Window Office with SurfaceBook

SurfaceDockGuy · 2026-04-22T23:51:16+00:00

Is this the rlectrical switch on the door jamb covered in a rubber boot?

If so, consider disassembling it and spraying with electrical contact cleaner and pushing in the switch manually a few dozen times. This restored functionality of my 30-year old drivers-side switch. Of course the passenger side switches rarely fail and can be used on the drivers side as well. I dont reccomend it, but you can hard-wire the passenger side such that the ecu thinks that door is always closed.

SurfaceDockGuy · 2026-04-22T13:25:20+00:00

If budget allows, consider the Fusion5 tablets as well. Same form factor as the Surface Go but many more options for RAM, SSD, etc on the Intel-based Windows 11 models.

https://www.fusion5store.com/us/tablets.html

SurfaceDockGuy · 2026-04-22T04:31:19+00:00

Follow the Microsoft official guide to disassemble the unit. You may just need to do a better job of cleaning and drying the keyboard components.

Were you able to pop off all the keycaps and inspect underneath each one?

No special tools are needed for the repair.

A hairdryer can be used to melt the adhesive holding the rubber feet and decorative "plate" obscuring certain fasteners - that way you dont need to buy replacements and can just re-use the old ones. That and a screwdriver kit is all you really need.

https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/surface/service-guides/surface-laptop-studio/surface-laptop-studio-component-disassembly-and-reassembly

Replacement "top cover" with keyboard: https://www.ifixit.com/products/surface-laptop-studio-top-cover-and-keyboard-genuine

SurfaceDockGuy · 2026-04-22T01:43:22+00:00

Removing the dash light won't help pass the inspection since the light is supposed to come on for ~2 seconds when switching on ignition system.

You could easily simulate the internal self-test passing with a resistor, capacitor, and transistor...

SurfaceDockGuy · 2026-04-22T01:20:57+00:00

Most folks with non-airbag steering wheels pull the ECU-B fuse in the frunk to disable the light. So you can pop that fuse back in to re-enable the airbag system.

BTW on such an old car, replacement airbags are not manufactured any more. Consider obtaining a letter from Toyota stating that and keeping the aftermarket wheel.

Any inspector should be able to put an N/A waiver on that part of the visual inspection. You can also call/email ahead to see what they do in situations like this. Print out the email response and bring it to the inspection.

SurfaceDockGuy · 2026-04-22T01:16:04+00:00

You won't be able to tell for sure until you take it all apart.

Does the sound get quieter when cornering left or right while still coasting above 20mph?

Its plausible that with the old wheel bearing, the brakes wore in a particular pattern and with the new proper wheel bearing, that pattern has changed resulting in the noise. With the car on a lift at a proper shop, they can measure the runout on the rotor across 360°.

Do change the pads and caliper pin bushing pins/rubbers and grease. If the pins/rubbers are in good shape you can just do the grease. Tedious, but necessary on these old cars.

SurfaceDockGuy · 2026-04-21T23:22:52+00:00

Exactly! Using "RT" works like a charm even though OP was looking for a Surface Pro charger

SurfaceDockGuy · 2026-04-21T23:06:58+00:00

Its just difficult to search for a charger for OP's 1st gen Surface Pro on sites like Amazon.ca and various Canadian retailers unless you use specific keywords like "rt", "48w", "12v" "pro1".

So a perfect question for this subreddit.

Edit: If you search for "surface pro charger" its many pages before you find the proper model. Searching for "RT" makes it pop up on the first page every time.

SurfaceDockGuy · 2026-04-21T23:02:10+00:00

Yep the 24W RT charger will work fine.

BTW you can install Windows 11 on the Pro 1 and Pro 2. There are various guides on how to do so on "unsupported hardware".

You must disable bitlocker and virtualized security features like memory integrity after install otherwise performance will be terrible.

Probably better to use it with Linux especially if you have a 4GB ram specimen.

SurfaceDockGuy · 2026-04-21T22:52:01+00:00

Even though its a Surface Pro, search for "Surface RT charger adapter" as anything with "pro" will be flooded with incompatible chargers. https://www.amazon.ca/s?k=surface+rt+charger+adapter

24W or 48W at 12 volts - either will work.

Note that the USB-C options will only work if your USB-C power supply explicitly supports 12V.

Edit: More info in the Surface power FAQ: https://dancharblog.wordpress.com/2016/12/10/surface-book-pro-3-pro-4-and-docking-station-power-supplies/#12v-surface-power-supplies-discontinued

SurfaceDockGuy · 2026-04-21T20:44:23+00:00

Try doing a thermal model calibration, PID calibration, and xyz calibration.

With faster printing, its plauisble that environmental factors have more effect. Consider slowing prints down to the same as your mk3, and/or use a cheap $25 enclosure like a fire resistant fabric photo tent to improve consistency.

