Surface RT and Sandisk Extreme USB 3.0 Flash Drive

There is a possibility of an electrical short within the tablet.  Since this is a Surface 2 you are talking about, other 2nd generation tablets have loose volume rockers and other details which may be display "slapped together" construction at the factory and no inspection.

If the flash drive works in other computers 100% of the time but fails on the tablet, I would see about sending the tablet back.  This is probably a little more of a problem than just the USB socket.

However, if you put the flash media in different computers and get a disconnect or not recognized by the other computer, that will be the flash drive itself.

Flash media of all types (SD, micro-SD, USB pen drive, etc.) are not totally reliable.  They do wear down with age and last only about two years with heavy use.  After that, you will notice data loss and time to throw them away.

I am getting to suspect that it is the USB port or the internal circuitry on the main board.  That cannot be repaired by anybody.  Those are built by a computer.  The only thing you can do if you can pin point the error to the tablet itself, your only option is to get a replacement via warranty.  Definitely defective.

Somebody earlier asked me whether this device works on Surface 2. I tried it on two systems. On one it comes up most of the time. On the other one, it took several attempts. So the interop problem between Surface 2 and this device still exists.

-Eliyas

The biggest problem is that these tablets are "light weight" and barely operate with what they have.  Chances are that something else in the tablet is having a problem and is causing interference with the USB port.  There have also been USB ports that are loose and when you insert a USB plug, some people have noticed them as loose and don't make proper contact.  That can cause a problem as well.

In fact, try checking to see if what you plug into the USB port has "play" to it and can move.  If it does, it could be the problem right there.  Not making full connection.

If there is any play in the port, contact Microsoft Technical Support.  It cannot be fixed, the tablet has to be replaced.  Give that a shot and see if it will work.

If it absolutely will not work, then that flash drive is USB 3.0 only.  That particular model you have was engineered for USB 3.0 but most devices downgrade when needed.  Looks like that one will not.

There is nothing wrong with your USB port, it is the requirements of the flash drive that will make it not compatible.  You can get regular USB pen drives to use instead and they are pretty cheap for the 32GB and 64GB models.  Those two particular size models are the most reliable as well.

Keep the Sandisk for future use and if you decide to go for the Surface 2, it does have USB 3.0 and that flash drive should work with it.  You cannot upgrade a current USB 2.0 socket in a computer.  USB 3.0 has a slight wiring difference.

The flash drive has no problem, I use it in several computers with win7 and WinXP, all of them with USB 2.0 ports, and no problems at all. It has to do with the surface but I can't understand what is it, in fact, it works in the surface if it is plugged in before I turn it on. Going for the surface 2 would solution it of course, but I don't want to change my hardware for this problem, and specially as it is not a USB 2 or 3.0 issue, nobody assures me it will work in the Surface 2. I love my USB flash drive because of its speed, it is one of the highest in the market and want to keep using it, I carry my research on it, and work on different machines. Its incredible how the simplest thing as an USB can't work in this thing (others do work I know). Anyway, I will give it some time, to see if something happens, if not I will move to a ultrabook which wont have any problem with the USB.

If it absolutely will not work, then that flash drive is USB 3.0 only.  That particular model you have was engineered for USB 3.0 but most devices downgrade when needed.  Looks like that one will not.

There is nothing wrong with your USB port, it is the requirements of the flash drive that will make it not compatible.  You can get regular USB pen drives to use instead and they are pretty cheap for the 32GB and 64GB models.  Those two particular size models are the most reliable as well.

Keep the Sandisk for future use and if you decide to go for the Surface 2, it does have USB 3.0 and that flash drive should work with it.  You cannot upgrade a current USB 2.0 socket in a computer.  USB 3.0 has a slight wiring difference.