If you're having trouble with your surface or need to know the basics, this article can help you.
How to Dock without Trouble
If you have a docking station, then this section applies to you. Since there are quite a few cables connected to the dock, it overwhelms the Surface when connected. Undocking and docking too quickly will cause issues. Here are the steps to dock that will prevent issues:
Cold Docking
- Power off the Surface
- Dock
- Power on the Surface
Docking without Rebooting
If you can't close your applications because you have unsaved work, then follow these steps; however, you're more likely to run into issues.
- Close as many applications as you can
- Dock the the Surface in and wait
- When it has settled, make sure things are working properly
- If screen resolution is bad or monitor layout is wrong, undock, wait for it to settle, and try these steps again
- If you have tried this process several times and things are displaying incorrectly still, see the Fixing Display Issuessection
Fixing Display Issues
See this guide: Fixing Display Issues for Windows 10
Docking Station Not Charging Surface
- Unplug and plug back in the docking station
- Restart the Surface (if it's still not working)
Side Buttons Explanation
There are 3 buttons on the top of the Surface.
- The two connected buttons control the volume: + for volume-up and - for volume-down
- The third button is the power button. Press the button to put the Surface to sleep or power on. Hold the button to power off the Surface (it may prompt to power off)
- There is one USB port on the right side
- There is one Thunderbolt port on the right side (for video adapters)
- There is a MicroSD card slot behind the stand component of the Surface
Log into Wireless as Soon as Possible
You'll want to be connected to network as often as possible: it will ensure connectivity to resources such as H Drive and the internet. If you are not connected to your docking station, you'll need to connect to WiFi.
-
Before logging on but after pressing Ctrl+Alt+Del, click the WiFi icon in the bottom right
- A list of available WiFi networks will be listed
- Select the WiFi network you want to connect to (CSU's WiFi is csu-eid)
- It will prompt for credentials (either a WiFi passkey or for csu-eid, your eID and eID password)
- Log on
- If you are off campus, connect to pulse secure (see Using Pulse Secure Off-Campus)
Connecting to WiFi after logging in
If you are already Logged in...
- Look for the same symbol as above in the bottom right
- Click it
- A list of available WiFi networks will be listed
- Select the WiFi network you want to connect to (CSU's WiFi is csu-eid)
- It will prompt for credentials (either a WiFi passkey or for csu-eid, your eID and eID password)
(Non-CSU networks blacked out)
Using Global Protect Off-Campus
Global Protect is a VPN application, and we install it on mobile devices such as Surfaces. It will connect your Surface to resources on CSU's network, like H Drive, Remote Desktop, FileHold, etc. If you are already on campus, you don't need Global Protect. Use the software only for off-campus connectivity.
- Click Up Arrowin bottom right corner of screen (You may not need to if you already see the Global Protect icon)
- Click the Global Protect icon (gray globe symbol)
- Click Connect
Fixing H Drive Issues
Connectivity issues with H drive can occur. Here are a few things to check:
- Make sure you have internet access by loading a web page. If you do not, connect to WiFi or your docking station.
- If you are off-campus, you need to connect to Global Protect: see Using Global Protect Off-Campus.
- Reboot and follow the Log into Wireless as Soon as Possiblesteps.
Reset Frozen Surface
Press and hold both the power button and volume up button for 15 seconds, until your computer goes blank and appears to be turning back on.
Fixing a non responsive keyboard
Try detaching and re attaching the keyboard. If that doesn't fix the issue, try updating windows and restarting the computer. If that still doesn't fix the problem, try holding the power button, once the screen turns black, continue holding the power button until you see the white windows logo. Release the power button.