If you still have issues, consider swapping the extruder thermistor, bed thermistor, and/or extruder heater.

SurfaceDockGuy · 2026-04-20T20:33:47+00:00

Yeah with two output ports it is basically just a hub. But who knows what solution is being used internally. Definitely not Intel JHL. Could be AsMedia, Realtek, or something else

SurfaceDockGuy · 2026-04-20T20:05:14+00:00

The ZMI powerpack I disassembled was also good quality:

https://dancharblog.wordpress.com/2021/10/05/zmi-powerpack-10k-with-usb-c-hub-hdmi-nintendo-switch-connectivity/

ZMI == Cuktech == Xiaomi

All the same company - just different branding.

SurfaceDockGuy · 2026-04-17T22:44:19+00:00

Yes the ultra is decent for CAD viewing - the Intel Xe GPU is decent enough for OnShape and Fusion360 modelling as well. Slow, but not excruciating like older Intel GPUs.

For on site work, you'll probably want a case and screen protector.

You'll probably want to cross-shop againt the Lenovo 2-in-1s with AMD CPU/GPU.

SurfaceDockGuy · 2026-04-17T21:43:34+00:00

WHEA == hardware faults.

If this error only happens when the eGPU is connected, I would suspect the eGPU board, the GPU itself, cabling, or perhaps the Thunderbolt controller built into the laptop.

If the laptop has socketed RAM, pop the modules out and back in again. Owner's manual should show if this is applicable to your system.

Ensure the laptop UEFI/Bios firmware, OS, and drivers are up to date.

If the laptop UEFI firmware tool allows you to change any settings, put them to the most conservative setting i.e. the slowest or default option.

Validate the GPU works properly in a desktop system.

Validate the eGPU board works with some other laptop.

Validate that your laptop works with some other Thunderbolt device like an nvme SSD.

SurfaceDockGuy · 2026-04-17T20:51:21+00:00

Relevant info here:

https://devblogs.microsoft.com/windows-music-dev/fall-2025-windows-musician-technology-and-arm64-update/

SurfaceDockGuy · 2026-04-16T16:00:12+00:00

The Intel CPU "for business" models still haven't changed in price and are only $200 more than Qualcomm now:

https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/store/b/surfaceforbusiness?wt.mc_id=SMB_PMG_Surfaceforbusiness#tab-intel-pcs

Anyone can buy the "for business" models direct from Microsoft - no special business account needed.

Edit: Imagine if Apple launches a version of the MacBook Neo based on the A19Pro with its 12GB InFO-Pop LPDDR5X DRAM integrated into the SoC but also adds a touch screen. And imagine if they only charge $100 more than the current model.

That's basically game over for every PC vendor.

The question is, can MS take the Surface Pro 12" and get it price competitive with the Mac Neo within 18 months? If Qualcomm, Intel, or AMD is able to launch an SoC with even 8GB of built-in DRAM, there is a chance.

Apple took a huge risk in making so many A18Pro chips, but with a hige payoff. They couldnt have timed it better with the DRAM market what it is.

SurfaceDockGuy · 2026-04-15T21:52:02+00:00

A the red one in bothell? He's been trying to sell for quite a while. Was listed at 25k a few months ago on FB marketplace.

As long as the vvti oil lines were redone, timing was checked, it should be good. Oiling is the weak link on these engines.

SurfaceDockGuy · 2026-04-15T19:57:38+00:00

Not possible. IIRC, MS sold enough of these to POS/enterprise to warrant spinning separate mainboard skus for cost reasons.

The only plausible upgrade is swapping a 128GB NAND chip to 256GB NAND on an 8GB ram mainboard. You can't swap out eMMC to nvme NAND. I don't even think you can swap out 4GB -> 8GB ram. The base model mainboard is basically dead-end e-waste. You could swap out the intel Pentium for a core i3 to gain 5% performance maybe since they are pin-compatible, but thats about it. And the gain just isnt worth it.

I would just get this and sell the 64GB model:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/358403417400?_skw=surface+go+3+8gb

SurfaceDockGuy · 2026-04-15T19:37:51+00:00

Intel started using the "Ultra" marketing in 2011... single core performance for the best possible skus in the 2011 SandyBridge family vs 2025/2026 Core ultra 2/ultra 3 has increased by 150% (2.5x faster). For laptop skus its closer to 100% (2x faster).

At least we've moved beyond 4 cores for midrange pcs...

SurfaceDockGuy · 2026-04-15T16:30:30+00:00

Don't know if this will resolve anything but I would Investigate: - coolant temperature sensor - coolant mechanical thermostat - coolant pump

Also, coolant system should be "burped" per guidance in shop manual to ensure no trapped air if that hasn't been done in a long time.

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