Surface Pro 3 will not boot when mounted in Docking Station

Question

My SP3 started doing this about a month ago. When I turn it on when mounted in the docking station it will go into a black screen mode with the back light on. The only thing plugged into the docking station is the SP3. No monitors or USB devices.

When I open the docking station so the SP3 loses connection with it the Surface Logo comes up and the system will boot. It will continue to boot even if I close the docking station right away.

If I plug the charging cable into the SP3 it will boot normally. 

The only time it doesn't boot normally is when it is mounted in the docking station.

I continually check for updates and apply them but none seem to help. I just did my last update check before I started writing this and there are none to apply.

What else can I do to fix this so I don't have to keep monkeying around opening and closing the docking station?

Answer 1

Hi Bill,

Generally, cumulative updates are released every second Tuesday of the month. We advise that you check for these updates as these updates can resolve your concern about your Surface Dock and Surface Pro 3 during boot up. You can also run the Surface Diagnostic Toolkit to check and rectify software issues on your device.

We'll keep an eye out for your response.

Regards.

Answer 2

Hi Bill,

We understand that your Surface Pro 3 won't boot when mounted to the docking station.

This issue is usually resolved by downloading the latest drivers and firmware for both Surface Pro 3 and it's docking station.

To download and install the latest drivers and firmware for your Surface Pro 3, click on this link.

To download and run the Surface Dock Updater, click on this link.  

Let us know how it goes after installing the suggested updates.

Answer 3

does the updater work for the original Surface Pro 3 dock, where the SP3 is

MOUNTED in the dock as per the subject? or is the updater only for the new brick

style stand alone dock?

>> run the Surface Dock Updater

Answer 4

Thank you for pointing that out, Barb.

The Surface device needs to be mounted to the docking station for the firmware update to proceed.

Because of the statement "When I open the docking station so the SP3 loses connection with it the Surface Logo comes up and the system will boot. It will continue to boot even if I close the docking station right away", I might have interpreted it differently. I was thinking that the Surface device successfully rebooted.

However, if I got that wrong, then Bill can skip that.

Again, thanks.

Answer 5

Thank you for pointing that out, Barb.

The Surface device needs to be mounted to the docking station for the firmware update to proceed.

Because of the statement "When I open the docking station so the SP3 loses connection with it the Surface Logo comes up and the system will boot. It will continue to boot even if I close the docking station right away", I might have interpreted it differently. I was thinking that the Surface device successfully rebooted.

However, if I got that wrong, then Bill can skip that.

Again, thanks.

I was able to get the Surface Pro3 to boot when plugged into the docking station after I posted the original question in July. I can't remember how that happened now.

Sadly, it started doing the same thing again yesterday. When the Surface is plugged into the docking station it will not boot. I get a backlit dark screen and it will stay that way until I turn the Surface off. If I open the docking station so the Surface isn't connected to the station it will then boot. I can then close the docking station on the Surface and it will function properly from that time until I need to reboot. 

I have noticed that if I close the docking station after the word Surface appears on the screen the boot process freezes. If I reopen the docking station the boot process will continue and the circling busy indicator will be displayed. Once I see that indicator I can close the docking station and the Surface will continue to boot. 

I agree this probably has something to do with updates. However they are updates that are automatically installed and are not well thought out by the people providing them. They are screwing up the Surface or the docking station.

I just checked and my Surface reports it is up to date with all updates. From the description provided in the Surface Dock Updater application it only works with the Surface Dock and not with the older Docking Station.  

The problem I have is when will a new update come along that will resolve the problem? Should I wait or should I remove updates that were installed several days ago?

Bill