Surface Dock Keeps Disconnecting Intermittently

So without reading through this whole thread... I would agree that this is something new and for me only has been happening for the last couple of months. This is occurring on my Surface Book 2 when connected to a Surface Docking station version 1 and is only for usb devices connected through the docking station. 

However I did notice it only occurs when my system in under heavy use (power consumption). When the problem happens I can hear my internal fan blowing hard and I usually have Photoshop or my security cameras open, which are 4K. The problem will continue until I close one of the heavily consuming apps (i.e. security camera). As soon as I close one of these apps, the problem immediately stops. 

Now if I remember correctly, I saw another thread that say the original docking station (version 1, with the mini display ports) is under-powered for the Surface.... but then I can also fall back and say I didn't experience this a few months ago. 

I would see if when this occurs is yours system under heavy use.

David

I have the same problem. I have to connect to my company VPN through the dock. It keeps disconnecting often. Wireless is not an option for me, as we are using the hardware based SOHO firewall.

I figured it is related to CPU utilization. When the CPU is utilized 100% for more than few seconds continuously, then the disconnect happens. I still couldn't figure out the fix though. I am able to prove this multiple times. Now I am planning to dump the process names that utilizes the CPU.

Here is what I did, I installed cygwin and pinged it with timestamp using the following command.

ping hostname | awk '{if($0 ~ /bytes from/){print strftime()"|"$0}else print}'

In another windows, I displayed CPU utilization with timestamp using the command.

typeperf "\processor(_total)% processor time"

===========

PING

===========

Fri Mar 12 04:25:04 MST 2021|64 bytes from **.***.***.***: icmp_seq=472 ttl=59 time=275.212 ms

Fri Mar 12 04:25:05 MST 2021|64 bytes from **.***.***.***: icmp_seq=473 ttl=59 time=274.938 ms

Fri Mar 12 04:25:06 MST 2021|64 bytes from **.***.***.***: icmp_seq=474 ttl=59 time=274.379 ms

Fri Mar 12 04:25:07 MST 2021|64 bytes from **.***.***.***: icmp_seq=475 ttl=59 time=274.488 ms

Fri Mar 12 04:25:08 MST 2021|64 bytes from **.***.***.***: icmp_seq=476 ttl=59 time=274.565 ms

Fri Mar 12 04:25:09 MST 2021|64 bytes from **.***.***.***: icmp_seq=477 ttl=59 time=275.034 ms

Fri Mar 12 04:25:10 MST 2021|64 bytes from **.***.***.***: icmp_seq=478 ttl=59 time=276.996 ms

Fri Mar 12 04:25:19 MST 2021|92 bytes from **.***.***.***: Destination Host Unreachable

Fri Mar 12 04:25:26 MST 2021|92 bytes from **.***.***.***: Destination Host Unreachable

Fri Mar 12 04:25:26 MST 2021|64 bytes from **.***.***.***: icmp_seq=485 ttl=59 time=273.836 ms

Fri Mar 12 04:25:27 MST 2021|64 bytes from **.***.***.***: icmp_seq=486 ttl=59 time=275.684 ms

Fri Mar 12 04:25:28 MST 2021|64 bytes from **.***.***.***: icmp_seq=487 ttl=59 time=274.435 ms

Fri Mar 12 04:25:29 MST 2021|64 bytes from **.***.***.***: icmp_seq=488 ttl=59 time=273.934 ms

Fri Mar 12 04:25:30 MST 2021|64 bytes from **.***.***.***: icmp_seq=489 ttl=59 time=276.334 ms

Fri Mar 12 04:25:31 MST 2021|64 bytes from **.***.***.***: icmp_seq=490 ttl=59 time=274.747 ms

Fri Mar 12 04:25:32 MST 2021|64 bytes from **.***.***.***: icmp_seq=491 ttl=59 time=273.984 ms

Fri Mar 12 04:25:33 MST 2021|64 bytes from **.***.***.***: icmp_seq=492 ttl=59 time=275.294 ms

Fri Mar 12 04:25:34 MST 2021|64 bytes from **.***.***.***: icmp_seq=493 ttl=59 time=273.680 ms

Fri Mar 12 04:25:35 MST 2021|64 bytes from **.***.***.***: icmp_seq=494 ttl=59 time=274.148 ms

