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Surface 3 (not pro) loses mDP signal (Mini display port to HDMI cable; also tried active HDMI adapter)

Anonymous
2015-07-19T14:57:11+00:00

I have a Surface 3 hooked up to a Samsung monitor that supports up to 1920 x 1080p.

I have successfully got my Samsung displaying my Surface 3 as a second screen with a Mini display port to HDMI cable.

After roughly 2 weeks of using this setup my Samsung goes blank which leaves me to disconnect the mDP cable from the Surface 3 to give me signal back to the Surface 3 tablet screen.  I restart the Surface 3 and attempt to hook up the mDP cable to the Samsung again and everything works for sometimes 30mins, other times 2 hours and the process happens all over again.

My attempts so far:

  1. Try a different Mini display port to HDMI cable.
  2. Same problem.
  3. Try another (different make) Mini display port to HDMI cable.
  4. Same problem.
  5. Try a Mini display port to active HDMI adapter then use a high quality HDMI to the Samsung.
  6. Same problem but my blank screen has red scramble pixels down the left side of the screen.
  7. Uninstall the Intel graphics drivers and use windows update to install them again.
  8. Same problem.
  9. Uninstall the Windows update Intel graphics drivers again but install with Intel's own drivers (giving me an Intel control panel in the bottom right of the screen)
  10. Same problem.
  11. When the screen goes blank make an attempt to plug the HDMI cable to a different external display that supports 1920 x 1080p
  12. Still blank screen with stripped coloured pixels.
  13. Wipe Surface 3's hard disk and reinstall Windows 8.1 again.
  14. Same problem.
  15. Uninstall Windows update Intel graphics drivers from device manager, disable Windows automatic update, install Intel's graphic drivers manually.
  16. Same problem.

9) Installed Windows 10 Professional (fresh install)

9) So far I haven't received any faults with my mDP to HDMI's signal. (12/08/15)

UPDATE: (13/08/15)

9) I have noticed that it does lose signal still but it doesn't crash the screen out as before, the monitor goes blank for a second and throws me into the lock-screen.  From where I just press "Enter" on the keyboard  and I can carry on.  Presuming this is the same fault but now altered to this...It's not a total fix, but it avoids having to restart the Surface whenever the signal scrambled.

Also, I have noticed the Microsoft HDMI Wireless Adapter doesn't lose signal at all (tested this for a couple of weeks), but that's more of a workaround than a solution.

Signal failure images:

If anyone could help me or if they need further information please get back to me.

Thank you

Phil

PS I will be adding to the attempt list above.

Surface | Surface Studio | Display and screen

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  1. Anonymous
    2015-08-12T11:38:48+00:00

    Hi Daniel2504,

    Are you having the same issue?  It appears Windows 10 has kinda cleared up mine.

    Best of luck.

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  2. Anonymous
    2015-08-04T14:08:44+00:00

    Hello

    I'm experiencing the same issue, with a mDP to VGA adapter. After "a while" (30 min to 60 min), the external screen goes black, and it usually gets back on after a reboot (but not all the time... sometimes, I have to wait a few hours, and try again to reboot).

    I have tried and have the same issue with 2 different brands of adapters, StarTech.com is even mDP 1.2 compliant.

    Same issue with 2 different screens (Samsung, iiyama).

    Same issue if mode is extended, duplicate or 2nd screen only.

    Same issue if different resolutions used.

    The tablet mentions no updates available on Windows Update, running Windows 8.1.

    It looks like many people experience this behavior (http://www.surfaceforums.net/threads/surface-3-mini-display-port-crash.15370/)

    Is a fix on the display drivers foreseen in a near future ?

    Thanks

    Daniel

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  3. Anonymous
    2015-07-21T14:23:53+00:00

    Hello Phil

    Thanks for reaching out to us.  Sorry to hear you are having trouble with an external display.

    From what you are saying, this setup has worked in the past.

    Have you tried a different external display?

    Did you reset Surface using a fresh USB recovery image, or another source of Windows 8.1?

    Did you install all updates and check this external display before applying any personal settings and adding any apps, programs?

    Is Surface domain joined or in a business environment?

    Among the others, have you tried using the official Surface MDP adapter?

    Have you tried using different display resolutions?

    Best regards

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