◄◄ 1. WinReinstallAsusVivoTabSmart | ◄ 2. WinReinstallDellStudioXps1647

3. MICROSOFT Surface 3 (64-bit)

21 January 2021 - 08:13 | Version 22 |

On July 26th 2018 I bought a 2nd hand Surface 3. I reset the system, using the recipe used for my DELL, which you find above. Some additional remarks/issues:

Opmerking vooraf

General

2.2.2.7 (English Windows with) Dutch date and time formats

Although I changed it on the DELL without any problems, now I had trouble to find where you can set this. Well, maybe it's becausy it's not yet Metro style…

2.2.2.8 Unlock the Caps Lock with the Shift button

Another one that's not yet Metro style, is this one.

And what's more, some Windows 10 1803 update has made the language tab disappear from the old style Windows Control panel.
Solution 1: registry hack

However, I found the following solution on https://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,1213660,00.asp, described for Windows XP/2000 but still usable in Windows 10:
Solution 2: Text Services and Input Languages

Afterwards, I found out that the Text Services and Input Languages control panel item still exists, but is hidden in Windows cyberdepths. So create the a shortcut with the following target: 
C:\Windows\System32\rundll32.exe Shell32.dll,Control_RunDLL input.dll,,{C07337D3-DB2C-4D0B-9A93-B722A6C106E2}

If you want to give it the right icon, point to: 
%SystemRoot%\System32\input.dll
Solution 3: Language bar options

And even somewhat later, I noticed that this control panel item could be reached through the regular metro style control panel items…:

2.2.6 Tablet specific

2.2.6.1 Tablet mode only when type cover not connected

2.3 Disappointment

Although it's a handy (thanks to the type cover), powerful (compared to the ASUS VivoTab Smart) tablet-laptop hybrid, there are some disappointments:

2.3.1 No camera flash

I opted for the (2nd hand) Surface 3, since it also has an 8MP rear camera, just as my beloved, but dropped… ASUS VivoTab Smart, which made crystal clear photo shots!

What's more, since I owned the ASUS Camera app, which I liked a lot, I was also able to install it on the Surface 3 (Microsoft Store > … > Mijn bibliotheek: Alles in bezit: ASUS Camera). Hurrah, hurrah hurrah.

However, the Surface 3 isn't equipped with a camera flash. What a pity!!!

2.3.2 On/Off and Volume buttons on the long side of the device

My ASUS tablet had the "physical" buttons on the short side of the device, which is very convenient when you work in landscape most of the time. The Surface 3 however has these buttons on the long side, which is not so handy.

I partly solved this by installing the !GestureSign app, which enables me to adjust the sound volume with swipe commands!

2.3.3 Full screen videos

Of course, HD videos have an aspect ratio of 16:9, so when they're shown on a 1920x1280 display, they are shown as 1920x1080, leaving 200px "unused". I changed the https://github.com/codefinite/SuperWideZoom Edge extension for that purpose (transform: scale(1.35) => transform: scaleY(1.185)). This perfectly fits my needs.

However, I hate the fact that if you have sideloaded extensions, Edge ALWAYS prompts to enable these extensions: 
We've turned off extensions from unknown sources. They might be risky so we recommend keeping them off.
Turn on anyway - Keep them off - x

So I took a further look, and in the end created a Tampermonkey script. See MsSurface3AspectRatio .

2.4 Issues

2.4.0 Connect app (Win10 20H2)

At a certain moment, I saw a leftover of an app in the Background apps settings: Between 3D Viewer and Asus Camera, there was something like …PPIP…, the PPI Projection app or Connect app. There are a lot of articles on the internet on howto reinstall it manually, since it's not in the store.

It is however a system app (residing in C:\Windows\SystemApps) that can be reinstalled as follows: If you want to uninstall the Connect app, rightclicking the Connect app and choosing Uninstall, will lead to nothing. You have to do it again through the Optional features in the Apps setting.

2.4.1 Spotlight stuck (Win10 20H2)

At a certain moment, I noticed that the lockscreen picture always remained the same. I followed the advice of three articles on the internet:

1st trial

After the first time, I didn't have the impression something had changed, apart from the fact that I was able to choose 'Windows spotlight' as Background in the Lock screen settings. Before, if I chose it, it automatically changed back to Picture.

2nd trial

For the 2nd trial, I ignored the tip to disable Spotlight before doing anything else.
But I now disabled all apps on the lock screen (quick & detailed status)
After the 2nd trial, it was also clear that more had changed, because the fun facts etc. appeared.
I now checked the %USERPROFILE%/AppData\Local\Packages\Microsoft.Windows.ContentDeliveryManager_cw5n1h2txyewy\LocalState\Assets directory:
- 9 items with timestamp 09/12/2020 18:07 (= date of 1st trial)
- 9 items with timestamp 09/12/2020 18:07 (= date of 1st trial)
- 27 items with timestamp 14/12/2020 22:01 (= date of 2nd trial)
- 4 items with timestamp 14/12/2020 22:31 (= date of 2nd trial)
- 6 items with timestamp 16/12/2020 11:09
Trouwens, die assets zijn gewoon .jpg-bestanden. Als je de extensie toevoegt, kun je ze zo gewoon bekijken.

Conclusion

Maybe I just needed to enable Settings as Background app and wait a couple of days, who knows. Anyway, Windows Spotlight runs in the background as part of the Settings app.

Notes

Some articles suggested that it could only be solved by installing Dynamic Theme, but on my Surface, Microsoft's spotlight is now again working as before.

You can disable the fun facts, tips, tricks, and more. If you select a local picture for your lockscreen background, you have the option to turn off "Get fun facts, tipcs, tricks, and more on your lock screen", but the option to turn it off isn't available when you choose Windows Spotlight as the background.
If you're comfortable using the Local Group Policy Editor, you can disable the behavior with the following policy: Computer Configuration\Administrative Templates\Windows Components\Cloud Content\Do not show Windows Tips
Others say this method doesn't always work and suggest registry tweaks: see Remove "fun" facts from Spotlight lock screen in Windows 10 Home (1803) - Super User.

You can even add a personal message, but only when you start the pc (not a simple lock). See:
- How To Add A Custom Lock Screen Message In Windows 10 (addictivetips.com)
- How to set a custom lock screen message in Windows 10 | mydoodads.com (my-doodads.com)

2.1809 October 2018 update - version 1809 (03-05-06-07-08/10/2018)

2.2004 May 2020 update - version 2004 (30/05/2020)

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