Jun 04, 2018 Microsoft Complete includes four services: 1. Extended warranty. Out of the box, a new Surface Pro and its accessories come with a one-year warranty that protects you. Free warranty and other features check for all Microsoft models. You only need to provide the IMEI number and you will receive all information about, the country, network and warranty.
This article provides a detailed walkthrough of Microsoft Surface Dock Updater.
The Microsoft Surface Dock Updater tool allows you to check the firmware status of a Surface Dock and to manually update the firmware of Surface Dock devices. It is most often used to update Surface Docks prior to deployment of those Surface Docks to end users or as a troubleshooting tool. Microsoft Surface Dock Updater walks you through the process of updating the firmware on one or more Surface Docks, including the required connect and disconnect steps to perform the complete firmware installation.
When you run the Microsoft Surface Dock Updater installer you will be prompted to accept an End User License Agreement (EULA).
Note
Updating Surface Dock firmware requires connectivity to the Surface Dock via the Surface Connect™ port. Installation of the Microsoft Surface Dock Updater is only supported on devices that feature the Surface Connect™ port.
Note
The Surface Dock Updater tool is unable to run on Windows 10 S. To manually update a Surface Dock for use with Surface Laptop and Windows 10 S, connect the Surface Dock to another Surface device with a Windows 10 Pro or Windows 10 Enterprise environment.
Update a Surface Dock with Microsoft Surface Dock Updater
After you install the Microsoft Surface Dock Updater tool, you can find Microsoft Surface Dock Updater under All Apps in your Start menu. Click Microsoft Surface Dock Updater to start the application.
To update a Surface Dock with Microsoft Surface Dock Updater, follow these steps:
- Click Start to begin the firmware update process. If you do not have a Surface Dock connected, you will be prompted to connect a Surface Dock.
- Microsoft Surface Dock Updater checks the status of your Surface Dock firmware.
- If the tool determines that the firmware of your Surface Dock is up to date, a You have the latest firmware for this Surface Dock message is displayed, as shown in Figure 1.Figure 1. Your Surface Dock firmware is up to date
- If Microsoft Surface Dock Updater determines that the firmware of your Surface Dock is not up to date, a This Surface Dock is not running the latest firmware message is displayed, as shown in Figure 2.Figure 2. Your Surface Dock firmware needs to be updated
- To begin the firmware update process, click Update on the Surface Dock Firmware page.
- Before the firmware update process begins, you will be prompted for confirmation. Click OK to proceed or Cancel to return to the Surface Dock Firmware page displaying the status of your Surface Dock firmware.
- As the firmware update is uploaded to the Surface Dock, a Progress page is displayed, as shown in Figure 3. Do not disconnect the Surface Dock while firmware is being uploaded.Figure 3. Progress of firmware update upload to Surface Dock
- After the firmware update has successfully uploaded to the Surface Dock, you are prompted to disconnect and then reconnect the Surface Dock from the Surface device, as shown in Figure 4. The main chipset firmware update will be applied while the Surface Dock is disconnected.Figure 4. Disconnect and reconnect Surface Dock when prompted
- When the main chipset firmware update is verified, the DisplayPort chipset firmware update will be uploaded to the Surface Dock. Upon completion, a Success page is displayed and you will again be prompted to disconnect the Surface Dock, as shown in Figure 5.Figure 5. Successful upload of Surface Dock firmware
- After you disconnect the Surface Dock the DisplayPort firmware update will be installed. This process occurs on the Surface Dock hardware while it is disconnected. The Surface Dock must remain powered for up to 3 minutes after it has been disconnected for the firmware update to successfully install. An Update in Progress page is displayed (as shown in Figure 6), with a countdown timer to show the estimated time remaining to complete the firmware update installation.Figure 6. Countdown timer to complete firmware installation on Surface Dock
- If you want to update multiple Surface Docks in one sitting, you can click the Update another Surface Dock button to begin the process on the next Surface Dock.NoteThe LED in the Ethernet port of the dock will blink while the update is in progress. Please wait until the LED stops blinking before you unplug your Surface Dock from power.
