Microsoft Wireless Display Adapter Stopped Working After Windows Update: Here’s Why

Microsoft Wireless Display Adapter Stopped Working After Windows Update: Here’s Why

Problem:

Microsoft Wireless Display Adapter stopped working on my devices

• Surface Pro 8 and Samsung Book 12 both previously connected to my Microsoft Wireless Display Adapter via Miracast
• Both stopped working in early 2023 (error: “couldn’t connect”)
• Surface Pro 8 now shows as not Miracast-compatible
• Windows Update is current; Display adapter driver version 32.0.101.6737
• Surface Pro 8 runs Win11, Samsung Book 12 runs Win10
• The same adapter still works with another desktop PC on my home TV
• Suspect Windows updates removed or broke Miracast support

Question: Why did it stop working if it worked before, and how can I restore Miracast functionality on these devices?

Resolution:

Your devices haven’t lost hardware capability — Windows updates changed the software stack.

Miracast came pre-installed in Windows 10 and early Windows 11 versions, which is why it worked seamlessly on both your Surface Pro 8 and SamsungBook12 initially.

However, Microsoft changed this approach in 2023. In newer Windows 11 builds, Miracast was removed from the default installation and converted into an optional feature called “Wireless Display.” If this feature isn’t installed on your system, Windows won’t show Miracast as available, even if your hardware supports it.

Additionally, some manufacturers have quietly removed Miracast support through driver updates or firmware changes. This affects devices like the SamsungBook12 and certain Surface models after firmware updates. The result is that Windows reports these devices as “not compatible” with Miracast, despite the underlying hardware technically having the capability.

• Open Settings and navigate to Apps > Optional features > Add a feature. Search for “Wireless Display” and install it if it’s missing. After installation, restart both your Surface Pro 8 and SamsungBook12 before attempting to reconnect.
• Visit Intel’s support site to download the latest Wi-Fi and GPU drivers for your device. Windows Update sometimes provides outdated versions that may not fully support Miracast functionality.
• Download the Microsoft Wireless Display Adapter app from the Microsoft Store. Launch it to check whether firmware updates are available for your adapter.
• Disconnect both the HDMI and USB cables from your adapter, wait 10-15 seconds, then reconnect them. If possible, test the adapter with a different display to determine whether the issue is with your HDMI port.
• Check Network settings: Try connecting from home.
• You may consider Airtame.

Locked Out of Your Old Surface Pro? Here’s How to Get Back In

Problem:

I am experiencing difficulty accessing an older Surface Pro device that has been unused for an extended period. Authentication attempts have been unsuccessful, and subsequent password recovery through Microsoft’s services has also failed. Additionally, standard recovery procedures using Shift+Restart are not functioning as expected – the system simply restarts without displaying the recovery options screen.

Resolution:

Interrupt the boot process

• Turn off the Surface completely
• Turn it on, and as soon as you see the Surface logo, hold the power button for about 10 seconds to force shutdown
• Repeat this process 2-3 times
• On the third attempt, Windows should automatically boot into the recovery environment

USB recovery drive:

 If that doesn’t work, you’ll likely need to create a bootable USB recovery drive on another computer:

• On another PC, download the Surface Recovery Image from Microsoft’s website (search “Surface recovery image download”)
• You’ll need a USB drive with at least 16GB
• Follow Microsoft’s instructions to create the recovery drive
• Boot your Surface from this USB (hold Volume Down + press Power, release power but keep holding Volume Down until you see the Surface logo).

 Force UEFI/BIOS:

Shut down completely

• Hold Volume Up + press and release Power button
• Keep holding Volume Up until you see the UEFI screen
• From there you might be able to configure boot options or access recovery tools

Tools Which Remove AI from Windows 25 H2

There are two tools available which do this. Let’s discuss one by one.

