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    SP4 display flicker on cold boot - replacement set

    Discussion in 'Microsoft' started by shirrine, Mar 29, 2018.

  1. shirrine

    shirrine Notebook Enthusiast

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    Hi,
    Anyone face problems with SP4, display flicker at cold boot and also at UEFI screen?
    I have a SP4 (6months old), display flicker and permanent ghost image after an hour of usage (heat up). Went for repair and get a replacement set but now having flicker at cold boot up. Flicker will disappear after 5 to 10 mins of usage (warm up).
    Has done windows update and surface firmware update but still have flicker problem.
    Left 6 months of warranty, not sure to go for repair (replacement set) again as understand from other forum, many people received their replacement sets still have display flicker problem.
    Sigh.
     
  2. Vasudev

    Vasudev Notebook Nobel Laureate

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    See if there are older drivers using Driver Store explorer
     
  3. shirrine

    shirrine Notebook Enthusiast

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    Hi Vasudev, thanks.
    But, the display also flicker on cold boot to UEFI (aka CMOS) setting.
    Unless, the display driver use in UEFI also has problem.
     
  4. Vasudev

    Vasudev Notebook Nobel Laureate

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    I suppose you do a BIOS update aka FW update.
    Did you do multiple in-place OS upgrades? For example, Creators to FC update?
     
  5. shirrine

    shirrine Notebook Enthusiast

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    Yes, my SP4 has both the latest updates per Microsoft SP4 firmware website and windows update for windows 10. How to check is FC update?

    May I know what is multiple in-place OS Upgrade? Does this create problem to display flicker?
     
  6. Vasudev

    Vasudev Notebook Nobel Laureate

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    OS upgrade from one version to another w/o clean install.
    You can use Disk cleanup and Dism++ or Dism to cleanup older updates and other w10 maintenance tasks and see if it fixes the issue.
     
  7. p0och

    p0och Notebook Enthusiast

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    as i understand if you are experiencing flicker at the uefi level , it would imply a hardware issue (which is 100% accurtae in bios but given that the UEFI standard have certain drivers preloaded ir's not conclusive)

    i would just get a replacement set as the sp4 is very much NOT user friendly in terms of attempting to tinker around

    even updating to the latest intel gpu driver is not allowed and often a forced install is then silently reverted back..

    its built to be lika a apple product where you should never worry about anything and leave any issues to the supposed hig level of warranty service that you benefit from the price premium of the SP4

    i've had mine replaced due to the same issue but was adamant that i wanted to be sure the replacement unit is "jitter free".

    this is available provided you can afford a 2.5k USD hold that is placed on your credit card. much like a car rental. will be refunded when either one of the SP4 is returned to Microsoft depending on the outcome of your tests.