Surface Pro 4 Battery / Power Issues

ChrisLoudon · January 11, 2024

Hi guys,

I have 5 MS Surface Pro 4 Laptops that I've been using for my business for a number of years now, and while the core specs of these systems still serve me well for what they are being used for, I am having issues with ALL of them when it comes to battery and charging.

1. When plugged in to charge its hit and miss as to whether it will charge or just sit there indefinitely at 0% and run from the power brick. Pulling out the cable obviously causes the system the to immediately power off. Repeating this process a few times usually kicks it into shape.

2. When plugged in, the track pad has a mind of its own. The mouse curser freezes or flitters about. A BT, wireless or wired mouse works fine.

3. The battery life percentage rarely bares any resemblance to reality. It can report 50% and it doesn't matter if I decide to unplug the charger OR plug it it, the system can just turn its self off.

If its just old age and I need to replace them the happy to do so but if anyone knows of some cheap and easy battery 'hacks' that can breath some life back into these guys then great.

Cheers

C

manikyath · January 11, 2024

look at them closely from an angle, against some light. are they ever so slightly bulged?

i've seen a lot of surfaces start to bulge from the battery after a number of years.

jaslion · January 11, 2024

They had battery drain and charging issues since day one

Probably the batteries are swellig right now so a danger to use! Chrck if the laptop is buldging

Dont buy surfacr laptops again just buy some proper bussiness laptops like hp probooks, lenovo p series NOT DELLS THEY SUCK!!!!! or whatever as those are made to have relatively easy maintenance and parts replacement done. Also often cheaper for better devices.

The batteries are user replacable for the ms laptop but like in almost any consumer they suck to replace due to being difficuly to access. Built to be disposed literally also no reason to opt for long lasting parts as well you should toss these out after a year or 2 at most preferably for microsoft.

Work in it admin and wiping/disposal of devices. We know what comes in the most here and the age of the device which tells us yeaaaah these microsoft products are shortlived usually and scrap. Cept for the surface pro 3's and 4's those still come in from time to time but they are OLD and used for a long time. Most of the bussiness laptops come in after 3-5 years (usually more near 5 or longer since they tend to get a second life firstly). consumer stuff usually 3 when in big batches (aka an organisation used a lot) individual laptops come in at later ages usually (when I mean that they dont have obvious impact damage n stuff)