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Users place Microsoft Surface Pro in the freezer to fix screen flicker issue
Well, here's a radical new solution. A number of Microsoft Surface Pro 4 owners are experiencing some really dreadful screen flicker and screen oddities with their device, a solution has been found, it helps (briefly) to place the Surface Pro 4 in the freezer.
At the website Flickergate, users of the Surface Pro 4 have posted many photos and videos displaying the issue precisely (granted it's hard to miss eh?). One guy, George Visvikis, has revealed that the flicker stops when he places the Surface Pro in a freezer, he, however, does emphasize that it is only a temporary solution and that the problem re-emerges after a few minutes. Clearly indicative of an IC overheating or leaking. Flickergate is a website with customers of Microsoft who have invested $1500+ on new Surface Pro devices which have developed screen flickering, rendering the devices unusable.
They claim the flickering normally occurs 1 year after purchase when the warranty is already expired. This means that owners are forced to pay $800 for an out-of-warranty exchange from Microsoft. However, many users also experience the same flickering on their refurbished Surface Pro replacements. Thus far the counter rises, over 1800 customers have complained on Microsoft’s support forums and this number is still growing by the day as the issue is getting more awareness.
Here is a video that displays the issue:
To date, Microsoft has not acknowledged this issue. Website Flickergate recommends potential buyers to AVOID surface pro devices until Microsoft has fixed this problem because there is a high chance that your device will become unusable within a year. It is rumored that it is a hardware problem and that the issue can not be solved through a software update, it's also stated that less than one percent of the tablets have been affected by the problems.
In the video above the example that shows the flickering issue stops (for a little while) after freezing the unit (which honestly can't be good for the device as either & is ill-advised!!). What a sad story that consumers revert to things like this because Microsoft hides behind their expired warranty and their end-users, in the proverbial cold.
Hilbert Hagedoorn
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#5516770 Posted on: 02/03/2018 11:36 AM
It's the means to an end, voices that need to be heard as Microsoft is not dealing with their problem unless they pay 800 bucks for an extended out of warranty exchange.
While this that is some horrid screen flicker, following some random youtubers advise and placing it in the freezer as a " fix " seems really dumb.
It's the means to an end, voices that need to be heard as Microsoft is not dealing with their problem unless they pay 800 bucks for an extended out of warranty exchange.
Angantyr
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#5516775 Posted on: 02/03/2018 11:54 AM
Yeah, and I do hope the users can receive help without extending their warranty. And on the surface, this does sound like planned obsolescence from Microsoft, and on the other... You placed it in the freezer.
Guess I can't blame them too much, with the flickering demonstrated the laptop was unusable and if people are desperate enough.
Back to the planned obsolescence thing, it just seems that way since the issue occurs after a year of usage and the warranty is out. Plus, the Surface laptop is clearly not meant for DIY:
"Verdict: The Surface Laptop is not a laptop. It’s a glue-filled monstrosity. There is nothing about it that is upgradable or long-lasting, and it literally can’t be opened without destroying it."
https://www.ifixit.com/Teardown/Microsoft+Surface+Laptop+Teardown/92915
It's the means to an end, voices that need to be heard as Microsoft is not dealing with their problem unless they pay 800 bucks for an extended out of warranty exchange.
Yeah, and I do hope the users can receive help without extending their warranty. And on the surface, this does sound like planned obsolescence from Microsoft, and on the other... You placed it in the freezer.
Guess I can't blame them too much, with the flickering demonstrated the laptop was unusable and if people are desperate enough.
Back to the planned obsolescence thing, it just seems that way since the issue occurs after a year of usage and the warranty is out. Plus, the Surface laptop is clearly not meant for DIY:
"Verdict: The Surface Laptop is not a laptop. It’s a glue-filled monstrosity. There is nothing about it that is upgradable or long-lasting, and it literally can’t be opened without destroying it." https://www.ifixit.com/Teardown/Microsoft+Surface+Laptop+Teardown/92915
CrazY_Milojko
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#5516805 Posted on: 02/03/2018 01:44 PM
Wait, wait, wait... People are opening their wallets for $1500 and get only 1 year warranty for Surface Pro!?
No way I'm going to drop that kind of money ON ANYTHING (especially if it's a brand new thing) and get only 1 year warranty, no one should make purchases like that.
...customers of Microsoft who have invested $1500+ on new Surface Pro devices which have developed screen flickering, rendering the devices unusable.
They claim the flickering normally occurs 1 year after purchase when the warranty is already expired. This means that owners are forced to pay $800 for an out-of-warranty exchange from Microsoft. However, many users also experience the same flickering on their refurbished Surface Pro replacements. Thus far the counter rises, over 1800 customers have complained on Microsoft’s support forums and this number is still growing by the day as the issue is getting more awareness...
