I have a Surface RT and Type Cover 2. They have both work flawlessly until now. I verified my 8 RT recovery image before applying
8.1, and I have recovery drives for both editions. I rolled back to 8 using recovery and was able to verify after 8.1 has been applied that 8 can still be recovered. It worked. Before recovering back to 8.1 RT, I observed Windows Update detected an eligible
update "System Firmware Update - 1/15/2014". Figuring it must be specific to 8, I proceeded with recovery straight to 8.1. Unsurprisingly, 8.1 also detected the update and has now applied the update.
Since the update, the touchpad on the Type Cover 2 jumps erratically when I let up. To rule out software, I booted to the 8 RT recovery
drive, and the setup dialog also exhibits the same touchpad erratic behavior.
This URL cites the following and gives me reason to think it could be related:
Microsoft Surface RT update history | Surface firmware updates
January 2014 updates
Windows RT 8.1
Surface Type Cover 2 firmware
These updates improve the experience of using a second generation Type Surface Cover on your Surface RT running Windows RT 8.1, including
touchpad performance and overall product stability.
Surface Touch Cover 2 firmware
These updates improve the experience of using a second generation Surface Touch Cover on your Surface RT running Windows RT 8.1, including
touchpad performance and overall product stability.
Has anyone else seen this type of issue?
I can't necessarily rule out a coincidental hardware failure, but it seems rather uncanny.