Remove Windows AI:

A developer known as “zoicware” has built a PowerShell script called “Remove Windows AI” and made it available on GitHub. This third-party tool aims to eliminate AI features that Microsoft has integrated into Windows 11, such as Copilot, Recall, and AI Actions. The script works by modifying registry settings, uninstalling Appx packages, and deleting related files to disable and remove these AI components from the operating system.

Key Features:

• Disables AI registry keys
  
• Prevents reinstallation of AI packages
  
• Removes Copilot and other AI components
  
• Disables features like Recall and AI Actions 

Download:

RemoveWindowsAI

WinSol: Windows 11 includes Copilot and other AI integrations, and this tool gives you more control over system settings and default behavior.This is a native application with a graphical user interface and configuration options—not just a PowerShell script like “RemoveWindowsAI.”

Key Features:

• removes slop
• reduces slop
• makes slop visible
• gives control back to the user

Download

How to Remove System Mechanic from Windows Defender After Uninstalling

Problem:

I uninstalled System Mechanic and the Antivirus but it is still showing as a provider in Windows Defender. Please advise on how to uninstall.

Resolution:

Registry Clean Up:

• Press Win + R, type regedit, and press Enter
• Navigate to: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows Defender\Features
• Look for any System Mechanic or iolo entries and delete them
• Also check: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\WOW6432Node\Microsoft\Windows Defender\Features (on 64-bit systems)
• Restart your computer

Reinstall the Application and then Uninstall:

Some tools won’t uninstall if their uninstall files are missing or corrupted. Re-installing the same version of the software and then uninstalling it again can restore the uninstall mechanism.

Use a Third-Party Uninstaller:

Download and install Revo Uninstaller or, IObit Uninstaller.

Make Taskbar Transparent/Translucent

Do you like to turn your Taskbar transparent?

Download TranslucentTB app to make Taskbar tranparent.

Surface Go 3 Won’t Charge After Storage: What to Do When Your Warranty Expired

Problem:

I bought a Surface Go 3 in February 2022, never used it, and stored it in a climate-controlled room. Just opened it now and the battery won’t charge. My warranty expired last year.

I’m trying to submit a repair order online but keep getting an error. Microsoft’s online support just loops me back to the broken page. All physical Microsoft Stores in Texas are closed.

The device is completely unused – if the battery is faulty, I want Microsoft to refurbish it, but I can’t reach anyone who can help. I don’t want to use a random third-party repair shop or throw it away.

What are my options to get Microsoft to look at this?

Resolution:

Surface devices that sit unused for extended periods (especially 2-3 years) can experience battery issues even in ideal storage conditions. Lithium-ion batteries can enter a deep discharge state where they won’t accept a charge initially. 

• Leave it plugged in for several hours (even overnight) with the original charger.
• Make sure the charging Cable,charging port are working.
• Microsoft does still offer service for Surface devices even after the original warranty expires.

Get service for your out of warranty or damaged Surface

• If there’s a true battery fault, Microsoft can replace it or swap the unit.They may     charge a fee since you are out of warranty

Fix: ‘No Power Options Available’ in Windows Start Menu

Problem:

Have you recently clicked the power button in your Windows Start menu only to see the frustrating message ‘There are currently no power options available’? This common Windows issue can leave you unable to access Sleep, Hibernate, Shutdown, or Restart options through the normal interface. While alarming at first, this problem typically doesn’t indicate hardware failure or user error—it’s usually caused by Windows updates, corrupted power settings, or Group Policy conflicts. In this guide, we’ll walk you through several proven solutions to restore your power options and get your Surface (or any Windows device) back to normal.

Resolution:

Restart Windows Explorer:

open Task Manager, find “Windows Explorer” in the list, right-click it and select “Restart”.

Run Power Troubleshooter – Go to Settings > Update & Security > Troubleshoot > Additional troubleshooters > Power, and run it.

Press Win+R, type gpedit.msc, navigate to Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Start Menu and Taskbar, and make sure “Remove and prevent access to the Shut Down, Restart, Sleep, and Hibernate commands” is set to “Not Configured” or “Disabled”.