Troubleshooting Microsoft Surface Dock Updater
If the Surface Dock firmware update process encounters an installation error with either firmware update, the Encountered an unexpected error page may be displayed, as shown in Figure 7.
Figure 7. Firmware update installation has encountered an error
Microsoft Surface Dock Updater logs its progress into the Event Log, as shown in Figure 8. If you need to troubleshoot an update through this tool, you will find Surface Dock events recorded with the following event IDs:
Event ID | Event type |
---|---|
12100 | Up-to-date confirmation |
12101 | Event in the main chipset firmware update process |
12102 | Event in the DisplayPort chipset firmware update process |
12105 | Error |
Figure 8. Surface Dock Updater events in Event Viewer
Changes and updates
Microsoft periodically updates Surface Dock Updater.
Note
Each update to Surface Dock firmware is included in a new version of Surface Dock Updater. To update a Surface Dock to the latest firmware, you must use the latest version of Surface Dock Updater.
Version 2.23.139.0
Release Date: 10 October 2018
This version of Surface Dock Updater adds support for the following:
- Add support for Surface Pro 6
- Add support for Surface Laptop 2
Version 2.22.139.0
Release Date: 26 July 2018
This version of Surface Dock Updater adds support for the following:
- Increase update reliability
- Add support for Surface Go
Version 2.12.136.0
Release Date: 29 January 2018
This version of Surface Dock Updater adds support for the following:
- Update for Surface Dock Main Chipset Firmware
- Update for Surface Dock DisplayPort Firmware
- Improved display stability for external displays when used with Surface Book or Surface Book 2
Additionally, installation of this version of Surface Dock Updater on Surface Book devices includes the following:
- Update for Surface Book Base Firmware
- Added support for Surface Dock firmware updates with improvements targeted to Surface Book devices
Note
Before the Surface Dock firmware update applied by Surface Dock Updater v2.12.136.0 will take effect on a Surface Book device, a firmware update for the Surface Book Base is required. If you install Surface Dock Updater v2.12.136.0 on a Surface Book and update an attached Surface Dock from that same device, the firmware of the Surface Book Base will automatically be updated when installing the Surface Dock Updater. However, if you update a Surface Dock using Surface Dock Updater v2.12.136.0 on different device, and then connect that Surface Dock to a Surface Book where Surface Dock Updater v2.12.136.0 has not been installed, the benefits of the updated Surface Dock will not be enabled. To enable the benefits of the updated Surface Dock on a Surface Book device, Surface Book Base firmware must also be updated by installing Surface Dock Updater v2.12.136.0 on the Surface Book device. Surface Book Base firmware update is not required on a Surface Book 2 device.
Version 2.9.136.0
Release date: November 3, 2017
This version of Surface Dock Updater adds support for the following:
- Update for Surface Dock DisplayPort Firmware
- Resolves an issue with audio over passive display port adapters
![Warranty Warranty](https://cdn.surfacetip.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/surface-rt-warranty-status-1024x576.jpg)
Version 2.1.15.0
Release date: June 19, 2017
This version of Surface Dock Updater adds support for the following:
- Surface Laptop
- Surface Pro
Version 2.1.6.0
Release date: April 7, 2017
This version of Surface Dock Updater adds support for the following:
- Update for Surface Dock DisplayPort firmware
- Requires Windows 10
Version 2.0.22.0
Release date: October 21, 2016
This version of Surface Dock Updater adds support for the following:
- Update for Surface Dock USB firmware
- Improved reliability of Ethernet, audio, and USB ports
Version 1.0.8.0
Release date: April 26, 2016
This version of Surface Dock Updater adds support for the following:
- Update for Surface Dock Main Chipset firmware
- Update for Surface Dock DisplayPort firmware
Microsoft's Surface brand had a rocky first few months. When it launched in 2012, people loved Microsoft's innovative, tablet-like hardware design, but the software was too confusing and too limited for many longtime Windows users.
