Surface book: April 2020 firmware updates bricked my device

Anonymous
2020-05-21T22:11:24+00:00

This morning my surface book downloaded some firmware updates and asked for me to restart my device.

(Here's the details on the update: https://support.microsoft.com/en-gb/help/4023488/surface-surface-book-update-history )

However, after the first restart, I find that the surface book is in a constant restart state. I cannot even force it to shut down or boot the UEFI menu.

This is exactly what it does:

Every 10 seconds or so, it will turn on, show me the "Surface" boot logo, and after 1 second immediately turns off. It does not even reach any Windows boot up sequence.

I found the following topic which advised doing a few steps but nothing works: 

https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/surface/forum/all/surface-book-stuck-in-continuous-restarting-loop/91bc5782-aabf-4555-847a-05b92c88da6d

Could I please get some advice on what to do or how to fix this?

Thank you

Update: Seems the common factor between everyone who is having the issue is that the secure boot is disabled (I.e. there is a 'red strip' shown with an unlock icon being shown). 

Update 2: I have been told my Microsoft that they believe the fault has nothing to do with them. The high number of people who are in this thread with the exact same issue clearly shows that the fault is NOT ours. We are now looking to take legal action as this forced firmware update caused damage to our devices, for which we require compensation from Microsoft (a fix or a replacement free of charge).

For taking legal action and making complaints follow this link:https://www.microsoft.com/en-gb/legal/arbitration/EU-ODR.aspx

Surface | Surface Book | Install and update

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  1. Anonymous
    2020-07-08T00:03:37+00:00

    Yes that was my worry...

    If the firmware update involved flashing the eeprom then that's a big problem. We would have to remove the component from the board, flash with an image file and put it back on the board without damaging the motherboard itself!

    I thought it might be worth a try with just doing a bios 'reset' and seeing if that helps. If not...then it's probably the eeprom.

    Regarding the image file, not sure if this helps but there are people who post bios bins here: https://www.badcaps.net/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=40

    There's a thread for the surface book too, among a couple other surface devices. But I can't say I know for sure if these are the correct files we're looking for...unfortunately this is a little out of my scope :P

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  2. Anonymous
    2020-07-07T23:42:39+00:00

    i'd expand on the idea of "pulling the cmos battery" a bit:

    my understanding is that not the bios configuration is shot (which is stored in volatile memory) but instead the bios data on the eeprom chip, meaning even entirely powering down the chip wouldn't help.

    my guess is that having secure boot disabled broke the eeprom reflash process and the bios chip now has binary soup in it instead of a consistent bios image.

    we'd either need to physically replace the chip (where do we get one with a bios image?) or attach an eeprom flasher (since the bios chip is DIP and not BGA, it would theoretically be possible) and rewrite the chip (but where do we get the file?)

    both involves opening the bloody thing, tho =/

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  3. Anonymous
    2020-07-07T23:28:34+00:00

    Looks promising - looking forward to an update!

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  4. Anonymous
    2020-07-07T23:28:09+00:00

    Thanks for the info!

    Here's my take on this: 

    From what I understand, the bios chip is not initiating the start-up process, which would usually allow us to start up something from USB or from a hard drive.

    If I was using a desktop motherboard, I would just unplug the CMOS coin cell battery for about 1-2 minutes, which would reset the bios to the factory default settings.

    A surface does not have a CMOS battery like a desktop motherboard. Instead, the surface uses main battery to keep the bios setting (there's always battery levels reserved to keep the bios chips alive, even if the surface says 0%).

    So...in theory...if I unplug the main battery internally from the motherboard, the bios should reset. 

    Problem though, is that the surface devices are VERY difficult to disassemble. There's a good chance the screen will break upon trying to do this: https://www.ifixit.com/Teardown/Microsoft+Surface+Book+Teardown/51972

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  5. Anonymous
    2020-07-07T22:14:56+00:00

    Currently the message has been passed on from dev team to higher ups at microsoft to make a decision. Gotta wait 72 hours.

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