Microsoft Delivers a Major Set of Surface Pro 4 Updates

Microsoft Delivers a Major Set of Surface Pro 4 Updates

Microsoft last night delivered a set of firmware updates for its Surface Pro 4 2-in-1 PC, aimed at improving reliability, performance, and battery life.

You can find out more on the Surface Pro 4 update history website, but here’s a rundown of what’s changed.

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Microsoft Driver update for Surface Embedded Controller Firmware. Surface Embedded Controller Firmware 103.1684.256.0 improves battery life during sleep.

Intel Corporation driver update for Intel Precise Touch Device. Intel Precise Touch Device 1.2.0.83 disables touch when cover is closed, and improves stability.

Surface driver update for Surface Integration. Surface Integration 1.0.121.0 adjusts system Hibernation defaults.

Microsoft driver update for Surface Touch Servicing ML. Surface Touch Servicing ML 1.0.724.0 optimizes touch functionality.

Surface driver update for Surface System Aggregator. Surface System Aggregator 103.1610.256.0 resolves screen brightness issue when device comes out of sleep.

Surface driver update for Surface UEFI. Surface UEFI 106.1624.768.0 refines brightness settings.

Microsoft Driver update for Surface Touch. Surface Touch 57.1.1.1 optimizes touch functionality.

As always, you will find these updates waiting for you in Windows Update. I am curious if these updates have anything to do with coming support for the Surface Dial on-screen on the new Surface Pen, but there’s nothing about that explicitly in the notes.

 

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Conversation 16 comments

  • skramer49

    Premium Member
    26 May, 2017 - 8:32 am

    <p>You say: "<span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">I am curious if these updates have anything to do with coming support for … the new Surface Pen", but yesterday you said: "if you’re a digital artist, note-taker, or someone else who really needs pen-based capabilities, there’s your reason to upgrade to the new Surface Pro and new Surface Pen. You can’t get this level of performance on any other Surface device or non-Surface PC, and </span><strong style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">you never will be able to on existing models</strong><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">." </span></p><p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">As someone who has been using OneNote [on an iPad] for quite some time, I've hesitated switching to a Surface Pro because the pen lag, small as it is, is distracting and pen performance hasn't come close to Apple's Pencil. I was hoping to try again on the SP4 by purchasing the new and improved pen, but am confused by your statement from yesterday.</span></p><p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Can you clarify?</span></p><p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Thanks.</span></p>

    • Polycrastinator

      26 May, 2017 - 9:19 am

      <blockquote><a href="#119842"><em>In reply to skramer49:</em></a></blockquote><p>The new pen will work on SP4, including things like shading, but the latency reduction is performed by a custom chip within the 2017 Surface Pro, so you won't get the reduced latency using the new pen on the older device.</p>

    • lvthunder

      Premium Member
      26 May, 2017 - 2:04 pm

      <blockquote><a href="#119842"><em>In reply to skramer49:</em></a></blockquote><p>The only way we will know for sure is when the new pen ships and people actually try it out and see how it performs.</p>

  • Polycrastinator

    26 May, 2017 - 9:21 am

    <p>I was hoping for some further updates for Surface Book soon. Mine has been weirdly stuttery since the Creator's Update went onto it.</p>

    • bbold

      26 May, 2017 - 10:06 am

      <blockquote><a href="#119858"><em>In reply to Polycrastinator:</em></a></blockquote><p>Me too. Everything was great for many months before the Creators Update, now my SB and SP4 are a little but stuttery, too. MS should focus on maintaining stability, especially on their flagship devices. Hoping this is a step in the right direction!</p>

      • Polycrastinator

        26 May, 2017 - 10:09 am

        <blockquote><a href="#119863"><em>In reply to bbold:</em></a></blockquote><p>Good to know it's not just me. I was wondering if a reinstall would fix things, but if it's more common I'll probably just wait.</p>

  • cheetahdriver

    Premium Member
    26 May, 2017 - 10:46 am

    <p>Lather, Rinse. Repeat</p>

  • johnlavey

    Premium Member
    26 May, 2017 - 11:21 am

    <p>I think I already know the answer to my questions BUT: are Windows Insiders able to get any of these updates to their Surface Pro 4 devices? And if not, why not? Is there any work around? Would there be any benefit to having these updates? Are they already included in build 16199? </p><p><br></p><p>Questions…questions….</p><p><br></p><p>Thanks</p><p>John</p><p><br></p><p>Thanks </p>

    • warren

      26 May, 2017 - 5:42 pm

      <blockquote><a href="#119888"><em>In reply to johnlavey:</em></a></blockquote><p>These driver updates will come to Insider Preview builds via Windows Update and will be retained from one Insider Preview build to the next. This has always been the case for any driver.</p>

  • Rob_Wade

    26 May, 2017 - 12:11 pm

    <p>My wife's SP4 has not received any firmware updates. My SP3, however, got TWO back-to-back firmware updates (2 days ago and yesterday).</p>

    • andy.gilliland

      26 May, 2017 - 5:44 pm

      <blockquote>I got the update on my SP4. Try manually checking for updates? <a href="#119909"><em>In reply to Rob_Wade:</em></a></blockquote><p><br></p>

  • rejohnson

    Premium Member
    26 May, 2017 - 1:04 pm

    <p>Can anyone explain Microsoft's reasoning on naming the updates?&nbsp; SurfacePro4_Win10_10586_1702001_0,&nbsp; SurfacePro4_Win10_15063_1702001_0 and SurfacePro4_Win10_1701001_0 are all available for download.&nbsp; What should the numbers "10586" and "15063" signify to actual humans?&nbsp; Is "15063" the most recent, even though it's listed second?&nbsp; Should we assume "1702001" means it's from 2017 and later than "1701001?&nbsp; I'm somewhat confident about that part since 2016 releases had "16####" in their filenames.</p><p>Until Microsoft allows us to select individual updates there is no way I will run Windows Update on&nbsp;Win 10 Enterprise PCs.&nbsp; We can't afford to have 1703 dump down on them!</p>

    • Polycrastinator

      26 May, 2017 - 1:58 pm

      <blockquote><a href="#119928"><em>In reply to rejohnson:</em></a></blockquote><p>Defer feature updates and you won't get 1703. I'm not sure what the problem is here?</p>

    • warren

      26 May, 2017 - 5:33 pm

      <blockquote><a href="#119928"><em>In reply to rejohnson:</em></a></blockquote><p>The answers to your questions are readily available on Technet, but let's review in case you're allergic to going to Microsoft's IT support site for IT support:</p><p>1) The build number is included in the file name as a reference for the minimum build of Windows required to use those drivers.</p><p>2) The download with no build number works on all releases of Windows, including 2015 LTSB.</p><p>3) Newer drivers take advantage of newer OS features and it is not recommended to use older driver packages with newer OS versions — this scenario is not tested by Microsoft.</p><p>4) Microsoft supports but does not recommend using Windows 10 LTSB 2015 on a Surface due to missing functionality: palm rejection, Ink Workspace, improved high DPI support, etc.</p><p>5) Microsoft releases new driver packages roughly monthly for Surface products, but not all combinations of drivers are released every month. The updates this month likely don't apply to Anniversary Update but not November Update, hence the lack of a release targeting Anniversary Update specifically.</p>

  • SenorGravy

    26 May, 2017 - 11:46 pm

    <p>Just watched the Surface Pro introduction video.</p><p><br></p><p>Panos Panay is just a little too…"much" for me. I wish he would tone it down a notch. That said, the new Surface Pro looks like a nice little upgrade. Although I am a little bummed the pen is no longer thrown in.</p>

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