Surface Pro 4, Screen Flickering, Shaking

Anonymous

Hi All,

Update: Flickergate is now having a forum to bring all affected users at a single platform to plan for resolvement of issue. Please join at

https://forum.flickergate.com

UPDATE: Check FlickerGate.com for videos of the problem and to submit your own.

I purchased SP4 device a few months ago and it was working fine for a month. Then I noticed that when the CPU is at its max, the screen flickers a bit. Investigating further revealed that it flickers even if it is setting idle. It does not flicker if at least one of the following thing is done:

A video being played in browser
If I keep the touch screen busy by either taping it or keeping a finger on it
If I use the touchpad
If keyboard is used for typing

This resulted in making the device completely unusable while reading articles or ebooks. I am a developer, most of the time I have to read the code and to do that, I have to constantly keep a finger on the touch pad or the screen. I contacted surface support in October and November and was told that the developers are working on the patch. Looking at the updates the developers are pushing since then, I don't think anyone is even aware of the problem there.

My previous support ticket numbers are:

***deleted personally identifiable information***

Just wondering if anyone else had the same problem (and the fix) and if not, what's the procedure for the refund? I will rather go for a mac then sacrificing $2000+ for a dancing screen.

Kind Regards,

Abbas

***Personal information deleted by the moderator. Please see the Microsoft Community Frequently Asked Questions for more information on how you can protect your privacy.***

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Anonymous

Hey Everyone,

Creating the best products and experiences for our customers is our top priority.

We have heard your feedback and after careful examination, have determined that a small percentage of Surface Pro 4 devices are exhibiting a screen flicker that cannot be addressed with a firmware or driver update.

To support customers affected by this issue, we will replace eligible Surface Pro 4 devices for up to three years from the date of purchase, free of charge. If you believe your device is experiencing this issue, please visit our Surface Pro 4 screen flicker article for more details.

Bryan [MSFT]

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2,779 additional answers

Anonymous

2017-02-07T10:42:22+00:00

I have exactly the same problem as well! I am a student and I also read a lot of articles and journals on my surface, and now the screen is totally unusable. I too, need to connect to an external display to read texts without the flickering screen. The surface team was willing to send me a replacement but I feel it is too much trouble for me to send the faulty device back (and I seriously suspect that the replacement would also have got the same problem) therefore I haven't started the procedure for the replacement yet. I do hope they can fix it as soon as possible! I like surface when it's working properly, this is just frustrating.
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Anonymous

2017-02-07T19:31:15+00:00

You took the words out of my mouth. For me, replacement will cost upto $600 just in postal service. (Excluding the hazards or sending and receiving). Only thing I am doing currently is to point out this problem again and again on twitter to surface team. https://twitter.com/surface And I ask you guys to do the same.

The support team didn't even called me. I don't think they are even considering to diagnose the problem. let alone fixing it. I would have never complained if it was a moderately priced device, but for such a premium device, its a point of shame for Microsoft team.
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Anonymous

2017-02-08T11:16:07+00:00

Hi Charline,

I wish the support team awaited "my response" Its been a week since I have replied. Unfortunately the device is now having a shaky screen even when the Task Manager is in active window. Its not stopping anymore by mouse clicks or by using keyboard. I haven't changed anything on the device.

I will be really glad if you anyone of you just pretend to care for the problem. I am also happy to smash the device out of frustrations the against the face of the Surface team. Your developers should be ashamed. And your marketing team should have enough guts to warn new buyers against the problem.
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Anonymous

2017-02-08T17:33:17+00:00
Let's try the following:
1. Go to Start.
2. Select Settings > System > Apps & Features.
3. Check to see if Duet Display is listed under installed software. If Duet Display is in the apps list, uninstall it.
If the above resolves the issue, please be advised that we are currently working with Duet Display to have this fixed permanently. If you still experience blinking, flickering,or color shifting, we would want to inform you that we are tracking this experience and working hard to get this resolved as soon as possible. Please keep checking Windows Update often for the fix.

Regards.
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