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
    2018-07-04T14:27:35+00:00

    Hi

    The problem is that this situation has already occurred to me 3 (three) times and only the fourth (4th) time they have returned the money ... with SF3.

    Imagine the work and the inconvenience and the cost that I had in uninstalling the licenses of all the software that I use (I am a designer engineer and investigated ...)

    I fell into the enormous blunder of acquiring an SF4 (because they "assured" me that now with SF4 Microsoft had solved all the problems ...

    I'm traumatized by it all. I wish the problem was not hardware ... but we all know it's a tablet architecture problem ..

    I still have my SF4 within the warranty period and will only return it on the last day of the deadline ... there may be a miracle.

    p.s.

    I write in my native language with automatic translation, because I'm tired of wasting time with this s....

    UPDATE: I was able to access the web site using a different browser than Microsoft's Edge browser and called the number.

    It took me a little while to get to a real person, but not to bad considering this age of phone menus and run arounds. The Microsoft associate took my information, opened my case, e-mailed me some simple instructions for me to take a photo of the flickering. That was difficult since my flicker was intermittent and so I had to wait for it to begin. Then it was so high frequency it was hard to see it in a photo, it almost was un-detectable in a photo. But I took a few pictures and sent it to the rep, who I was in direct contact with via phone and e-mail (very nice to be able to talk to the same person each time and directly, a plus for Microsoft so I didn't have to keep giving different people a case number and waiting for them to read the report and figure it out). I was given simple instructions on how to send the machine back to them very quickly, about 2 days, after sending in my pictures of the problem. The hard part was on my side since the computer is my daily machine, I had to switch to a different computer and make sure I could operate a normal day on a different computer. I also had to make sure all my data was backed up and retrievable. Its a difficult move to delete everything for fear that you don't have it all. That took me a few weeks to get done, but them I sent the machine in and within 6 days I had a new refurbished computer. I have been on it about 5 days now and all seems to be running well. It is definitely used, but I hope no other issues appear in a short time that would give me problems. So far so good and I am happy with Microsoft's support to resolve the issue for me, as my original machine was out of warranty. I do really enjoy my Surface 4 and it is the perfect machine for my daily usage.

    Hope others have as good of an experience as I did getting their computers replaced.

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  2. Anonymous
    2018-07-03T23:50:36+00:00

    UPDATE: I was able to access the web site using a different browser than Microsoft's Edge browser and called the number.

    It took me a little while to get to a real person, but not to bad considering this age of phone menus and run arounds. The Microsoft associate took my information, opened my case, e-mailed me some simple instructions for me to take a photo of the flickering. That was difficult since my flicker was intermittent and so I had to wait for it to begin. Then it was so high frequency it was hard to see it in a photo, it almost was un-detectable in a photo. But I took a few pictures and sent it to the rep, who I was in direct contact with via phone and e-mail (very nice to be able to talk to the same person each time and directly, a plus for Microsoft so I didn't have to keep giving different people a case number and waiting for them to read the report and figure it out). I was given simple instructions on how to send the machine back to them very quickly, about 2 days, after sending in my pictures of the problem. The hard part was on my side since the computer is my daily machine, I had to switch to a different computer and make sure I could operate a normal day on a different computer. I also had to make sure all my data was backed up and retrievable. Its a difficult move to delete everything for fear that you don't have it all. That took me a few weeks to get done, but them I sent the machine in and within 6 days I had a new refurbished computer. I have been on it about 5 days now and all seems to be running well. It is definitely used, but I hope no other issues appear in a short time that would give me problems. So far so good and I am happy with Microsoft's support to resolve the issue for me, as my original machine was out of warranty. I do really enjoy my Surface 4 and it is the perfect machine for my daily usage.

    Hope others have as good of an experience as I did getting their computers replaced.

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  3. Anonymous
    2018-07-03T23:22:33+00:00

    Have you called Microsoft Hotline about your problem?

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  4. Anonymous
    2018-07-03T15:07:36+00:00

    635/5000

    Good afternoon everyone

    Someone has already dealt with the following situation and apparently is the same as my case

    I am still using the SF4 within the warranty period.

    In most situations I use it connected to a docking station and the problem of flickering is worsening with the heating of the SF4 until the screen turns completely dark with the edge slightly visible.

    Of the few times I used SF4 without the docking, this problem did not arise, even though I only was using Excel ...

    p.s.

    My native language is not the English. As I'm tired of complaining about this crap I'm using google translator ..simply ...

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