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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.
Locked Question. This question was migrated from the Microsoft Support Community. You can vote on whether it's helpful, but you can't add comments or replies or follow the question.
I as well have the same problem. I contacted MS Support, and they had me do a refresh, that didn't work so they sent me a new docking station, and of course that didn't resolve it. I just wish I had discovered this issue while I could still return the SP3 and accessories. What is the most aggravating is I specifically inquired about multiple monitors before purchasing the SP3 and bought their(online chat sales guy) recommended set up(startech splitter with active dp to hdmi converters).
Just another disappointed 3 user with the same external display problems. I won't repeat what is now the common theme. Maybe if enough folks sign in Microsoft might notice us?
Hi Everyone,
I am not using a docking station, but use the mini display port directly from the edge of the SP3. It may work fine, but then fails to recognize the external monitor (a video projector) when it wakes-up from sleep. The only way I found to recover from this is to do a hard reset (hold down the power button for about 30 seconds until the SP3 reset). Make sure you do not have any important programs open when doing this reset.
This problem is VERY frustrating, and Microsoft does not seem concerned in any way. As you can read in this post, Microsoft seems in denial of any problems with this port.
The SP3 is a great device, but Microsoft is giving it a bad name with the lousy support with issues that come up. I have owned my SP3 for 5 months, and I have continual system lock-ups about once/week that require a hard reset, the camera has no focus (and will not focus on documents, never try to take pictures of documents), and now the new issue of the display port randomly failing to detect external monitors (requiring another hard reset to detect the external monitor). Even with all these problems, the SP3 is still a great device. Imagine what it could be if it worked the way it should?
Meanwhile, at Microsoft, the executives are giving each other raises, stock options, and million dollar bonuses....
Same problem here with a number of devices (all 5 we've tested). Problem occurs with different monitor models (HP ZR2440W, HP LA2405WG).
Surface does not cleanly resume when connected to dual monitors using Display Port (one connected to dock, the other connected to the surface). When the surface comes our of standby monitors may not connect, or be at very low resolutions (320x240!). At times the surface will not resume at all, forcing a reboot with volume up and power.
Using a Display Port hub seems to resolve these problems for us.
We have another 20 or so surface pro 3's in our stores waiting for deployment to our pilot group. Until this issue is resolved we will be holding off further roll-out of these devices.
I will also chime in with issues using my SP3 docked with 2 Dell DisplayPort monitors. It's a daily game of will they/won't they work (external displays) each time I come back to my computer. When they are not, the game of un-plug - plug-in begins.
Come on MS, this is not an isolated issue.
