Surface Book 3 Nvidia Graphics card disappears after updates.

Yes you would think it was that simple but it is not.  Especially if used as a tablet, then getting it to realise there is even meant to be a graphics card is a nightmare.  Telling us its easy to fix each time by following any number of steps is not the point - it should just work, I am sad it does not.

I was so excited to finally upgrade to a surface book but I wish I hadn't.  I now hardly ever use it as a tablet and dread shutting it down or doing an update as I dont trust it will see its own graphics card if I do.  This makes a mockery of the Book's signature feature.

Admittedly when it works it is a lovely machine.

That's so bad. This morning i started my sb3, i was reading an online website when suddenly become laggy. Went to device manager, no graphic card...once again. Scanned for hardware changes, it came back with an error "Windows cannot use this hardware device because it has been prepared for "safe removal", but it has not been removed from the computer. (Code 47)". It's a nightmare. Is there any windows 10 version or a nvidia drivers that solve this issue?

I was thinking to reinstall OS again

Just for clarify, I dont detach my tablet component . With the December firmware it has been a lot better with suspend/resume and only get very occasional loss of GPU. Although a hassle, you can scan for hardware in device manager. For me this is better than reboot, or attach/detach tablet.

I expect people are having a lot more issues if they attach/detach the tablet section . I would try the firmware and if still having issues log a call with Microsoft support. The more people who complain the more chance of it getting fixed. Perhaps message Microsoft support on Twitter/Facebook also.

I appreciate its shouldn't happen for a premuim 2-3k laptop. When I got my SB3 on day 1 it didnt show the GPU, Microsoft shipped it with the base firmware and it needed an update before it would be recognized. Support didn't have a clue.  Crazy.

On Surface Book 3, Windows 10, with the latest drivers and firmware installed (as of today, January 9th 2021), the Nvidia GPU still disappears after sleep (or closing the lid).

One solution that worked for me is to detach and re-attach the display which shows the GPU again the device manager.

Another solution that worked, if you have admin rights, is to scan for hardware changes in the device manager.

However, this is not a permanent fix and I agree with all of you that for a $3k laptop, this issue is absolutely unacceptable!

I am proposing that we all add our grievance on this topic on the Feedback Hub app. Just type "feedback hub" in the Windows Start Menu and add your complaint. Since I couldn't find a recent complaint about this issue, I created a new complaint.

Search for  "Surface Book 3, Windows 10: Nvidia GPU disappears from devices" and you should be able to add your complaint to mine.

If anyone of you already started a thread on Feedback Hub, please let us know, and we'll add our grievance there as well.

Let's see if and what response we'll get from MS.

If anyone of you can think of another, more effective approach, please let us know as well.

Good luck to us all,

Markus

Interesting. My SB2 and SB3 simply just drops the GPU. No indication as to why. It just drops the GPU. I'm up to date on all the latest firmware as well. I have submitted an issue on feedback hub. 

I want to reiterate. You do not have to reboot your machine to bring back your GPU. Start Device Manager and just 'Scan for Hardware Changes' on your Display Adapter and it will bring it back.

Note: you should not have to do this. However, I usually have to do it several times a day (which I JUST had to do). Frustrating!