They claim the flickering normally occurs 1 year after purchase when the warranty is already expired. This means that owners are forced to pay $800 for an out-of-warranty exchange from Microsoft. However, many users also experience the same flickering on their refurbished Surface Pro replacements. Thus far the counter rises, over 1800 customers have complained on Microsoft’s support forums and this number is still growing by the day as the issue is getting more awareness...
Wait, wait, wait... People are opening their wallets for $1500 and get only 1 year warranty for Surface Pro!?
No way I'm going to drop that kind of money ON ANYTHING (especially if it's a brand new thing) and get only 1 year warranty, no one should make purchases like that.
alanm
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#5516806 Posted on: 02/03/2018 02:08 PM
Microshaft
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#5516807 Posted on: 02/03/2018 02:16 PM
If you shake your head from side to side in disgust at Microsoft, your head will be in sync with the screen flicker and is useable then.:p
Just wondering if it is an overheating issue then if it stops when placed in the freezer?
If you shake your head from side to side in disgust at Microsoft, your head will be in sync with the screen flicker and is useable then.:p
Just wondering if it is an overheating issue then if it stops when placed in the freezer?
Fender178
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#5516810 Posted on: 02/03/2018 02:29 PM
Reminds me of the old put the Hard drive into the freezer trick to help save a dying hard drive to get the data off of it. Sometimes it works and some times it doesn't. Makes me wonder if MS rushed out the new Surface pros in the same manner as the Xbox-360s where something they used was shotty.
Reminds me of the old put the Hard drive into the freezer trick to help save a dying hard drive to get the data off of it. Sometimes it works and some times it doesn't. Makes me wonder if MS rushed out the new Surface pros in the same manner as the Xbox-360s where something they used was shotty.
Cryio
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#5516826 Posted on: 02/03/2018 03:42 PM
I'm unfortunately one of the people that has this issue on their Surface Pro 4.
I don't go as far as to put my device in the fridge, yet if I extend my device over my apartment's window for some 2 minutes (it's between 0 to 4 degrees C outside), the device temperature will go down to something like 25-30 C and the flickering does indeed stop.
I'm unfortunately one of the people that has this issue on their Surface Pro 4.
I don't go as far as to put my device in the fridge, yet if I extend my device over my apartment's window for some 2 minutes (it's between 0 to 4 degrees C outside), the device temperature will go down to something like 25-30 C and the flickering does indeed stop.
The Average
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#5516837 Posted on: 02/03/2018 04:38 PM
I don't know what happens beyond warranty period but when my surface pro 1 fan did some noise when at full speed, i eventually ended up getting a replacement a surface pro 3 with new type cover charger and pen (since those from surface pro 1 do not work with the 3) which works perfectly to this day.
I don't know what happens beyond warranty period but when my surface pro 1 fan did some noise when at full speed, i eventually ended up getting a replacement a surface pro 3 with new type cover charger and pen (since those from surface pro 1 do not work with the 3) which works perfectly to this day.
Solfaur
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#5516841 Posted on: 02/03/2018 04:48 PM
Wait, wait, wait... People are opening their wallets for $1500 and get only 1 year warranty for Surface Pro!?
No way I'm going to drop that kind of money ON ANYTHING (especially if it's a brand new thing) and get only 1 year warranty, no one should make purchases like that.
No way, I think most countries have a 2 year mandatory warranty. In Romania at least every electronic device has it... ridiculous if this isn't the case though.
Wait, wait, wait... People are opening their wallets for $1500 and get only 1 year warranty for Surface Pro!?
No way I'm going to drop that kind of money ON ANYTHING (especially if it's a brand new thing) and get only 1 year warranty, no one should make purchases like that.
No way, I think most countries have a 2 year mandatory warranty. In Romania at least every electronic device has it... ridiculous if this isn't the case though.
patrickisfrench
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#5516848 Posted on: 02/03/2018 05:01 PM
customers purchasing with most credit cards will find their cards have extendeded warranty policies. allowing them to get 100% of the money spent for the device. especially with information on how they aren’t repairable.
recently had a 780ti die on me right after 3 years, but credit card still was giving it an extra year warranty. American Express gave me $869 dollars credit on my account 3.5 years later and I bought a 1080ti with extra money to spare. People should really look into these benefits a lot of us don’t realize we have.
as far as my thoughts on the device, I agree something of that cost shouldn’t malfunction so early. customers may possibly see a repair extension program not unlike what Apple lists for their faults on support.apple.com. the symptoms indeed look like a video chipset overhearing. i overclock and overvolt my cards often (hence the 780ti burning out) and if don’t improperly i will immediately see these artifacts that were shown in the video. further proven when temperatures are lowered the device stabilized. more than likely poor thermal dissipation or lack of airflow for the new gpu being used.
