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
    2016-03-21T21:21:20+00:00

    It's like the planets need to be aligned just right.  Today I wrestled with 2 identical configurations - all purchased at the same time (same types of monitors, same cables, same docks, same Surface Pro 4s, etc).

    I could not get one of the ASUS (DisplayPort) monitors to work through either dock. Same cables, mixed up the cables, changed the monitors around, etc.  Although the secondary Dell monitors (gofanco mini DP to DVI) work fine. 

    It came down to the one monitor, sort of.  When this monitor is plugged directly into a Surface's mini DisplayPort directly, it works! But does NOT work through a dock, regardless of cables, or docks or Surfaces. 

    It's now on another Surface Pro 3 and old dock, via a mini-displayport to HDMI cable (also no that dock is a USB3 to DVI video adapter).

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  2. Anonymous
    2016-03-21T20:17:12+00:00

    I also tried a mini DP to VGA adapter cable and that didn't help.

    I will repeat that RARELY I get both monitors on, SOMETIMES I get one monitor on and as soon as I plug in the second monitor they both go off.

    It's not the cables, it's not the monitors since I can occasionally get both to work at the same time.  I also don't think its the dock.  I think it's the drivers and the Windows 10 operating system.

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  3. Anonymous
    2016-03-18T12:49:27+00:00

    Same thing here. The only way i make it work is by purchase active mDp to DVI cable. But i don't know the last time you check the disponibility of the cables...months!!!! I will try an active mDp to HDMI with a HDMI to DVI cable. It should work. For a few installation (SP4, dock SP4 with 2 monitors) i used a Startech MDp to 3x Display port and its ok.

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