My SurfacePro 4 won't start!

I've had it on recharge for days. Sometimes it
gives a small glimmer, then stops. Is there any
way to fix it?

On 21/11/2018 20:56, Peter Jason wrote:
I've had it on recharge for days. Sometimes it
gives a small glimmer, then stops. Is there any
way to fix it?

There is always a way to fix anything as long as the user is prepared to
pay for the service. What is your budget to fix this clunker? Give us
the amount so that some suggestions can be given based on that figure.



--
With over 950 million devices now running Windows 10, customer
satisfaction is higher than any previous version of windows.

Peter Jason wrote:
I've had it on recharge for days. Sometimes it
gives a small glimmer, then stops. Is there any
way to fix it?

Lithium packs don't work like car batteries.

The charger is not allowed to jam charge into
them forever. Once they're "full", the charger
disengages. The charge circuit has hysteresis
and won't start to charge again, until the cell
has drooped quite a bit due to self-discharge.

If leakage were high enough, the cells could
get very hot, and never make it to full charge.

If the warranty is still applicable, run don't walk,
to the nearest certified service provider and get
the device fixed.

If the pack needs to be replaced, you want to
do that before the warranty runs out. The
warranty claim must be registered before
the warranty expires, and then if it takes
time to execute the repair, you're still
covered. If you're far enough out in the
woods, it may require sending the unit
somewhere by mail or courier. To meet warranty
requirements, sometimes you must use a vendor
provided shipping container for the trip. You
can't just put it in a paper bag and throw it
in the nearest post box.

Units with glued battery packs, will be a pain
for someone to fix.

Paul

On 11/21/2018 1:56 PM, Peter Jason wrote:

I've had it on recharge for days. Sometimes it gives a small
glimmer, then stops. Is there any way to fix it?

Have you tried these (first line in a Google search):

https://windowsreport.com/cant-turn-surface-pro-4-on/

On Wed, 21 Nov 2018 15:14:11 -0700, 123456789
wrote:

On 11/21/2018 1:56 PM, Peter Jason wrote:

I've had it on recharge for days. Sometimes it gives a small
glimmer, then stops. Is there any way to fix it?

Have you tried these (first line in a Google search):

https://windowsreport.com/cant-turn-surface-pro-4-on/

Thank you. This seems most helpful and I'll
follow it through & report back later.
After the Good Guy's compassionate reply this has
restored my confidence.

On 2018-11-21 3:56 p.m., Peter Jason wrote:
I've had it on recharge for days. Sometimes it
gives a small glimmer, then stops. Is there any
way to fix it?

You'd have to contact Microsoft because I believe that you're
experiencing the consequences of an outdated BIOS of all things. I
believe that they deployed an update around a year ago to correct the
situation.


--
SilverSlimer
Minds: @silverslimer

On Wed, 21 Nov 2018 16:30:02 -0500, Paul
wrote:

Peter Jason wrote:
I've had it on recharge for days. Sometimes it
gives a small glimmer, then stops. Is there any
way to fix it?

Lithium packs don't work like car batteries.

The charger is not allowed to jam charge into
them forever. Once they're "full", the charger
disengages. The charge circuit has hysteresis
and won't start to charge again, until the cell
has drooped quite a bit due to self-discharge.

If leakage were high enough, the cells could
get very hot, and never make it to full charge.

If the warranty is still applicable, run don't walk,
to the nearest certified service provider and get
the device fixed.

If the pack needs to be replaced, you want to
do that before the warranty runs out. The
warranty claim must be registered before
the warranty expires, and then if it takes
time to execute the repair, you're still
covered. If you're far enough out in the
woods, it may require sending the unit
somewhere by mail or courier. To meet warranty
requirements, sometimes you must use a vendor
provided shipping container for the trip. You
can't just put it in a paper bag and throw it
in the nearest post box.

Units with glued battery packs, will be a pain
for someone to fix.

Paul

I've often had luck with electronic gizmos by
placing them in a laboratory oven at 45degC for a
couple of hours. Would this cause any harm.

Is it best to keep the Li batteries fully charged
all the time?

Peter Jason wrote:


I've often had luck with electronic gizmos by
placing them in a laboratory oven at 45degC for a
couple of hours. Would this cause any harm.

Is it best to keep the Li batteries fully charged
all the time?

Lithium likes plain room temperature. They don't
like to be charged all that much, when cold (sub-zero).
If you heat them too much, they might decide to vent.

And actually, no, they should not be kept fully charged.

If you were a student going to class, you'd charge to 100%
before leaving in the morning, because you'll be draining
that charge all day long. But storing a pack for three months
is a different matter.

