Surface Pro 4 battery drain while OFF

Anonymous
2017-07-05T14:02:24+00:00

I have a HUGE battery drain while power off (not hibernating)  at least 5-10 percent per day.   I windows updates done.   I used to think it was because of the keyboard being attached. but I have switched to a Brydge Keyboard.  Does anyone else have this issue or know how to fix?

Thanks!

Surface | Surface Pro | Power and battery

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Anonymous
2017-08-04T04:59:28+00:00

Thanks Victor_S

Another solution I've found is to shut down the computer the old way - regular shutdown instead of hybrid shutdown.

You can use this shortcut:

C:\Windows\System32\shutdown.exe /s /t 3 /c "Full Shutdown"

  • shutdown.exe can execute the various sleed/hibernate commands, including the regular shutdown.
  • /s means "shutdown". If we shutdown the normal way, it is a hybrid shutdown (/hybrid)
  • /t 3 means after 3 seconds. If you skip this it's 30 seconds by default.
  • /c "Full shutdown" is a simple comment that will appear in various places as the reason for your shutdown.

Keep in mind it takes a little longer to shutdown this way, and it takes a little longer to start afterwards, but I think the computer doesn't keep some systems active, thus you should see almost no battery drain, even for prolonged times.

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Anonymous
2017-07-05T14:59:17+00:00

That is a good question because the screen will be off.  Before shutting down and all programs are closed, you can do a CTRL+ALT+DEL and select the task manager and look at the processes that are still running at that moment and you may find 'something' but doubtful.

The power sub-system could also have a defect causing that as well and not actually shutting off the machine when it is supposed to be off.

The task manager may give you a clue when all programs are shut down.  If you can't find anything listed, it is possible you may need to contact customer support to get the machine swapped out.

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  1. Anonymous
    2018-09-17T22:24:41+00:00

    If it's powered off the Brydge keyboard ( or anything else connected via BT) would not matter.  

    That's a Sleep state.  When it is in a Sleep state you will have things that it can do in that state.   I'm not sure about BT but disconnecting the keyboard would be a reasonable thing to do to test if there is a difference.  Also, use the Events log to show that there are things happening even though it is "powered off".  Another one might be to put it into Airplane mode but then it would be ironic if your BT keyboard would not work in Airplane mode.

    Just to clarify things:

    I turn the Surface off with the ShutDown option in the start/stop menu, not sleep.

    The Brydge keyboard goes to sleep if not used for 30 minutes but it also turns off completely with Fn/Delete long press. I've been turning it off when I shut down the computer. Neither of them are in sleep state.

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  2. Anonymous
    2018-09-17T22:21:15+00:00

    had to buy a Brydge keyboard to get my computer usable again.

    That would be my guess for the source of your Battery drain.  Have you tried removing it when you shut down?  Also, I think that powercfg /SystemPowerReport  might give you a clue, especially if you were comparing two distinctly different cases.

    Good luck

    Robert Aldwinckle

    Thanks for the reply. The battery drain was happening before I got the Brydge keyboard, it's only a week old. And I've tried turning the keyboard off just in case the computer thinks it need to stay connected. The Brydge does not connect to the computer with the normal connections, it's totally separate except for the clamps that hold the two things together.

    I don't know what powerdfg/SystemPowerReport means - apart from the hints in the wording. I'll do a web search and see what I can find.

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  3. Anonymous
    2018-09-17T17:22:39+00:00

    If it's powered off the Brydge keyboard ( or anything else connected via BT) would not matter.  

    That's a Sleep state.  When it is in a Sleep state you will have things that it can do in that state.   I'm not sure about BT but disconnecting the keyboard would be a reasonable thing to do to test if there is a difference.  Also, use the Events log to show that there are things happening even though it is "powered off".  Another one might be to put it into Airplane mode but then it would be ironic if your BT keyboard would not work in Airplane mode.

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