Surface Pro 3 external monitor / display port issues

Anonymous
2014-09-04T17:19:34+00:00

I know many people have been having issues with external monitors and the displayport connections on the Surface Pro 3 and Surface dock.  I've been having some issues too, and thought I'd share my config / workarounds in case it helps. I believe the issue is fundamentally with the Surface video drivers getting confused, not the docking station. 

My explicit questions are: Is there an easy way to force it to detect new displays?  Anybody have any other suggestions on how to resolve this?  Is there some way to open a formal technical ticket with MS?

My hardware: Surface Pro 3 i7, 256 GB; Surface docking station, 2 HP Z24i displays (1920x1200 resolution each), StarTech Mini DisplayPort 1.2 to Triple Head DisplayPort MST Hub (StarTech PN# MSTMDP123DP)

It's setup as follows: Mini DisplayPort MST Hub plugged into back of docking station, HP monitors plugged into ports 1 and 2 of the hub.

I've had this setup running for about 2 weeks. At first I couldn't get it working, but with the last firmware update in mid August it started working fine.

HOWEVER, just this week I've had issues where I can't get the Surface to detect the displays / output to them when I first plug in to the dock in the morning OR sometimes when it's waking up from going to sleep (like at lunchtime). No amount of fiddling / plugging / unplugging things seems to consistently fix it.  The 'Detect' button in the Screen Resolution window doesn't help.  Doing a shutdown / restart of the Surface also doesn't consistently work. Note that when the Surface gets like this, even plugging the Hub directly into the mini display port on the Surface itself (with it not docked) won't work.

The reason I believe this is a Surface / Windows issues is that when it gets into this state, within the screen resolution settings in windows it often thinks that there is another active display plugged in and will act as such (e.g. lets me extend or duplicate the desktop) - even if I have the surface completely undocked, not plugged into anything. Specifically it says it is a "Display device on: Mobile PC Display" with a resolution lower than 1024 x 768.  See pic below.  This state often survives through a reboot of the Surface.

The general process I usually get to work after a couple tries:

-Use Windows-P keys to set the surface to use only the internal display

-Shutdown the surface and undock

-Unplug the dock and hub

-Plug hub back in

-Power Surface back up while undocked and login

-Dock surface

-Plug dock back in

-I'll know it works at this point because the displays will automatically come on (no need to use windows-P key to toggle them)

NOTE TO FORUM MODS:

Before you reply with your standard questions, know that I've already done all the normal things, including shutdown, check all cables, all updates installed, run the hardware and devices troubleshooter.  I've also checked related threads, such as: http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/surface/forum/surfpro3-surfdevice/external-display-flicker/1e2b9154-0533-4137-880f-55a90d2d6659?page=1&tm=1409850909719 (Note I've never had an issue with flicker) and http://www.surfaceforums.net/threads/mini-displayport-on-new-docking-station-doesnt-work.10577/ (This isn't an active vs. passive adapter thing.)  Once I get it working it works just fine until the surface undocks or reboots.  It's clearly an issue with Windows / Surface not properly detecting displays.

Surface | Surface Pro | Display and screen

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  1. Anonymous
    2014-09-20T22:32:44+00:00

    Hi all,

    I recently purchased an Asus MB168 USB powered monitor to use on my Surface PRO 3

    Understand that the USB on SP3 does not have enough power therefore i bought a Y USB so that it can draw sufficent power.

    Unfortunately the surface PRO 3 was not able to display the images on Asus MB168 and it keep flickering as well as detecting the hardware.

    I have done almost everything. Tweaking the display setting to installing diagnostic device (i.e. Display Link) but to no avail

    Appreciate the advice and help from everyone.

    Regards

    Andy

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  2. Anonymous
    2014-09-25T12:45:50+00:00

    Chalker2, I am using the same displayport hub as you but with Dell monitors and am having the identical issue. Very frustrating. I need to unplug, replug etc. for 5 mins or so every morning in order to get the SP3 to recognize the monitors.

