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
    2020-07-07T23:42:39+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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  2. 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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  3. Anonymous
    2020-07-08T03:14:45+00:00

    Hi,

    i open the aurface book as my data was important and microsoft told me that data can not recover..

    Anyway, i got my data and surface still same .. just logo display wven remive or add ssd..

    do you know which battery to remove or reset.. i can try..

    thanks

    ajay

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  4. Anonymous
    2020-07-08T14:07:15+00:00

    Hi,

    i open the aurface book as my data was important and microsoft told me that data can not recover..

    Anyway, i got my data and surface still same .. just logo display wven remive or add ssd..

    do you know which battery to remove or reset.. i can try..

    thanks

    ajay

    If you could - that would be very helpful! I'd be very interested in seeing what happens.

    I've been looking at this teardown guide to see how to take out all components: https://www.ifixit.com/Teardown/Microsoft+Surface+Book+Teardown/51972

    You would need to remove all the parts of the main tablet. Once you remove the battery, leave it unplugged for about 30 minutes (just to be sure) and then need to put all components back together.

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  5. Anonymous
    2020-07-08T16:02:52+00:00

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bmci4mqDkw4

    everyone can you look into this link

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