Check out the IO Dock Firmware Update page at Sweetwater — the world's leading music technology and instrument retailer! Alesis iO Dock - Connect all of your audio gear to the entire world of apps for iPad. The iO Dock (patented) is the first device that enables anyone with an iPad to create, produce, and perform music with virtually any pro audio gear or instruments.
-->This article provides a detailed walkthrough of Microsoft Surface Dock Updater.
The Microsoft Surface Dock Updater tool allows you to check the firmware status of a Surface Dock and to manually update the firmware of Surface Dock devices. It is most often used to update Surface Docks prior to deployment of those Surface Docks to end users or as a troubleshooting tool. Microsoft Surface Dock Updater walks you through the process of updating the firmware on one or more Surface Docks, including the required connect and disconnect steps to perform the complete firmware installation.
When you run the Microsoft Surface Dock Updater installer you will be prompted to accept an End User License Agreement (EULA).
Note
Updating Surface Dock firmware requires connectivity to the Surface Dock via the Surface Connect™ port. Installation of the Microsoft Surface Dock Updater is only supported on devices that feature the Surface Connect™ port.
Note
The Surface Dock Updater tool is unable to run on Windows 10 S. To manually update a Surface Dock for use with Surface Laptop and Windows 10 S, connect the Surface Dock to another Surface device with a Windows 10 Pro or Windows 10 Enterprise environment.
Update a Surface Dock with Microsoft Surface Dock Updater
After you install the Microsoft Surface Dock Updater tool, you can find Microsoft Surface Dock Updater under All Apps in your Start menu. Click Microsoft Surface Dock Updater to start the application.
To update a Surface Dock with Microsoft Surface Dock Updater, follow these steps:
- Click Start to begin the firmware update process. If you do not have a Surface Dock connected, you will be prompted to connect a Surface Dock.
- Microsoft Surface Dock Updater checks the status of your Surface Dock firmware.
- If the tool determines that the firmware of your Surface Dock is up to date, a You have the latest firmware for this Surface Dock message is displayed, as shown in Figure 1.Figure 1. Your Surface Dock firmware is up to date
- If Microsoft Surface Dock Updater determines that the firmware of your Surface Dock is not up to date, a This Surface Dock is not running the latest firmware message is displayed, as shown in Figure 2.Figure 2. Your Surface Dock firmware needs to be updated
- To begin the firmware update process, click Update on the Surface Dock Firmware page.
- Before the firmware update process begins, you will be prompted for confirmation. Click OK to proceed or Cancel to return to the Surface Dock Firmware page displaying the status of your Surface Dock firmware.
- As the firmware update is uploaded to the Surface Dock, a Progress page is displayed, as shown in Figure 3. Do not disconnect the Surface Dock while firmware is being uploaded.Figure 3. Progress of firmware update upload to Surface Dock
- After the firmware update has successfully uploaded to the Surface Dock, you are prompted to disconnect and then reconnect the Surface Dock from the Surface device, as shown in Figure 4. The main chipset firmware update will be applied while the Surface Dock is disconnected.Figure 4. Disconnect and reconnect Surface Dock when prompted
- When the main chipset firmware update is verified, the DisplayPort chipset firmware update will be uploaded to the Surface Dock. Upon completion, a Success page is displayed and you will again be prompted to disconnect the Surface Dock, as shown in Figure 5.Figure 5. Successful upload of Surface Dock firmware
- After you disconnect the Surface Dock the DisplayPort firmware update will be installed. This process occurs on the Surface Dock hardware while it is disconnected. The Surface Dock must remain powered for up to 3 minutes after it has been disconnected for the firmware update to successfully install. An Update in Progress page is displayed (as shown in Figure 6), with a countdown timer to show the estimated time remaining to complete the firmware update installation.Figure 6. Countdown timer to complete firmware installation on Surface Dock
- If you want to update multiple Surface Docks in one sitting, you can click the Update another Surface Dock button to begin the process on the next Surface Dock.NoteThe LED in the Ethernet port of the dock will blink while the update is in progress. Please wait until the LED stops blinking before you unplug your Surface Dock from power.
Troubleshooting Microsoft Surface Dock Updater
If the Surface Dock firmware update process encounters an installation error with either firmware update, the Encountered an unexpected error page may be displayed, as shown in Figure 7.
Figure 7. Firmware update installation has encountered an error
Microsoft Surface Dock Updater logs its progress into the Event Log, as shown in Figure 8. If you need to troubleshoot an update through this tool, you will find Surface Dock events recorded with the following event IDs:
Event ID | Event type |
---|---|
12100 | Up-to-date confirmation |
12101 | Event in the main chipset firmware update process |
12102 | Event in the DisplayPort chipset firmware update process |
12105 | Error |
Figure 8. Surface Dock Updater events in Event Viewer
Changes and updates
Microsoft periodically updates Surface Dock Updater.
