I am attempting to identify a possible problem with my Surface Pro 6, which is completely up to date. Whenever I leave it in sleep mode overnight, the battery level decreases by approximately 15-25%.
During my inquiry, I aimed to examine both aspects.
powercfg /batteryreport
powercfg /sleepstudy
Nevertheless, when I execute these instructions from a command prompt that has elevated privileges, I receive the following feedback.
Unable to perform operation. An unexpected error (0xb7) has occurred: Cannot create a file when that file already exists.
Although it is true that battery-report.html does exist, it is not significant on any other computer since it just overwrites the file.
My powercfg functions properly when I execute it.
powercfg /energy
It generates the anticipated result.
Enabling tracing for 60 seconds...
Observing system behavior...
Analyzing trace data...
Analysis complete.
Energy efficiency problems were found.
8 Errors
8 Warnings
42 Informational
See C:\WINDOWS\system32\energy-report.html for more details.
The report includes multiple instances of “USB Suspend: USB Device not Entering Selective Suspend,” which I believe are related to my Surface Dock. However, if I run the report without the dock connected, these instances do not appear.
Nonetheless, this issue is not the one I am attempting to address at the moment.
Update
powercfg /systemsleepdiagnostics = works…
powercfg /systempowerreport = fails (file exists error again)
powercfg /srumutil = fails with…
Error: SruUpdateStats failed
Completed with status 183 (0x000000b7)
Unable to perform operation. An unexpected error (0x1f) has occurred: A device attached to the system is not functioning.
Summary
These are not functioning properly:
powercfg /batteryreport
powercfg /sleepstudy
powercfg /systempowerreport
powercfg /srumutil
Although these are not…
powercfg /energy
powercfg /systemsleepdiagnostics
2 Answers
Introduction
The Surface Pro 6 is a popular device that is well known for its powerful hardware, sleek design, and long battery life. However, some users have reported issues with the battery life of their Surface Pro 6, where the battery drains faster than expected when the device is put to sleep. This issue can be frustrating for users who rely on their Surface Pro 6 for their daily work.
In this blog post, we will explore how to diagnose potential battery issues on the Surface Pro 6. We will look at the powercfg command-line tool, which can be used to generate reports that can help diagnose battery issues. We will also explore some common issues that can cause battery drain on the Surface Pro 6, and how to troubleshoot them.
Using Powercfg to Diagnose Battery Issues
Powercfg is a command-line tool that is included with Windows that allows you to manage power settings and diagnose power-related issues. To diagnose battery issues on the Surface Pro 6, we can use the powercfg tool to generate reports that can help us identify any issues.
To generate a battery report, open an elevated command prompt and enter the following command:
powercfg /batteryreport
This command will create a report that provides information about your battery usage, including battery life estimates, usage history, and more. This report can be useful in diagnosing potential battery issues on your Surface Pro 6.
If you’re experiencing battery drain when your device is in sleep mode, you can use the powercfg tool to generate a sleep study report. This report provides information about how your device is using power when it’s in sleep mode, and can help you identify any issues that may be causing battery drain.
To generate a sleep study report, open an elevated command prompt and enter the following command:
powercfg /sleepstudy
This command will create a report that provides information about how your device is using power when it’s in sleep mode. This report can be useful in identifying any issues that may be causing battery drain on your Surface Pro 6.
Common Causes of Battery Drain on Surface Pro 6
There are several common issues that can cause battery drain on the Surface Pro 6. Here are some of the most common causes:
Background Apps
Background apps can consume a lot of battery power, even when your device is in sleep mode. To prevent background apps from consuming too much battery power, you can disable them in the Settings app.
To disable background apps, open the Settings app and navigate to Privacy > Background apps. Here, you can disable any apps that you don’t need to run in the background.
Bluetooth
Bluetooth can also consume a lot of battery power, especially if it’s left on when not in use. To conserve battery power, you can disable Bluetooth when you’re not using it.
To disable Bluetooth, open the Settings app and navigate to Devices > Bluetooth & other devices. Here, you can toggle the Bluetooth switch to turn it off.
Screen Brightness
The screen brightness can also affect battery life. To conserve battery power, you can reduce the screen brightness when you’re not using your device.
To adjust the screen brightness, open the Settings app and navigate to System > Display. Here, you can adjust the brightness slider to reduce the screen brightness.
Power-Hungry Apps
Some apps are more power-hungry than others and can consume a lot of battery power. To conserve battery power, you can close power-hungry apps when you’re not using them.
To close an app, swipe down from the top of the screen to display the app switcher. Here, you can swipe up on an app to close it.
Outdated Drivers or Firmware
Outdated drivers or firmware can also cause battery drain on the Surface Pro 6. To ensure that your device is up to date, you can check for updates in the Settings app.
To check for updates, open the Settings app and navigate to Update & Security > Windows Update. Here, you can check for updates and install any available updates.
Troubleshooting Powercfg Errors
If you’re experiencing errors when using the powercfg tool, there are a few things you can try to troubleshoot the issue.
If you’re getting an error message that says “Cannot create a file when that file already exists,” try deleting the existing battery report file and running the command again.
If you’re getting an error message that says “A device attached to the system is not functioning,” try unplugging any external devices (such as a Surface Dock) and running the command again.
If you’re still experiencing issues, you can try running the powercfg tool with administrative privileges by opening an elevated command prompt and running the command “runas /user:administrator cmd” before running the powercfg command.
Conclusion
Battery drain can be a frustrating issue on the Surface Pro 6, but with the help of the powercfg tool and some troubleshooting tips, you can diagnose and fix the issue. By identifying common causes of battery drain and taking steps to conserve battery power, you can ensure that your Surface Pro 6 lasts as long as possible on a single charge.
When running as an administrator, /srumutil and /batteryreport generate errors, while the other commands function properly. It is worth noting that this is my desktop computer, so the battery report is not expected to provide any valuable information.
However, the tool should be able to handle this condition and give an appropriate response, instead of displaying the message “Unexpected error (0x10d2) has occurred.”