Fri Mar 12 04:25:36 MST 2021|64 bytes from **.***.***.***: icmp_seq=495 ttl=59 time=274.047 ms

Fri Mar 12 04:25:37 MST 2021|64 bytes from **.***.***.***: icmp_seq=496 ttl=59 time=274.682 ms

Fri Mar 12 04:25:38 MST 2021|64 bytes from **.***.***.***: icmp_seq=497 ttl=59 time=274.013 ms

Fri Mar 12 04:25:39 MST 2021|64 bytes from **.***.***.***: icmp_seq=498 ttl=59 time=274.197 ms

Fri Mar 12 04:25:40 MST 2021|64 bytes from **.***.***.***: icmp_seq=499 ttl=59 time=275.143 ms

===========

CPU %

===========

"03/12/2021 04:24:52.810","73.836751"

"03/12/2021 04:24:53.810","75.400531"

"03/12/2021 04:24:54.880","100.000000"

"03/12/2021 04:24:55.948","98.210812"

"03/12/2021 04:24:57.179","99.478247"

"03/12/2021 04:24:58.231","98.855878"

"03/12/2021 04:24:59.237","92.018680"

"03/12/2021 04:25:00.240","81.664908"

"03/12/2021 04:25:01.241","90.611966"

"03/12/2021 04:25:02.352","96.062766"

"03/12/2021 04:25:03.435","84.509210"

"03/12/2021 04:25:04.500","99.261699"

"03/12/2021 04:25:05.502","97.661678"

"03/12/2021 04:25:06.504","99.805142"

"03/12/2021 04:25:07.523","99.617132"

"03/12/2021 04:25:08.585","97.793417"

"03/12/2021 04:25:09.601","99.620113"

"03/12/2021 04:25:10.730","100.000000"

"03/12/2021 04:25:11.802","100.000000"

"03/12/2021 04:25:12.827","100.000000"

"03/12/2021 04:25:13.915","99.805712"

"03/12/2021 04:25:14.916","100.000000"

"03/12/2021 04:25:15.920","100.000000"

"03/12/2021 04:25:16.924","100.000000"

"03/12/2021 04:25:17.935","100.000000"

"03/12/2021 04:25:18.951","100.000000"

"03/12/2021 04:25:20.040","100.000000"

"03/12/2021 04:25:21.244","100.000000"

"03/12/2021 04:25:22.300","100.000000"

"03/12/2021 04:25:23.548","100.000000"

"03/12/2021 04:25:24.549","100.000000"

"03/12/2021 04:25:25.550","100.000000"

"03/12/2021 04:25:26.550","100.000000"

"03/12/2021 04:25:27.567","100.000000"

"03/12/2021 04:25:28.576","96.882254"

"03/12/2021 04:25:29.578","91.612717"

"03/12/2021 04:25:30.586","81.210895"

"03/12/2021 04:25:31.597","95.746974"

"03/12/2021 04:25:32.598","95.711028"

"03/12/2021 04:25:33.599","85.746941"

"03/12/2021 04:25:34.599","78.913263"

"03/12/2021 04:25:35.599","42.402013"

"03/12/2021 04:25:36.600","8.325415"

"03/12/2021 04:25:37.602","16.517157"

"03/12/2021 04:25:38.603","15.852942"

"03/12/2021 04:25:39.604","7.827160"

"03/12/2021 04:25:40.606","12.902541"

"03/12/2021 04:25:41.608","8.021962"

"03/12/2021 04:25:42.611","31.799823"

"03/12/2021 04:25:43.613","12.616220"

I have a wireless keyboard, wireless mouse, external USB hard drive, external DVD drive, webcam, 7 channel surround sound and two 27" 1440 monitors. They all work....but I have to clean up the power connector from the dock to the surface pro from time-to-time.

seems that I am not alone, I have been suffering from the surface dock station 2 USB intermittent disconnection for almost a whole year, the problem clearly points to the dock station because if I use a USB Hub connected directly from the laptop. The problem gone. I did quite a lot of online research, not find a good solution until recently. The USB selective power suspension may be the culprit, just go to device manager>USB root hubs>power management>de-select "allow the computer to turn off device to save power" so far so good, I will report if this finally solve the problem.

Thanks Randy. I will try that; I haven't done that previously as I probably separated my screen (tablet) from the keyboard a total of 3 or 4 times. Did not think it was necessary but it is good advice.

Thanks,

Roy