customers purchasing with most credit cards will find their cards have extendeded warranty policies. allowing them to get 100% of the money spent for the device. especially with information on how they aren’t repairable.
recently had a 780ti die on me right after 3 years, but credit card still was giving it an extra year warranty. American Express gave me $869 dollars credit on my account 3.5 years later and I bought a 1080ti with extra money to spare. People should really look into these benefits a lot of us don’t realize we have.
as far as my thoughts on the device, I agree something of that cost shouldn’t malfunction so early. customers may possibly see a repair extension program not unlike what Apple lists for their faults on support.apple.com. the symptoms indeed look like a video chipset overhearing. i overclock and overvolt my cards often (hence the 780ti burning out) and if don’t improperly i will immediately see these artifacts that were shown in the video. further proven when temperatures are lowered the device stabilized. more than likely poor thermal dissipation or lack of airflow for the new gpu being used.
CoMmAnDrX2
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#5516868 Posted on: 02/03/2018 06:14 PM
Yeah, and I do hope the users can receive help without extending their warranty. And on the surface, this does sound like planned obsolescence from Microsoft, and on the other... You placed it in the freezer.
Guess I can't blame them too much, with the flickering demonstrated the laptop was unusable and if people are desperate enough.
Back to the planned obsolescence thing, it just seems that way since the issue occurs after a year of usage and the warranty is out. Plus, the Surface laptop is clearly not meant for DIY:
"Verdict: The Surface Laptop is not a laptop. It’s a glue-filled monstrosity. There is nothing about it that is upgradable or long-lasting, and it literally can’t be opened without destroying it."
https://www.ifixit.com/Teardown/Microsoft+Surface+Laptop+Teardown/92915
I remember reading that and was like WTF Microsoft. Pretty sad when you buy a pricey electronic that cannot be repaired.
Yeah, and I do hope the users can receive help without extending their warranty. And on the surface, this does sound like planned obsolescence from Microsoft, and on the other... You placed it in the freezer.
Guess I can't blame them too much, with the flickering demonstrated the laptop was unusable and if people are desperate enough.
Back to the planned obsolescence thing, it just seems that way since the issue occurs after a year of usage and the warranty is out. Plus, the Surface laptop is clearly not meant for DIY:
"Verdict: The Surface Laptop is not a laptop. It’s a glue-filled monstrosity. There is nothing about it that is upgradable or long-lasting, and it literally can’t be opened without destroying it." https://www.ifixit.com/Teardown/Microsoft+Surface+Laptop+Teardown/92915
I remember reading that and was like WTF Microsoft. Pretty sad when you buy a pricey electronic that cannot be repaired.
phatbx133
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#5516882 Posted on: 02/03/2018 07:01 PM
What happens to billions of dollars QA control? Did they test stress device 24/7? For that 1500 should buy the real laptop that allows you repairs, upgradeable.
What happens to billions of dollars QA control? Did they test stress device 24/7? For that 1500 should buy the real laptop that allows you repairs, upgradeable.
Reddoguk
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#5516915 Posted on: 02/03/2018 09:29 PM
I very much doubt this is caused by heat, since this happens on cold boot of the device. It's more likely to be a bad or dry solder connection. The freezer causes all the joints to tighten up by way of contraction. I used this before to get my friends PS3 working. Since the PS3 would often bend and twist the CPU socket and need re balling but a 20 minute placement in the freezer would work every time.
I very much doubt this is caused by heat, since this happens on cold boot of the device. It's more likely to be a bad or dry solder connection. The freezer causes all the joints to tighten up by way of contraction. I used this before to get my friends PS3 working. Since the PS3 would often bend and twist the CPU socket and need re balling but a 20 minute placement in the freezer would work every time.
Backstabak
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#5516932 Posted on: 02/03/2018 10:30 PM
Yeah, I also think this is probably soldering. All the non-plumbium solder is often quite bad, especially under consistent thermal load. Either way, this is simply a result of cheap manufacturing and giving zero f**s about the lifespan of the device.
Yeah, I also think this is probably soldering. All the non-plumbium solder is often quite bad, especially under consistent thermal load. Either way, this is simply a result of cheap manufacturing and giving zero f**s about the lifespan of the device.
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While this that is some horrid screen flicker, following some random youtubers advise and placing it in the freezer as a " fix " seems really dumb.
" Uh, Hi ! Is this Microsoft tech support? Yeah, uhrm, I threw my laptop in the freezer and the condensation ruined it.... What do you mean this voids the warranty?! "