I mentioned to do it while the system was on.. if you do that it resets everything.  If you do it with the system off... it takes you tot he UEFI settings.

    Terry

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