Surface Book 2 screen flicker issue

Hi,

I have a significant update:

Over the past couple of weeks I have been working with Microsoft Tech Support (who was interfacing with MS Engineering). Today, I spent some time with tech support testing out a possible fix for this issue. I am VERY PLEASED to report, it appears they have given me a fix that WORKS!!!!!

The fix is a very simple registry setting. I have been playing with things since making the change and have not seen the issue anymore...

This clearly works with Surface Book 2. I don't know if it will work for other surface devices but if you have this registry entry, you can try making the change. The step to fix is as follows:

1. Open up Regedit (to edit registry)
2. Backup your registry before making the change - Once in Regedit, Right-Click on Computer, then Export to backup file, can put on desktop...
3. In the image below, it shows you where the registry entry is. You need to find this, locate the "FeatureTestControl" entry where the image shows you to find it. The value for FeatureTestControl should show: 0x00009240. Right-Click on this entry and modify binary, change the 40 to 50. Then exit registry.

Note, as indicated on left side, I had to select 0001. If for some reason you don't see FeatureTraceControl there, you could check 0000 just above 0001. Again, I saw it at entry 0000.

4. Once you have exited registry, Reboot system

Again, this worked for me and hopefully for you.

Let me know if this works for you.

Thanks,

• DM51

P.S.   Great work by Microsoft getting this resolved!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hello!

I just came across this thread after purchasing a SurfaceBook 2 upgrading from a OG SurfaceBook. I bought the 

15 inch

Core i7

16 GB

1 TB SSD

And experienced the same screen issues mentioned here. I can report the fix worked for me. Thanks for this post. I really like the SB 2, it's a fantastic device but the screen issues was really getting annoying.

Hi DMS1

Yesterday, I purchased a Surface Book 2 15/i7/512. During my time with the device, I've noticed some irregularities with how the display operates. I tried reading through the entire topic, but it has gotten fairly long.

I would like to describe what I am seeing with my, otherwise, great new computer to see if the described registry edit will resolve the issues. I did take the unit to the local Microsoft Store, but the technician was adamant that what I was seeing was "normal" for a new device. (Funny thing, I purchased an i5 SB2 for my Church and have had no screen issues whatsoever, so I don't think that the technician was correct with his "diagnosis". I even rolled the SB2 back to 1709, but that didn't fix the problem.

Anyhow, here is what I am seeing:

. Frequently, the screen will turn off at the login screen requiring another press of the power button to bring it up again.

. When the screen's brightness is set very low, it is not uncommon to see the brightness level start to go up incrementally ever so slightly and then step back down.

. Often the screen will come out of screen saver...or sleep...at full brightness for a moment or two...before settling down to my chosen level.

I traced the described path and found the target data field in the Registry. Being uncomfortable making changes to the Registry, I want to make sure that I'm not making an unnecessary modification.

Thanks!

Paul (aka Dexman)

Hi LogainAblar,

I agree, the SB2 is a very nice device and this screen issue was annoying - very happy to hear fix worked for you as well...

Thanks,

-DM51

Hi Paul,

I agree, great device but the display problem i reported on in this thread was very annoying but now works 100% for me and others...

As to the problems you described, this one is the one this thread will address:

. When the screen's brightness is set very low, it is not uncommon to see the brightness level start to go up incrementally ever so slightly and then step back down.

You should notice that if you have your charger plugged in and connected to SB2, you will NOTsee the issue. It is only when unplugged that you see this. Something i pointed out in the thread but because, as you said, the thread is quite long, it might have been missed. For most people, by changing the registry setting as i outlined, it should resolve this issue. Very much worth doing if you find that particular issue annoying to you...

As to the other issues, i don't think this fix will address those. You could hunt around the forum to see if others identified those issues. 

I personally don't put my system to sleep hardly at all (if at all) so cannot comment on that one. Also, when i turn my system on, i always sign in right away with the facial recognition feature so haven't seen that issue.

Hope that helps some.

-DM51