Well, my SP3 (i7, 256) got replaced yesterday, again (trying to figure out the reboot hang with the keyboard in the passive position, MS had issued me 2 other replacements previously).
This current SP3 has always had an issue of running "warm" with the fan darn near constantly running, especially while on A/C power. Last week I was reading Windows Central and catching up on the forums and the fan was running even more than previously. I got a phone call and put the SP3 aside (via the kickstand to keep it upright). The phone call lasted around 30 minutes, I went back to my SP3 and noticed that it was still on (even though the power settings were set to sleep after 10 minutes), and the fan was screaming loud and when I went to pick it up, it was painfully hot on the backside (upper right).
So I flipped up the keyboard to force it to sleep. I waited, and waited, and waited, it never did sleep with the fan still screaming. Wanked the power out of it's connector, waited, and waited, and waited, still no sleep, with the fan still going louder and louder.
Decided to look at the processes to see what was going on. Task manager showed nothing out of the ordinary. The indexing service was the only process that was doing really anything, and the CPU was never being taxed over 20% (bouncing up an down), disk was always under 10%.
Finally decided enough was enough and went to power down. Except now touch wouldn't work and then the system locked up, touchpad, keyboard... nada. Did the long press on the power button and it finally shut down. I walked away and let it cool down on it own for an hour or so. Powering it back up, it seemed normal. The fan still ran more than any of my previous SP3's but it ran.
Then the fun started happening as the days worn on. Finger touch would just randomly stop working, but the pen would work fine. Or the pen would write on the screen, but wouldn't register taps. Or pen taps worked but no writing. A reboot or two or three would correct the issue.
Decided to do a factory reset via USB (downloaded the most current recovery image from MS). It went fine, until the first reboot after copying the files off the USB drive, thermal shutdown. I had to wait 10 minutes before it would cool down enough to boot up (tried several times). Eventually I got the system up and running, and it ran fine for a day or two, but then the touch and pen issues would come back.
Yesterday I was taking notes with the pen and it gave out, again. Replaced the battery in the pen and it didn't make any difference. 5 reboots and the pen finally worked for around 10 minutes, then gone again. Scheduled time at the MS store after work to have them look at it.
Get to the store, and of course we can't recreate the problem. They are out of the i7/256 refurb units. They call the other store across town and they to are out. They suggest that I go through MS direct to get a replacement, but I'm going out of town on Monday and I'll be with out a computer while it's being shipped to and back from MS. They decide to just give me a new one (god I love the MS store!!!).
They pull a new unit, and did a factory reset (drive wipe) of my old unit in front of me. Of course the system does the reset without a thermal shutdown (aaarrrgghhh!!!).
So far the new unit is doing well. The fan kicks in, but it's quieter than before, and it just gets warm to touch on the back, so far. I'm still installing programs, restoring files from external drive, downloading the files from OneDrive for offline use, and getting it back to the way I like it. Hopefully this will be last replacement.
This current SP3 has always had an issue of running "warm" with the fan darn near constantly running, especially while on A/C power. Last week I was reading Windows Central and catching up on the forums and the fan was running even more than previously. I got a phone call and put the SP3 aside (via the kickstand to keep it upright). The phone call lasted around 30 minutes, I went back to my SP3 and noticed that it was still on (even though the power settings were set to sleep after 10 minutes), and the fan was screaming loud and when I went to pick it up, it was painfully hot on the backside (upper right).
So I flipped up the keyboard to force it to sleep. I waited, and waited, and waited, it never did sleep with the fan still screaming. Wanked the power out of it's connector, waited, and waited, and waited, still no sleep, with the fan still going louder and louder.
Decided to look at the processes to see what was going on. Task manager showed nothing out of the ordinary. The indexing service was the only process that was doing really anything, and the CPU was never being taxed over 20% (bouncing up an down), disk was always under 10%.
Finally decided enough was enough and went to power down. Except now touch wouldn't work and then the system locked up, touchpad, keyboard... nada. Did the long press on the power button and it finally shut down. I walked away and let it cool down on it own for an hour or so. Powering it back up, it seemed normal. The fan still ran more than any of my previous SP3's but it ran.
Then the fun started happening as the days worn on. Finger touch would just randomly stop working, but the pen would work fine. Or the pen would write on the screen, but wouldn't register taps. Or pen taps worked but no writing. A reboot or two or three would correct the issue.
Decided to do a factory reset via USB (downloaded the most current recovery image from MS). It went fine, until the first reboot after copying the files off the USB drive, thermal shutdown. I had to wait 10 minutes before it would cool down enough to boot up (tried several times). Eventually I got the system up and running, and it ran fine for a day or two, but then the touch and pen issues would come back.
Yesterday I was taking notes with the pen and it gave out, again. Replaced the battery in the pen and it didn't make any difference. 5 reboots and the pen finally worked for around 10 minutes, then gone again. Scheduled time at the MS store after work to have them look at it.
Get to the store, and of course we can't recreate the problem. They are out of the i7/256 refurb units. They call the other store across town and they to are out. They suggest that I go through MS direct to get a replacement, but I'm going out of town on Monday and I'll be with out a computer while it's being shipped to and back from MS. They decide to just give me a new one (god I love the MS store!!!).
They pull a new unit, and did a factory reset (drive wipe) of my old unit in front of me. Of course the system does the reset without a thermal shutdown (aaarrrgghhh!!!).
So far the new unit is doing well. The fan kicks in, but it's quieter than before, and it just gets warm to touch on the back, so far. I'm still installing programs, restoring files from external drive, downloading the files from OneDrive for offline use, and getting it back to the way I like it. Hopefully this will be last replacement.
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