Surface Pro 4, Screen Flickering, Shaking

Anonymous
2017-01-19T07:47:47+00:00

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:

  1. A video being played in browser 
  2. If I keep the touch screen busy by either taping it or keeping a finger on it
  3. If I use the touchpad
  4. 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***

***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.***

Surface | Surface Pro | Display and screen

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Anonymous
2018-05-11T17:59:00+00:00

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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  1. Anonymous
    2018-02-17T13:18:33+00:00

    Press Windows key + R and type devmgmt.msc in the Run, hit Enter key to open Device Manager snap-in.

    In the Device Manager window, click Display Adapters and Double click on the Intel(R) HD Graphics 520 driver then under the tab Driver you want to restore/roll back and select

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  2. Anonymous
    2018-02-17T14:12:06+00:00

    Unfortunately this is a temporary "fix". It worked for me for about a month or so. At the moment it's unusable. I can cool it down bit by opening my window and it does help a bit, but it's damn cold outside. I've even put a cooler on the back of it just to keep it... well, cooler. I feel so stupid sometimes trying to help this tablet not to get an epileptic seizure screen lol. Did i mention that i'm never buying Microsoft hardware again? Only becose they choose to ignore this peoblem. We all make mistakes. Ask my mom. But we need to deal with them and not hide it under the rug like i did with the accidental fartpoop. Got to clean your **** up Microsoft.

    Yeah I know its a tempo fix. I am now worried given what you said about it holding out for only a month. That seems to be consistent with reports and my personal observation  that the underlying problem gets worse over time .  I must admit that I went for the surface despite my fears about it being produced by a company with comparatively little experience in hardware. But the previous versions seemed to have done quite well. My son has a Surface 3 and has no complaints at all.

    I am not going to say that I will never buy MS hardware again but I certainly am not willing to at this point in time and certainly not until I see better customer service. But you are on the ball when you say "we need to deal with them." Case in point: I was a PC user for all my life and switched to a MacPro 15" in 2011 - lucky me that batch was among those with a graphics chip problem that was far worse than this screen flicker issue. I am talking about the machine being completely useless unless you ran it in command mode. Apple only sorted that out in 2015 (I think) but after court action was taken. I had the board replaced gratis, gave the Mac away and got a Dell XPS which is still up and running.

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  3. Anonymous
    2018-02-17T19:02:09+00:00

    Hi, 

    I have done all these things including installing updated display adapter , updated firmware but problem is same, even on safe mode flickering and blurring  issue appearing. I have also given the remotely access to Microsoft technical expert to check my surface pro they have checked and took necessary setting but problem is same. Microsoft expert gave me service # 1414725224, but neither sent replacement in Pakistan nor refund me invested amount to purchase new one.

    Microsoft is saying that replacement could be in U.A, U.A.E or India, but as per pakistani custom rules no electronics items can be dispatched to any other country without importer and exporter documents. While I have purchased it from Dubai by cash and not imported.

    I have sent two reminder to Microsoft technical expert regarding service # 1414725224 but he is not replying me.

    Please Microsoft look into this matter and if you can not replace the product in Pakistan then refund me surface pro 4 amount after necessary deduction (if any).

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  4. Anonymous
    2018-02-17T21:11:21+00:00

    The closest Microsoft store is in Nashville, TN, which is 3 hours away. Unfortunately, I don't have time to drive that far, but I'll probably call them to see how they'd handle the situation if I did end up choosing to drive a 6-hour round trip drive to get this thing fixed.

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