Then they released a firmware update that supposedly allowed for passive adapters, but I find the active ones still work better. Microsoft didn't advertise this in the beginning, but they used to require the active adapters. Additionally, make sure you are using Active mDP cables. Have you updated the dock firmware? That solved a lot of my issues. I have not attempted this so is next on my list to do. Then plug it in and see if you have the same problems. I think would I would do, is take one of the problem Pro 4's and restore it to factory, without your image. Unfortunately a dock is required for 2 external No, if a monitor is connected directly, it works fine.

Interested to hear what others think and how to resolve.ĭoes it flicker if you just connect it directly to a monitor? From my point of view, all machines have been given the same image, same updates, i cannot find a common denominator between the devices that do work and those that dont.įurthermore, on devices where it has been failing, if they are re-imaged with the same image that i know works on other identical hardware and it still fails before any additional updates etc are applied which leads me to think perhaps this is a hardware error? I cannot say for certain they were shipped to us like this since most users only had a dock given to them at a later date. So this tells me there is something wrong with the machines themselves. Now, we have many more Surface 4 pro 4 and Surface Book devices that DO work with the same docks/monitors/cables etc that the original machines didn't. The machines themselves are a mixture of Windows and 1709. The docks tested have been with original firmware supplied, and also the latest firmware downloaded on them with no difference. We have many spare docks/monitor cables/monitors/power cables to test with all with the same result. Renders the machine completely useless until the display is removed from the dock. This is happening to the point where the screen is flickering multiple times a second, it never settles down and impossible to read anything on screen. As soon as either 1 or 2 displays are introduced, the Surface's screen will flicker like mad constantly, i get no output on the external monitors. For example, network/USBs/power etc all works. The docks work fine when no monitors are added. Each device is being used with a dock, with 2 mini display-port adapters from the dock > DVI into the 2 monitors. This is getting ridiculous now, we have 4 Surface Pro 4 devices and 1 Surface Book with official Microsoft docks.

Microsoft display dock for surface 4