Surface Pro 3 external monitor / display port issues

Anonymous

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.

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129 answers

Anonymous

2014-11-26T17:06:42+00:00

I am also getting this issue and it has become more evident since the last firmware update 18/11/2014.

I use the surface 3 for working and I can't spend a random amount of time (never less than 15 minutes and up to 1 hour) every morning plugging and unplugging cables while I restart everything.

I also contacted the surface support (UK) and they told me it was the first time they heard of the issue. They couldn't do anything to help me in the end. I thought I found the solution when I shut down the device instead of resetting and it worked but today I have been proved wrong.

I have a reference number for the issue but... if they don't know anything about it... what's the point in me losing 1h with them?

so far, I have been able to recover with just a "shutdown" (hold the button until it dies). Reboot does not work. my workaround is to always do a "shutdown" when I know I am heading back from a meeting to the docking station. then everything fires up just fine for me, other than the time it takes to spin it up.

hope the next firmware fixes this issue.

I also looked for the "disable wireless on LAN" in the Bios, and it does not exist.

:-(((
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Anonymous

2014-11-21T14:39:10+00:00

I don't have a solution & I have given up on finding one (Vista anyone?), however I figured I would let everyone know it has been an issue since the beginning. My SP1 has the same mini DP issue where it doesn't fully detect the external monitor on reboot and occasionally waking. Disconnecting and reconnecting seems to work for me. I also have the same issue occasionally with the USB and KB ports. If I wake the SP1 with the KB flipped around back, I usually have to disconnect & reconnect to get it to recognize. I didn't connect an external monitor until earlier this year. I wish I had done it earlier so I could attest as to whether or not it used to work, confirming an update would fix it.
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Anonymous

2014-11-18T20:56:20+00:00

My Surface Pro 3 worked great for about a month, then the "i really don't want to completely wake up from sleep" mode kicked in.

my monitors have never been a problem, as i use the mini dv on the docking station and on the SP3 for my dual setup.

however, my wireless keyboard/mouse and even the touch screen does not respond to anything.

sometimes i can see the 8.1 screen, but nothing is active, just the view, no touch screen, no mouse, no keyboard, no nothing. Nothing i do wakes it up. i have to manually power off the SP3, reboot (when it let's me) does not release the sleep either. once it's powered off/on, it works.

very frustrating when files and process were active.

anyone?????
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Anonymous

2014-11-04T16:01:42+00:00

Chalker2, this did the trick.

SP3 i7. 2 Dells U2715H

I am not using a hub, rather 2 monitors daisy chained from the dock ( dock => **** (First Monitor) => mDP (Second monitor).

Applied all updates in the dock. Followed your steps. Worked the first time.

I wonder if unplugging the dock from power (for over 30 seconds) is the key step here, I have read in another post that should be done.

Thanks, you have saved me a headache and a number of wasted hours. I love my SP3, and this was a show stopper.
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Anonymous

2014-10-13T21:20:38+00:00

I just wanted to throw my hat in this ring... I have the same setup, but I'm using a Club 3D MST hub and (2)Dell P2314 monitors, and have the same issue. Additional monitors work great until the Surface goes to sleep or restarts. After reboot, the Surface does not detect the additional monitors at all. This is a new Surface Pro 3 that I haven't customized yet, so I can confirm the reset/refresh option does not help. I have installed all Microsoft updates with the Surface in the docking station.

After trying many workarounds and frustratingly watching as suggested fixes do nothing to help, we've dumped these MST-type hubs for DisplayLink USB3 hubs to enable a dual monitor setup. We run one monitor from the mDP port in the back of the Surface dock, then have the other monitor plugged into the USB3 dock that's plugged into the Surface dock (I know, ridiculous). Video performance is good for what we need (business use), but I'm sure this setup would not be sufficient for gamers or those with high performance video needs.

So, I'm not sure if the fix for this lies with Microsoft, Intel's graphics, or the makers of the MST hubs, but it's very frustrating that we can't use dual external monitors with the Surface dock without a menagerie of workarounds and hubs. Every other business-grade laptop dock supports dual external monitors out of the box (well, at least Dell, which is what we used before this).
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