Now, six years on, things are different. Not only does Windows run much more cleanly on tablets, but it's also become clear that Microsoft was an early innovator in mobile-friendly hybrid PC hardware. It's hard to find a PC-maker today that doesn't ape Surface's kickstand-packing, detachable-keyboard-rocking design.
Since launching the first Surface ultraportables, Microsoft has expanded the Surface line to include a full family of computers, from a standard laptop to a giant, drafting-table desktop. If you need a portable Windows PC, it's hard to find a nicer physical experience than what Surface offers. The problem is one of choice: with such a diverse family of premium computers, which is best for your needs? Not to worry—we're on this like a Type Cover on a Surface Pro.
Updated in Oct. 2018: We've added the Surface Go and updated this piece to include the latest Surface models.
The Best All-Arounder
This device isn't as swish as the transforming, flexible computers that made the Surface brand famous, but if you need a laptop, you need a laptop. Kickstands and clicky magnetic keyboard covers don't work well in every situation, so we're going with the Surface Laptop 2 as the best pick for most shoppers. No, it's not a tablet, but the Surface Laptop is a killer notebook computer.
Featuring a gorgeous, 13.5-inch high-resolution display, a lovely-feeling keyboard, a stellar glass trackpad, and a slim case, the Surface Laptop is well-built and easy to handle. It even foregoes the new USB-C standard and gives you a good, old-fashioned USB-A port, so it should be much easier to find accessories that work without requiring a dongle. It also has a magnetic charging port. If you're a klutz who trips over your power cord all the time, this can be a lifesaver. It severs the connection between the wall plug and the computer before the laptop goes flying across the room like a Frisbee.
Microsoft also gives users some great tech standards, like a Windows Hello IR camera that lets you log in to Windows with your face lickety-split. Once you get used that, it's hard to go back to typing in your password like some sort of paleolithic protohuman. When we tried the original Surface Laptop in 2017, we gave it our WIRED Recommends seal of approval and a score of 8/10 and we anticipate liking the sequel as well.
Buy the Surface Laptop 2 (i5, 8 GB RAM, 256 GB SSD) from Microsoft or Amazon.
Word to the wise: even though Microsoft has a more affordable, $999 entry-level Surface Laptop, it's not the model most of you should get. It's more expensive, but the model with an Intel i5 chip, 8 GB of RAM, and 256 GB SSD is far better. This upgrade also unlocks the Laptop's alternate color choices—matte black, a stunning burgundy, and cool turquoise aren't available on the cheapest spec.
The Best 2-in-1
The original Surface design, with its kickstand and keyboard cover, is still a joy all these years later. The upcoming Surface Pro 6 is a mobile device that bridges the gap between laptop and tablet pretty well.
No matter which configuration you land on, each Pro has more performant 8th-generation Intel chips, and an improved 12.3-inch high-res touchscreen with a document-friendly 3:2 aspect ratio. You also get a USB-A port, a magnetic charging port, a Windows Hello-compatible webcam, and a MicroSD slot for expanding the onboard storage.
If you want your Pro purchase to last as long as possible, spring for the $1,299 configuration. We haven’t reviewed this version of Surface Pro yet, but it seems like a better, faster version of what’s come before and that’s not a bad thing at all.
Buy the Surface Pro 6 (i5, 8 GB RAM, 256 GB SSD) from Microsoft or Amazon.
There's a slight catch. If you want the full Surface tablet experience, you'll need to buy one of Microsoft's Type Cover keyboards. This accessory is essential, but not included. Tack on an additional $129 for a simple black cover, or $159 for a fancier, Alcantara-covered version.
The Best for Students
The most affordable, smallest member of the Surface lineup is the 10-inch Surface Go. Not only is it a smaller Surface tablet, it’s significantly cheaper than the Pro. If your needs are minimal, or you prefer tiny computers, this is what you should buy—despite its slower Intel chips, we enjoyed using it, and gave it a 7/10 when we reviewed it in 2018.
Because of its excellent Surface Pen compatibility, Go is awesome for notetaking, and with a Type Cover attached, it's a surprisingly good, if tiny, laptop. It might not be able to take on the iPad Pro in terms of sheer computing power or battery life, but Surface Go is nicely priced and good enough for college students, or anyone for a second machine to take with them.
