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Surface Pro 7, Pro 3 Docking Station and Mini Display-Port

Anonymous
2019-12-07T23:06:09+00:00

I had a Surface Pro 3 connected to a Surface Pro 3 Docking Station (the one with the back) and have been driving a second monitor (Acer 24" USB3 touchscreen) with no problems. I also have a third screen (LG 34" widescreen) - both of which worked separately using the mini-DP on the Surface Pro 3 and the Docking Station. Both screens work seamlessly with Display Port and HDMI from an ACer 8942G laptop with no issues. 

I now have a Surface Pro 7, and using a USB-C hub plugged into the Surface Pro 7 I can use either screen successfully, and with the USB3 cable plugged into the DS I can still use touch on the Acer, IF its HDMI cable is connected to the Pro 7 directly through the USB-C (not the mini-DP on the DS). Neither screen works with the Pro 7 in the DS using mini-DP.

I've noticed that the Surface Connect slot on the Pro 7 is ever-so-slightly lower than on the Pro 3 - but even if I cushion the Pro 7 just enough to enable a snug fit this does not resolve my problem when trying to use mini-DP on the DS. 

The USB2, USB3, audio and ethernet ports on the Docking Station all work with the Pro 7, so there is no obvious fault with the connection itself, therefore I can only conclude that this must either be a firmware/driver issue or a more deep-rooted incompatibility between the Pro 7 and the mini-DP hardware/protocol itself.

I could get another hub with 2x HDMI connections, however I'm loathe to buy yet more hardware, and have more cables flapping about when there is a dedicated mini-DP on the Docking Station designed for such use-cases - plus I've spent £2k of my own money on a product designed with backwards compatability in mind. 

As MS do not appear to be releasing an updated version of the DS (favoring the smaller dock, instead) will there be any software fix in the immediate future? Is there any other advice or software available now? 

I have tried the troubleshooting methods suggested by StephenG_C, but without success. I am posting this again as there have not been any further responses to the OP's request for assistance. 

Any help would be much appreciated. 

Jaie

Surface | Surface Pro | Display and screen

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  1. Barb Bowman 80,700 Reputation points MVP Volunteer Moderator
    2019-12-09T11:31:43+00:00

    I don't think you will find a dock with HDMI to HDMI..

    A lot depends on what inputs your monitors have. It would be helpful to have the

    specs of your monitors.

    I don't know if Microsoft is working on an updated dock.

    There is no driver or firmware support on the SP7 for the old Surface 3 slide in

    dock. Other customers have used the brick style dock successfully with the new

    SP7.

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  2. Anonymous
    2019-12-08T21:05:11+00:00

    Hello Barb and Jonas, 

    I am indeed trying to use this particular dock with the Pro-7, and everything works, except the mini-DP. I have USB3, USB2, ethernet and audio. I didn't want to replace it as there isn't any up-to-date hardware, either from MS or a third party. 

    I have used the SurfaceDiagnosticToolkit_CSS.exe program, and also applied the surface dock registry.reg file to remove the display cache, but neither solved my issue (I've worked in IT Support for 20 years, hence my previous troubleshooting). 

    I have the latest build of Windows 10 Pro (upgraded from Home via the Store (why is a high-end laptop, aimed primarily at the corporate market and labeled Surface Pro, sold with Windows 10 Home as the default installation?)) with all available updates applied. 

    I have read elsewherethat in order to make it work I should ensure that I am using an activemini-DP adapter and a v2.0 HDMI cable on the Docking Station port - does this make any sense to either of you? 

    The smaller Surface Dock comes "with two high-definition video ports" but they are still mini-DP, not HDMI. The blurb for this dock states that it is compatible with the Pro 7 - so does this mean that the problem I have is with the Pro 3 Docking Station, as opposed to mini-DP? Is the page accurate?

    The MS Surface homepage doesn't list a dock that includes USB3, full-HDMI and USB-C. Does such a dock exist? Is my best option to buy the Surface Dock (which is another £200 on top of what I have already spent, and does the mini-DP really work with the Pro 7?), to get the aforementioned active adapter, or to get a USB-C hub with 2 full-HDMI outputs?

    Many thanks, and apologies for the overly-long explanations - I want to make sure that I don't have to repeat myself or the many diagnostics I have already performed. 

    Jaie

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  3. Barb Bowman 80,700 Reputation points MVP Volunteer Moderator
    2019-12-08T10:29:21+00:00

    This is confusing. Are you trying to use the SP3 dock with a new SP7?

    This dock

    is not supported on SP7. Way back when, Microsoft stated it was not forward compatible with SP5 and up (although some customers could make some functions work). Is this the dock you are trying to use with a SP7?

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  4. Anonymous
    2019-12-08T00:59:21+00:00

    Hello jaiebryce,

    Thank you for reaching out Microsoft Community. We really appreciate all the efforts that you did just to possibly resolve the issue.

    For the meantime, please run**Surface Diagnostic Toolkit****.**It is a self-healing tool which looks for potential issues and fixes them, as well as ensures your device is completely up to date. Or manually check Windows Updates by going to Settings > Update & Security > Windows Updates > Check for updates. 

    Here is the link that we can try do download and install the latest driver for Docking station Click here

    Hope this will help!

    Please keep us posted.

    Regards,

    Jonas_T

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