Surfaces Book 2: Issues with Windows 10 V1903 and Nvidia

[German]One should think that owners of a Microsoft Surface Book 2 can easily upgrade to the Windows 10 May 2019 Update (Version 1903). After all, Microsoft should know its hardware in detail. But there are worse issues with the upgrade to Windows 10 Version 1903, and Microsoft has completely stopped the rollout of version V1903 for these devices now.


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Windows 10 May 2019 Update (Version 1903) is already available for some days as a feature update for corresponding devices. Consumer devices with older Windows 10 versions up to V1803 received a forced upgrade (see Windows 10 V1803: Force update to V1903 – Part 1). There are some Upgrade-Stoppers (see News from Windows 10 V1903: Images, Rollout, Show-Stopper), but the feature update to the Windows 10 May 2019 Update (Version 1903) should normally be offered on devices with compatible hardware.  And I would have expected that Microsoft's own Surface models are ready for this upgrade, especially the expensive and current Surface Book 2.

Surface Book 2 causes trouble with GeForce GTX 1060

MS Power User mentioned here that Microsoft doesn't take care of its surface hardware during Windows 10 development. Users on various social media platforms report that the Windows 10 May 2019 update is causing iossues with Surface Book 2.

Models with NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 are affected, causing the graphics processor on the additional card to randomly be disabled, which affects the graphics performance of Surface Book 2. The thread here at reddit.com describes the issue.

Surface Book 2 BSOD and GPU disabling problems since 1903

Evere since I updated windows to 1903 and got new firmware I have been having a lot of problems that I hope you can help me solve:

1- I am getting BSODs regarding VIDEO_TDR_FAILURE and nvlddmkm.sys. I reverted the nvidia drivers this morning and I haven't got a BSOD yet but it's only been a few hours.

2- My GPU disconnects randomly. I am using the pc attached to the base and I hear the USB disconnect sound and I no longer see the 1060 gpu. At the same time I notice that my wacom tablet acts as if I just plugged it.

Between the freezes and the disconnects I am driving myself crazy. I already lost hours of work because of one BSOD (BSOD showed up as I was saving a file and corrupted it). can someone help? Is there a way to not only go back to 1809 but to also go back to the previous Surface drivers? Thanks!

The Surface Book 2 throws BlueScreens since the upgrade to Windows 10 version 1903, or the GPU is separated, so that only the internal graphics chip is used for the output. Other users confirm this effect on their devices. On reddit.com there's also this thread, where a user gives vent to his anger and asks people to support this entry on Microsoft's Feedback Hub via Upvote.

If you're experiencing issues with your SB2 1060 + May 2019 update – PLEASE UPVOTE the Feedback Hub

Within the thread other users confirm that there are issues with the Surface Book 2 and the Windows 10 May 2019 update. A user writes that he has conferred with a Microsoft employee about the GPU problems. They advised him to go back to Windows 10 version 1809.


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Upgrade to Windows 10 V1903 blocked

Windows Lastest mentioned a reddit.com thread, where a user reports that his Surface Book 2 has been blocked for a feature update to Windows 10 version 1903 due to compatibility issues. He had pointed out the GPU problems in this reddit.com thread. The following screenshot shows an excerpt from the feedback hub while searching for the Nvidia GeForce GTX 1060 graphics card.

Surface Book2 GPU-Probleme
(Source: Microsoft Feedback-Hub)

Now the affected user receives the information that the May 2019 update is blocked for installation.

Update-Benachrichtigung inkompatible Maschine
(Update notification on non compatible machines, Source: Microsoft/Bleeping Computer, Click to zoom)

I had pointed out this fact in the blog post Windows 10 V1803: Force update to V1903 – Part 1 in another context. A Microsoft employee with the alias Zac has said in a Reddit discussion that the problem is possibly related to the graphic drivers. He wrote, "I'm not sure on the timeline, I think the problem is the video drivers, and it may take time for fixed driver versions to arrive".

Similar articles:
Windows 10 Mai 2019 Update released
Windows 10 V1903: Known Issues – Part 1
Windows 10 V1903: Known Issues – Part 2
News from Windows 10 V1903: Images, Rollout, Show-Stopper
Windows 10 May 2019 Update brings back Update control
Windows 10 V1803 threatens a forced update as of July 2019
Windows 10 V1803: Force update to V1903 – Part 1
Windows 10 up to V1803: Details for Upgrade to V1903  – Part 2


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6 Responses to Surfaces Book 2: Issues with Windows 10 V1903 and Nvidia

  1. Michae Klar says:

    The issue of the NVIDIA 1060 dropping out intermittently when in use has existed since Win 1903 version. Now, since the latest updates a week ago, the issue in totally unacceptable.

    • Michae Klar says:

      Surface Book 2 GPU crashing issue:
      Possible solution – After numerous workarounds I may have an answer
      I'm not a gamer but do play solitaire and found this uses NVIDIA's GPU intensely without crashing. So, I kept it running in the background and loaded both Photoshop and a video editing program, the latter likes to use the GPU 1060, and neither crashed. However, solitaire uses 30% of the GPU and with a video editing program open at the same time this becomes intense.
      The interim answer that works for me is to use the latest NVIDIA driver (version 430.86) and allow it to run in the background. Click on the "Adjust Image Setting with Preview" and then on "Use the advanced 3D settings". This will use the GPU 1060 at around 3%.
      Now running Photoshop or a Video editing program everything seems to be working well without crashing. See the shot below taken while a multi clip video was running in one of my video editing programs.
      … sorry, couldn't copy the image here…

      • guenni says:

        It's worth to try this – thx. But I got a feedback from an MVP related to Surfaces telling me, that it won't help in manny cases.

  2. Mike Sutherland says:

    This SB2 laptop with the Windows 1903 'update' has become almost unusable with the frequent crashes and BSODs when running CAD software. The problem has existed since May and it is now almost August, without any fixes from either Nvidia or Microsoft. What a terrible disappointment. I think Microsoft is about to lose my business and the next laptop will have to be an ASUS or possibly a Razer.

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