The tantalizingly-priced $399 version might not be a great pick if you need Surface Go to serve as your main computer. Its smaller, slower storage drive and limited RAM might make multitasking and demanding apps feel slower. If you can, spring for the $549 config instead. Like Surface Pro, Go does not include a $100 Type Cover keyboard or Surface Pen, so remember to pick those up with your tablet purchase.
Buy the Surface Go (Pentium 4415Y, 8 GB RAM, 128 GB SSD) from Microsoft or Amazon.
The Best for Power Users
This transforming powerhouse is the only Surface device with an optional graphics chip that'll boost core performance, speeding up everything from Adobe Premiere to SolidWorks. The screen undocks from the keyboard, so you can use the display as a tablet for brief stints when watching movies or annotating documents with the Surface Pen. When our team reviewed this laptop, we gave it our WIRED Recommends seal of approval and a score of 8/10.
Available in versions with 13.5 and 15.6-inch screens, Surface Book 2 is the closest analog to Apple's MacBook Pro series. Thanks to standard quad-core Intel processors and an optional discrete Nvidia 10-series graphics chip inside the keyboard dock, you'll get amazing performance for a portable. Plus you get the expected suite of Surface goodies—Windows Hello, a gorgeous high-res screen, a luxurious backlit keyboard, and a big, silky-smooth glass trackpad.
Buy the Surface Book 2 15-inch (i7, Nvidia dGPU, 16 GB RAM, 256 GB SSD) from Microsoft or Amazon.
If you have cash to burn on a really nice Windows laptop, the 15-inch version has the fastest Nvidia 1060 graphics chip and the biggest, highest-res screen available on a portable Surface. The 13-inch is great, too, but the cheapest version is poorly equipped, going without Nvidia graphics, and has a measly 128 GB SSD—not enough space for your Lightroom library, much less all your go-to pro apps.
Caveats
Even though the Surface lineup has never been as diverse as it is now, there are still some imperfections that may impact your enjoyment of a shiny new Microsoft computer. The first annoyances begin when you add a device to your cart. If you're grabbing a Surface hoping to use the famous, fabulous Surface Pen with it, you'll need to buy it separately. In years past, Surface Pro and Surface Book included the pen, but no longer.
Ports are another mixed bag for Surface. While the rest of the industry is starting to turn to USB-C and Thunderbolt 3 for charging and I/O, Microsoft stuck with good old-fashioned USB-A and its magnetic Surface Connect charger. If you miss Apple's MagSafe era and don't want to deal with dongles, this isn't a bad thing, but if you're looking forward to a one-connector future, Microsoft hasn't delivered on that yet. Only the Surface Book 2 and Surface Go have USB-C, and even then it's not compatible with Thunderbolt devices. At least Surface Connect doubles as a handy desktop docking port, should you require a one-cable solution.
If you're a little short on cash but still want to pick up a Surface, check out the Surface All Access program. Microsoft lets you buy a new Surface on an installment plan, for as little as $25 per month, and packs in Office 365 for the entire two years you’re paying off your device. Surface Pro and Go also get a Type Cover out of the deal. Unfortunately, Surface All Access is only available in Microsoft’s physical retail locations, and not online.
Reasons to Wait
The lineup has been refreshed for the fall of 2018, so it’s a great time to buy. We don’t expect updates to the Surface family until 2019.
Get Microsoft Complete
If you're rough on your gadgets, plan on buying the Microsoft Complete extended warranty. Starting at $149, this gives you additional warranty coverage and accidental damage protection. You get two accidental damage claims, with only a $49 deductible, whether you take your device to the local Microsoft Store or ship it in for repairs. Given how much a Surface costs, it's worth the peace of mind to add this protection to your new device.
Shop for Microsoft Complete
More WIRED Buying Guides
- Which MacBook Pro Should You Buy?
- The Best Amazon Fire Tablet
- Our Favorite Affordable Smartphones Under $500
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