Microsoft January Surface firmware updates revisited: What users got and when
January 2014 wasn't the best month for Microsoft Surface users trying to make sense of which updates arrived for their devices.
Patch Tuesday came and went without any word on expected firmware updates. Shortly thereafter, various updates, some marked as firmware, some labeled as "hardware" updates and others as more mundane reliability and performance fixes, began arriving via Windows Update on users' devices.
I've heard from Surface Pro 2 users who've been plagued by what seems to be the same firmware update being delivered to their machines repeatedly, despite the fact that they seem to have successfully updated with the latest firmware release. (This may be a Windows Update problem, rather than a Surface Pro 2 problem, I'm hearing.) And even though Microsoft's Surface Update History Page claimed until some time in the past few days that there was no Surface RT firmware update this month, those of us with the original ARM-based Surface know we did get a firmware update.
So let's go back to the drawing board.
As of January 28, here's what Microsoft's Surface Update History pages are now indicating that the company delivered this month to its various Surface users:
Surface Pro 2 (running Windows 8.1)
Updated UEFI firmware, version 2.04.0350, to resolve behavior where the Surface failed to enter sleep while idle, negatively impacting battery life. Yes, this is the fix to the faulty December 2013 firmware update. And yes, those who managed to apply the faulty December firmware update received a separate firmware update that supposedly also was a replacement for the faulty December update.
There's also now a cumulative driver/firmware Surface Pro 2 update available for download via the Microsoft Download Center, dated January 27.
I've asked Microsoft execs about the "hardware" update some Surface Pro 2 users have received and have yet to hear back on what that is.
Surface Pro (running Windows 8.1)
January 15 updates: Surface Type Cover 2 and Touch Cover 2 firmware updates for improving touchpad performance and product stability. Also updated Wi-Fi and Bluetooth driver version 14.69.24049.160 now supports additional Miracast functionality and increased Wi-Fi stability.
There's a Surface Pro firmware and driver update pack available on the Microsoft Download Center (dated January 27) that is a cumulative update of fixes and includes both drivers and firmware. It's not clear whether this duplicates what's in the January 15 update or goes beyond it from the description on the download site.
Surface Pro (running Windows 8.0)
January 14 updates: Surface Type Cover 2 and Touch Cover 2 firmware updates for improving touchpad performance and overall product stability.
Surface 2 (running Windows 8.1)
January 6 update: Resolves issue with BitLocker recovery key prompt when you restart your Surface 2.
Surface RT (running Windows 8.1)
Surface Type Cover 2 and Touch Cover 2 firmware updates for improving touchpad performance and overall product stability.
Surface RT (running Windows 8.0)
No product updates released.
Updating four devices running several different versions of Windows 8 is not trivial. (Nor is trying to keep up with all the questions from Surface users about which updates they're getting and why.) But with even more Surfi supposedly coming -- an LTE-friendly Surface 2, plus the rumored Surface Mini -- it's key that Microsoft make frequent, regular updates a Surface selling point, not a hinderance.
Any more questions about past, present or possible future Surface updates? Share them below and I'll try to see if I can get more info.