A fix for this issue is now available through Windows Update. Please review the Surface Book 3 Update History page.
Eddy.
Surface Book 3 - external keyboard and mouse
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Anonymous
I have a SB3 connected to a Surface Dock which has FullHD touch monitor, USB keyboard and mouse connected to it. I have used this setup without any issues for over 2 years with Surface Laptop 1.
With the SB3 the keyboard and mouse 'stutter' meaning characters are lost or autorepeat due to missing down or up codes. Mouse motion ceases then resumes.
I have a video of the mouse re I continuously move the mouse in a circle
https://1drv.ms/v/s!ArzFfLr\_MuyC294iYcJ4cavRP\_nIvA?e=qdqCjY
I have tried plugging the mouse into one of the SB3 USB ports and get the same result.
I know others have seen this problem. It should be easy to reproduce. Can someone from Microsoft try this please.
This looks to be a level USB message handling problem. Note that the USB is not unloading.
David
Surface | Surface Book | Power and battery
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Anonymous
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Anonymous
2020-12-16T18:33:06+00:00 I *could* use my USB analyser to see exactly what is going on but I've left that to Microsoft. It only *appears* to affect HID keyboard/mouse.
David
Actually, I have an external webcam that is also affected now and then. Image freezes, computer says it can't find it anymore.
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Anonymous
2020-12-16T18:34:22+00:00 I can confirm that.
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Anonymous
2020-12-16T18:55:14+00:00 Found a "solution" by connecting a USB2.0 HUB directly to the SB3 and PLUG the Logitech receivers (G915 & G603) into it. After this measure only very sporadic issues with mouse and keyboard (hangs are still present but much shorter and there is no lost or autorepeat).
Before it was not possible to work becasue error rate was to high.
MS really need to FIX it. I have the lastes Dock 2 and G915 & G603 are working without issues on other devices.
The HUB has a ferrite core on the connection cable.
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Anonymous
2020-12-16T19:01:44+00:00 I have, for many months, been running Folding@Home at 30%ish CPU usage to prevent this issue occurring.
In that entire time I have not once had the issue occur, as long as the F@H client is operating. This is with normal wired keyboard and mouse, external USB hub attached to the dock, and multiple USB devices.
As soon as I stop running F@H, the issue returns. So it's demonstrably related to some level of power management caused through low CPU / idle CPU states. Keep the CPU somewhat busy, problem does not occur.
So while running a third party piece of software like F@H just to make an expensive laptop work properly is not ideal, it's worth pointing out that as long as you do so, the SB3 runs completely 'normally' with no further workarounds required.
It's the best workaround solution I've found so far as it requires zero change to any other usage or preference - no need to use special keyboards or dongles or anything. Run F@H in background, problem goes away, use SB3 as normal.