Note
Each update to Surface Dock firmware is included in a new version of Surface Dock Updater. To update a Surface Dock to the latest firmware, you must use the latest version of Surface Dock Updater.
Version 2.23.139.0
Release Date: 10 October 2018
This version of Surface Dock Updater adds support for the following:
- Add support for Surface Pro 6
- Add support for Surface Laptop 2
Version 2.22.139.0
Release Date: 26 July 2018
This version of Surface Dock Updater adds support for the following:
- Increase update reliability
- Add support for Surface Go
Version 2.12.136.0
Release Date: 29 January 2018
This version of Surface Dock Updater adds support for the following:
- Update for Surface Dock Main Chipset Firmware
- Update for Surface Dock DisplayPort Firmware
- Improved display stability for external displays when used with Surface Book or Surface Book 2
Additionally, installation of this version of Surface Dock Updater on Surface Book devices includes the following:
- Update for Surface Book Base Firmware
- Added support for Surface Dock firmware updates with improvements targeted to Surface Book devices
Note
Before the Surface Dock firmware update applied by Surface Dock Updater v2.12.136.0 will take effect on a Surface Book device, a firmware update for the Surface Book Base is required. If you install Surface Dock Updater v2.12.136.0 on a Surface Book and update an attached Surface Dock from that same device, the firmware of the Surface Book Base will automatically be updated when installing the Surface Dock Updater. However, if you update a Surface Dock using Surface Dock Updater v2.12.136.0 on different device, and then connect that Surface Dock to a Surface Book where Surface Dock Updater v2.12.136.0 has not been installed, the benefits of the updated Surface Dock will not be enabled. To enable the benefits of the updated Surface Dock on a Surface Book device, Surface Book Base firmware must also be updated by installing Surface Dock Updater v2.12.136.0 on the Surface Book device. Surface Book Base firmware update is not required on a Surface Book 2 device.
Version 2.9.136.0
Release date: November 3, 2017
This version of Surface Dock Updater adds support for the following:
- Update for Surface Dock DisplayPort Firmware
- Resolves an issue with audio over passive display port adapters
Version 2.1.15.0
Release date: June 19, 2017
This version of Surface Dock Updater adds support for the following:
- Surface Laptop
- Surface Pro
Version 2.1.6.0
Release date: April 7, 2017
This version of Surface Dock Updater adds support for the following:
- Update for Surface Dock DisplayPort firmware
- Requires Windows 10
Version 2.0.22.0
Release date: October 21, 2016
This version of Surface Dock Updater adds support for the following:
- Update for Surface Dock USB firmware
- Improved reliability of Ethernet, audio, and USB ports
Version 1.0.8.0
Release date: April 26, 2016
This version of Surface Dock Updater adds support for the following:
- Update for Surface Dock Main Chipset firmware
- Update for Surface Dock DisplayPort firmware
If you want to run Garage Band on iPad with iOS5 do yourself a favour and skip Alesis IO Dock - that device is simply not compatible with iOS5 and neither Alesis nor Apple seem to take responsible position and start warning customers about the problem. Google eg 'io dock hiss' or search reviews on some more responsible websites eg Anazon or MusiciansFriend - not Apple since they refuse to post any negative reviews.
Here is my review from Amazon (I went from 2 stars to 4 then back to 2 - initial impression of 1.07 firmware was that it fixed problems but longer testing proved that it merely delays onset of problems):
If you are planning to buy IO Dock DO NOT upgrade to iOS 5 - it will render the hardware unusable. Until iOS 5 it was really great interface - after iOS 5 is is useless - you cannot get clean recording with most of the apps - Ampkit+, JamUP, GarageBand are all broken. Crackling hiss. Alesis and Apple point fingers at each other - no telling when the new firmware update will be here. There is no way to get through to Alesis tech support. I feel like I wasted $200 on yet another interface that will likely become obsolete after iPad3. Very frustrating.
Update 10/29/11 - Alesis released firware upgrade 1.07 yesterday - I just installed it and first impression is that at least for some apps it made huge difference - Garaga Band works again. So does Ampkit+. JamUP lite still not working correctly - very low output. I need more testing but I think that the worst may be over.
I am changing rating from 2 stars to 4 (tentatively at least - will see if there and long term degradation in performance with 1.07.
Update 11/11/11 - I must say that Alesis is playing games with us. There is whole group of very angry consumers out there that bought the hardware and several apps to run on it and are getting no help from Alesis - no reply to emails - there is no way to get tech support on the phone. At present Alesis (via their representative on the community forum) is claiming that the newest iOS version 5.0.1 has fixes for audio issues and is encouraging people to install that version and 'report the results'. In other words they are looking for free testers. People that installed 5.0.1 say that it did not make any difference.
At this point I would not advise anybody to buy IO Dock unless you are still running IOS4 and you do not pan to upgrade.
In a view of irresponsible treatment of customers by Alesis I am changing review back to 2 stars.
iPad 2, iOS 5, Alesis IO Dock
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