This page sets out the repairs, upgrades and data recovery we carry out on the Microsoft Surface Pro 5 (2017), with notes on what tends to go wrong and what can and cannot be upgraded. It is a 12.3-inch tablet PC from 2017, identified by model number 1796. Storage and memory are both fixed to the board, which shapes what can be upgraded and how data is recovered.
- Model number
- 1796
- Released
- 2017
- Type
- Tablet PC
- Screen
- 12.3-inch
- Storage
- Soldered to the board
- Memory
- Soldered
What we repair on the Microsoft Surface Pro 5
Touchscreen replacement
The 12.3-inch touchscreen is bonded to its glass, so cracked glass, dead touch and display faults are all fixed by replacing the bonded panel.
Price confirmed before work starts
Memory
Memory in the Microsoft Surface Pro 5 is soldered and cannot be upgraded. It is worth knowing this before paying anyone for a memory upgrade.
Windows repair and reinstall
Windows 11 support depends on the processor: versions with an 8th-generation Intel Core or Ryzen 2000-series chip or newer qualify, and earlier ones do not. We check yours and advise.
Battery replacement
The battery is glued in behind the display. Replacing it means opening the device, which we explain and price before starting. At this age, short runtime and sudden shutdowns usually point to a worn battery and not a board fault.
Price confirmed before work starts
Keyboard and trackpad repair
The detachable keyboard cover is a separate accessory. We test whether a typing fault is the cover or the connector on the tablet.
Charging port and power repair
Charging faults are traced to the adapter, the Surface Connect port or the charging circuit. The port is a separate part on most models.
Storage
Storage on the Microsoft Surface Pro 5 is soldered and cannot be upgraded. We can help with external storage, clearing space, or moving to a new machine.
We also carry out motherboard repair, liquid damage repair, overheating and fan repair, hinge and casing repair, virus removal on the Microsoft Surface Pro 5, along with USB, HDMI and audio port repair, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth card replacement, webcam and speaker faults, BIOS password removal with proof of ownership and data transfer to a new machine.
What we see on the bench
- From the Surface Pro 7+ onward the SSD sits behind a small door under the kickstand and can be swapped; earlier models have soldered storage.
- Battery swelling that lifts the screen away from the frame should be dealt with promptly.
- Every Surface Pro is opened by removing the glued-on display, which carries a real risk of cracking the glass. We quote with that in mind.
Data recovery from the Microsoft Surface Pro 5
Storage in the Microsoft Surface Pro 5 is soldered to the board. If the machine will not start, recovering files means repairing the board enough to read the storage, so the repair and the recovery are the same job.
Estimate the cost with our data recovery calculator, or read about recovering files after a ransomware attack.
Where the Microsoft Surface Pro 5 sits in the range
Its nearest relatives in the Microsoft Surface Pro range are the older Microsoft Surface Pro 4 (2015) and the newer Microsoft Surface Pro 6 (2018). Storage differs too: soldered to the board on the Microsoft Surface Pro 5, M.2 SSD, replaceable on the Microsoft Surface Pro 4.
Questions
Can the SSD or memory in the Microsoft Surface Pro 5 be upgraded?
The storage is soldered and cannot be upgraded. Memory is soldered and cannot be upgraded.
My Microsoft Surface Pro 5 will not turn on. Is my data lost?
Not necessarily, but the storage is on the main board, so the board has to be repaired far enough to read it. Do not keep trying to power it on, and tell us about any backups you have.
How much does a Microsoft Surface Pro 5 screen replacement cost?
Price confirmed before work starts. The exact figure depends on the part your machine needs, and we confirm it before any work starts.
Is a 2017 Microsoft Surface Pro 5 still worth repairing?
It depends on the fault. A battery, SSD or charging socket is usually worth doing. A major board repair on an older machine may cost more than the machine is worth, and if that is the case we will say so.