    Did you find any other solutions?

    Did you try the reset/refresh procedure?

    Thanks!

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  3. Anonymous
    2014-11-18T18:11:11+00:00

    HOWEVER, just this week I've had issues where I can't get the Surface to detect the displays / output to them when I first plug in to the dock in the morning OR sometimes when it's waking up from going to sleep (like at lunchtime). No amount of fiddling / plugging / unplugging things seems to consistently fix it.  The 'Detect' button in the Screen Resolution window doesn't help.  Doing a shutdown / restart of the Surface also doesn't consistently work. Note that when the Surface gets like this, even plugging the Hub directly into the mini display port on the Surface itself (with it not docked) won't work.

    [............]

    The general process I usually get to work after a couple tries:

    -Use Windows-P keys to set the surface to use only the internal display

    -Shutdown the surface and undock

    -Unplug the dock and hub

    -Plug hub back in

    -Power Surface back up while undocked and login

    -Dock surface

    -Plug dock back in

    -I'll know it works at this point because the displays will automatically come on (no need to use windows-P key to toggle them)

    The song and dance posted above is frustratingly familiar to me.

    I'm not using an MST hub; I just have a Lenovo monitor connected via the Surface Dock mini DisplayPort.

    Haven't been able to find a common "fix" from the above list - it's usually a messed up 5-10 minute combination of those things.  Eventually I get it working again.

    I've found the most success by ensuring I power up and login to the Surface PRIOR to docking.

    If I accidentally dock while it's powered down/sleeping and/or logged off I'm almost always in for a bad start to the morning.

    I also have a third monitor connected via a USB DisplayLink adapter.  That was working fine until I added the Microsoft Wireless Display Adapter (at least that's the only system change I can think of that may have affected the DisplayLink adapter).  That issue is discussed here:

    https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/surface/forum/surfpro3-surfdevice/surface-pro-3-not-working-with-displaylink/341175ff-f3ea-4dc9-a346-f28a09bbda58

    I've never had so many driver/firmware issues...  SP3 has been a very frustrating device in that regard.

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  4. Anonymous
    2014-11-14T01:05:13+00:00

    I too have been having similar issues with my SP3 i5. I have been using the daisy chain from SP3 to Acer K272HUL and Asus PB278 (both are using DisplayPort). This configuration was working perfectly for the first 3 months with no issues at all. About 2 months I started getting the same issues as described. Monitors not detected, phantom monitors, and flickering monitors.

    I have do the same dances to get them to work but rarely is it ever stable for an entire work day. It has gotten to the point recently that it's no longer workable. 

    I am convinced it MUST be the SP3/Windows driver software. Otherwise, why would it work perfectly for months? I have tried using just the dock, just the SP3 and tried the trick of connecting to the dock and SP3 ports separately. I still get the issues no matter what.

    I also tried DP to HDMI and DB DVI and that didn't resolve the issue either. And yes, different cables were tried too.

    I am NOT a happy camper with this situation.

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  5. Anonymous
    2014-09-06T00:21:19+00:00

    Hi Chalker2,

    Thank you for contributing and participating in the Microsoft Community! We appreciate the time you have taken to post this and provide all these details and workarounds. I understand you’ve been having problems getting the Surface Pro 3 to detect your external displays when waking from sleep or when you first plug it into the Docking Station. I can see how this is very inconvenient, taking into consideration all the steps you take in order to have it working again each time this happens. I’ll be glad to guide you in the right direction!

    In this case, as you mention, since you have performed most troubleshooting steps, we suggest the following:

    • Please make sure all Windows updates were applied while the Surface was on the Docking Station. This is very important.
    • Consider a Reset/Refresh
    • Contact our Technical Support Team for further options Here.

    We truly appreciate the feedback provided and contributions on this thread. I would also like to convert it into a discussion so other Community members can add their voice, solutions and expertise.

    Best Wishes,

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