Hands On: Surface Diagnostic Toolkit App

When Microsoft unveiled the Surface Laptop earlier this year they also announced Windows 10 S - a new version of their current operating system.

Its unique feature was that it could only use apps that were in the Windows Store. This was meant as a security enhancement because it would prevent malicious software downloads from executing on any device running the OS.

Although it has received mixed reviews over the last couple of months, it seems more users are starting to come over to the other side of the aisle and finding value in an OS with this type of limitation.

It also really lends itself to encouraging developers to use the Desktop Bridge, aka Project Centennial, to covert standard desktop software over to Windows Store apps so they can run on Windows 10 S and other versions of Windows.

Over the last few weeks we have seen some popular programs such as Irfanview, an image editing program, become available in the Windows Store. In addition, we have heard about another popular image program, Paint.net, being prepped for the Windows Store as well.

Microsoft also used the Desktop Bridge to convert Word, Excel, PowerPoint from Office 365 so that Windows 10 S users could use the full version of the programs on that OS.

I bring all of this up about the Desktop Bridge because this week Microsoft has released the Surface Diagnostics Toolkit as a Windows Store app that was converted over using Project Centennial.

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Bonus Pro Tip:

Want to identify if a Windows Store app was converted using the Desktop bridge?

Just look at the apps additional information that is on the apps Windows Store listing and look for the text Uses all system resources. That is your sign that this app was created using Project Centennial.

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The Surface Diagnostics Toolkit will check your Surface device for missing drivers, updates, and check other system performance elements such as your battery.

I tried this app out on a Surface Book and it found a driver for the system which I allowed it to install. I created a System Restore point just in case and let the app do its thing.

I am now having some Sleep Mode issues and I believe that chipset driver may be at fault. I attempted to go back with System Restore but it errors out and does not make the changes.

Next up, I went to installed updates and could not find a listing for this driver that was installed and so I could not roll it back either. For now I am stuck with some sleep issues on this bare metal test device for Redstone 3 but a switch to Hibernate instead of Sleep is allowing me to prevent a hot bag issue as the device will no go to sleep at all.

So be sure you have a good backup or System Restore point before you dive into using this app just in case you hit any issues.

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But, wait...there's probably more so be sure to follow me on Twitter and Google+.