Some laptops actually have a setting for that. The
charging circuit has two settings, 80% charge or 100% charge.
The 80% charge avoids the finally "topping up" stage of
charging. It also represents a less stressful state
for storing the equipment.

I store my laptop at 70% and the battery has held up well.
But one time, it came damn close to self-discharging too
low to take a charge. If you charge to 70%, check every
3 to 6 months (depending on how healthy the pack is).
Recharge to 70% again, as needed.

The 100% voltage value (say, 4.2 volts per cell), is a compromise
between socking away as many coulombs as possible, versus
the damage the high voltage is doing to the cell. If you
charge to a lesser voltage, the cell holds less than 100% fuel
as a result, but there is less stress on the cell, and it
lasts a few more years.

If the Surface had that charge setting where it could be
charged to 80% rather than 100%, I wouldn't mind leaving
it plugged in. But if it charges to 100% only, then I'd
control the charge to some extent manually (unplug when
full enough).

Paul

In article , Paul
wrote:

Lithium packs don't work like car batteries.

in many ways, they do...

The charger is not allowed to jam charge into
them forever. Once they're "full", the charger
disengages. The charge circuit has hysteresis
and won't start to charge again, until the cell
has drooped quite a bit due to self-discharge.

....which is exactly like car batteries.

In article , Peter Jason
wrote:

I've often had luck with electronic gizmos by
placing them in a laboratory oven at 45degC for a
couple of hours. Would this cause any harm.

yes.

Is it best to keep the Li batteries fully charged
all the time?

ideally 80% but the difference isn't worth worrying about. more
importantly, do not let them fully discharge.

for storage, 50% is ideal.

On Wed, 21 Nov 2018 15:14:11 -0700, 123456789
wrote:

On 11/21/2018 1:56 PM, Peter Jason wrote:

I've had it on recharge for days. Sometimes it gives a small
glimmer, then stops. Is there any way to fix it?

Have you tried these (first line in a Google search):

https://windowsreport.com/cant-turn-surface-pro-4-on/

Thanks, I just did and I got it started with the
suggestion to hold down the start button for 30
seconds.

On 11/21/2018 2:54 PM, SilverSlimer wrote:
On 2018-11-21 3:56 p.m., Peter Jason wrote:
I've had it on recharge for days.Â* Sometimes it
gives a small glimmer, then stops.Â* Is there any
way to fix it?

You'd have to contact Microsoft because I believe that you're
experiencing the consequences of an outdated BIOS of all things. I
believe that they deployed an update around a year ago to correct the
situation.


Can't swear to this but I believe BIOS updates are delivered through the
Windows Update process. On my Surface Pro 4 purchased in 2015 the BIOS
is dated 8/14/2018. Easily visible by using this free program:
https://www.ccleaner.com/speccy/download

You probably can see it by using the On/Off + Volume Control startup
sequence.

Peter Jason wrote:
On Wed, 21 Nov 2018 15:14:11 -0700, 123456789
wrote:

On 11/21/2018 1:56 PM, Peter Jason wrote:

I've had it on recharge for days. Sometimes it gives a small
glimmer, then stops. Is there any way to fix it?
Have you tried these (first line in a Google search):

https://windowsreport.com/cant-turn-surface-pro-4-on/

Thanks, I just did and I got it started with the
suggestion to hold down the start button for 30
seconds.

What does that do, officially speaking ?

Does it reset some hardware controller on there
or something ?

Paul

On Thu, 22 Nov 2018 16:47:35 -0500, Paul
wrote:

Peter Jason wrote:
On Wed, 21 Nov 2018 15:14:11 -0700, 123456789
wrote:

On 11/21/2018 1:56 PM, Peter Jason wrote:

I've had it on recharge for days. Sometimes it gives a small
glimmer, then stops. Is there any way to fix it?
Have you tried these (first line in a Google search):

https://windowsreport.com/cant-turn-surface-pro-4-on/

Thanks, I just did and I got it started with the
suggestion to hold down the start button for 30
seconds.

What does that do, officially speaking ?

Does it reset some hardware controller on there
or something ?

Paul

I don't know. But it starts OK now. Perhaps the
starter-switch contacts are degraded. This can
happen to roller-door switch contacts too.

I seized the opportunity to download updates going
back to July, and there were heaps of them,
including Intel & firmware ones.

On 11/22/2018 1:34 PM, Peter Jason wrote:
123456789 wrote:

I've had it on recharge for days. Sometimes it gives a small
glimmer, then stops. Is there any way to fix it?

Have you tried these (first line in a Google search):
https://windowsreport.com/cant-turn-surface-pro-4-on/

Thanks, I just did and I got it started with the suggestion to hold
down the start button for 30 seconds.

Glad to hear it. Some of my Android tablets have 'secret' ways to hold
the buttons to get things done too...