Reset power settings – Open Command Prompt as administrator and run:

powercfg -restoredefaultschemes

Re-register the power button: Open Command Prompt as administrator and run:

powercfg /hibernate off
powercfg /hibernate on

Make sure Windows is updated.

How to Fix QuickBooks Installer Issues and Download Problems

Problem:

I attempted to download the latest version of QuickBooks, and when I contacted their customer service, they informed me that there’s a problem with my computer, likely related to the installer

Resolution:

• Press Windows key + R to open the Run menu
• Type services.msc and press Enter
• Scroll down to find “Windows Installer”
• Right-click on “Windows Installer”
• Select “Start”
• Set “Startup type” to “Manual”
• Click Ok.

—–

• Open Command Prompt and type:
• Type msiexec /unregister, press Enter.
• Type msiexec /regserver, press Enter.
• Restart your PC.

—–

• Download the latest version (1.6.0.8) of the QuickBooks Tool Hub.
• Open the file
• Follow the on-screen steps to install.
• Once done, select the QuickBooks Tool Hub app on your Windows desktop to open it
• The hub gives you quick access to problem solving tools.
• Click on Installation Issues tab
• Select QuickBooks Install Diagnostic Tool. Let the tool run. It can take up to 20 minutes.
• When the tool finishes, restart your computer
• Update your QuickBooks to the latest release. This makes sure you have the most recent fixes and security update.

Fix: Windows Media Player Shows Blank Song Names and Artist Info

Problem:

Windows Media Player shows blank spaces instead of song and artist names in my albums. I’ve refreshed the index and repaired the app, but it’s still broken

Resolution:

Clear the Windows Media Player Database

• Close Windows Media Player completely.
• Press Win + R, type %LOCALAPPDATA%\Microsoft\Media Player, and press Enter.
• Delete or rename the folder (create a backup first if you prefer).
• Restart Windows Media Player; it will automatically rebuild the database.

Check File Metadata

• Right-click a music file in File Explorer and select Properties → Details.
• Verify whether the song and artist information is present. If it’s missing, the files themselves may not contain metadata.

Re-add the Music Folder

• Open Windows Media Player and go to Organize → Manage Libraries → Music.
• Remove the existing music folder, then add it again.
• Allow Media Player to rescan the library completely.

Edit Metadata Manually

• Right-click a song and select Find album info, or
• Use Edit to manually enter the song details.

Check File Permissions

• Ensure your user account has full read access to the music folder.

Try Using Mp3tag

• Mp3tag is a powerful and user-friendly tool for viewing and editing audio file metadata.

Fix: Surface Pro Stuck in Boot Loop with SECURITY_SYSTEM_ERROR Blue Screen

Problem:

This issue involves a Surface Pro running Windows 10 that’s caught in a continuous boot loop, alternating between a blue screen displaying the stop code “SECURITY_SYSTEM_ERROR” and a black screen showing only the Microsoft logo. The device cannot complete the startup process and remains stuck cycling between these two screens, preventing normal access to Windows. This type of error typically indicates system file corruption, problematic driver conflicts, or issues with recent Windows updates that prevent the operating system from loading properly. The boot loop makes it impossible to access Windows normally, requiring special recovery methods to diagnose and fix the underlying problem.

Resolution:

Get into Recovery Environment

Select Troubleshoot > Advanced Options > Startup Repair

Let Windows attempt to fix boot issues automatically

———–

Enter the Recovery Environment

Select Troubleshoot > Advanced Options > Startup Settings > Restart

Press 4 or F4 to enter Safe Mode

If it boots successfully, you can uninstall recent updates or drivers that might be causing issues.

————

In Safe mode open Command Prompt as administrator

Type: sfc /scannow and press Enter

———–

In Safe Mode, go to Settings > Update & Security > View update history > Uninstall updates, and remove the most recent update

———

If nothing helps:

From Recovery Environment: Troubleshoot > Reset this PC > choose to keep your files if possible.