It turns out that if you own a Surface Pro, Surface Pro 2, or Surface Pro 3 and you regularly wrap its power cord up tightly, you are in danger of it overheating and possibly damaging itself and its surroundings. Fortunately, Microsoft is all too happy to replace the cable for you. All you have to do is wait — the company will be in touch.
This is a problem that only existed before the launch of the Surface Pro 4; Microsoft took steps to revamp the design of the power cord for that model so that this very problem would no longer arise. However, anyone who purchased one before July 2015 does have a potentially defective cord and should at the very least be careful.
In a response to a query from ZDNet, Microsoft said that damage caused from winding cords too tightly could in some select instances cause pinching or twisting over time, which in turn could lead to some Surface Pro cables becoming dangerous.
“We will be releasing details of how customers can obtain a free replacement cable shortly,” a spokesperson said.
While the replacement system will be voluntary, it seems likely that Microsoft will get in touch with affected buyers directly to avoid any problems. If you own one of the two-in-ones with the potentially dangerous cabling, expect Microsoft to contact you shortly to organize the replacement.
When it does take place, the scheme will be worldwide, so all owners from all territories may be contacted. However, in the U.S. things will be a little different. The revamped cords were released first in America, so only owners who purchased their Surface Pro, Surface Pro 2, or Surface Pro 3 before March 2015 are potentially affected — so only they will be contacted about a replacement.
Do you own a Surface Pro with a toasty cable? If so, don’t wrap it too tightly while the replacement scheme is being put in place.
