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
    2017-01-10T22:16:31+00:00

    I think I finally solved this!!!!!

    (At least with my setup: Surface Pro 3, running Windows 10, in a docking station, connected to three external Dell monitors, all daisy chained via DisplayPort / Mini DisplayPort).

    This Reddit thread suggested changing monitor refresh from 59 to 60 Hz, and that worked for me!

    https://www.reddit.com/r/Surface/comments/3ror4p/surface_book_dock_issues_monitors_flickering/

    To do this on Windows 10:

    Right-Click Desktop | Display Settings.

    Click one external monitor in the diagram.

    Click advanced display settings.

    Click Display adapter properties.

    Click Monitor tab.

    Change refresh rate from 59 to 60 Hz and click OK.

    Repeat with other external monitors.

    I hope this info helps others who have suffered with this long-annoying problem like I have...

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  2. Anonymous
    2017-01-04T19:16:37+00:00

    I've been having intermittent issues with my Surface Pro 3 and dock as you've described here.  Your troubleshooting steps worked for me, though I've just come across another bit of evidence that may point to a dock issue.

    I had my updates freeze during downloads and the whole Settings app would freeze when trying to check the Update History.  I restarted my Surface Pro 3 and again my dual-monitor setup (these are 2 older Dell U2412M connected via mini DP to DP cables directly to the Surface Dock's two mini DP ports) went blank.

    I attempted to check the Surface Dock firmware (and update if needed) by installing the Microsoft Surface Dock Updater software here:  https://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/itpro/surface/surface-dock-updater

    Immediately upon successful installation of the tool (NO firmware check, NO downloads, nothing), the dual external monitors came back to life.  I did notice during the install that the status light on the dock connector flashed, indicating a Surface Dock restart.

    So I believe that a power cycle on the dock may likely fix the issue by itself, and I'll check that out if the problem happens again.  Granted this is a one-time anecdotal account, but the problem is still happening for me today and it would be great to get some confirmation of a dock restart fixing the issue reliably (or, maybe, in a perfect world, for Microsoft to fix their product <gasp!>).

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  3. Anonymous
    2016-12-07T15:38:10+00:00

    I have  a Surface Pro 3. My External Monitor wasn't working through my Mini Display Port to HDMI Vizio Monitor. I went into Device Manager -> Display Adapters. I Disabled the Addapter Screen Blacked out and came back on. I then re enabled the Adapter and it picked up on my monitor.

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  4. Anonymous
    2016-05-20T13:23:39+00:00

    I'm still having intermittent problems and the work around I posted earlier about using the old windows display properties to bring the external monitors back to life does not seem to work in the latest Windows 10 Insider build (14342). I think they finally got rid of the old display settings.

    I have ordered the new Surface dock because it does not need an external display port adapter (it has 2 display port outputs on the dock). Plus there is also a recent firmware update for this dock which is meant to improve stability for multi monitor setups.

    I'll post again when I have it working..

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  5. Anonymous
    2016-05-20T13:00:46+00:00

    I face the same issues here, would be great if someone had found a resolution.

    Surface 3 Pro, Surface 3 Pro Docking Station, Mini Displayport Displayport cable to Dell Monitor. Tried different cables and ports on the monitor, had same issue when I last used a monitor and though it was the monitor...

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