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
    2020-10-10T21:44:10+00:00

    My solution was to buy a MacBook Pro. I purchased an Amazon warranty on my Surface Book 2 (which cost me $1,699 PLUS warranty) so I think I’m just going to destroy my Surface Book in one way or another... get it replaced... and sell it on eBay (assuredly for a loss) to someone who still believes in this **** COMPANY’S products. My MacBook Pro is half as thin as the Surface Book, the battery life is amazing, I have a gorgeous Retina display, it has the touchbar above the keyboard and so much more.  I can even text and reciece calls right from my laptop (or Apple watch) bc its linked to my iPhone. 

    You know the folks at Microsoft are reading these messages and they simply dont care. That’s why I believe this “brick update” was just a ploy to force people willing to pay “Surface Money” into paying additional thousands of dollars for more junk Microsoft products. 

    Couldn’t be happier to be back on a Mac. The only bummer is the vital work documents that were on the now bricked Surface Book 2 hard drive. Its not like my Asus laptop (that died from having a glass of water dumped on it’s keyboard) where I could just pull the hard drive and connect it to a new laptop using a USB converter.

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  2. Anonymous
    2020-10-10T23:36:59+00:00

    I can't say I'm an apple fan - but gotta admit that it's looking a whole lot more appealing than Surface right now.

    I'd recommend dell laptops for anyone who needs Windows. I've always had good experience with them and regret not getting the XPS instead of the surface book.

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  3. Anonymous
    2020-10-10T23:50:11+00:00

    You probably would have got much more machine for the same... or less money with the Dell. I started with a Commadore 64, moved on to a Amiga and an Amiga 2... then finally when I was 20 grew into Microsoft products it was a Windows ‘95 desktop.  Point is... I’ve been using Windows for years but this whole Surface-brick... and Microsoft’s response... disgusts me. A $1,699 lesson. Isn’t it weird how only THEIR Surface products got bricked by the update? Shady man... SHADY!!!

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  4. Anonymous
    2020-10-31T15:28:48+00:00

    GOSSSSHHHH!!!!!! I can not find a solution!!! Why ?!!?? why ??!! why?!!! 

    Although in the forum has the highest number of posts and views about this bricked SURFACES, not even a reply is written from MICROSOFT.

    Really Microsoft?

    I wish I had earned as much money as Microsoft and I hadn't bothered to make or do my unjustly damaged device. But as you can imagine, making money is not easy and some of us have more difficulty buying Surface(or something else)due to the exchange rate difference. 400 units(dollar) of surface for you make 15000 units for me. This shows that I have to work 40 times more to get the Surface. 

    AND boommmm Surface is broken. And I didn't do that. Microsoft broke up with the update. And on top of that they don't even bother to answer ?!

    I am going to write again and again until my device is fixed.

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  5. Anonymous
    2020-10-31T15:48:02+00:00

    Its really sad. I have a warranty on mine. I was considering “accidentally” spilling a glass of water on it and see what square trade replaces my Surface Book 2 with. I dont think it matters much though. Even if i turn updates off... it will force update and brick it like my current Surface Book 2. Microsoft is clearly just screwing people as I paid $1699 (plus a $300 warrantly from Square Trade) for a device that lasted seven months. I wish I lacked the morals to do business like that. My bank account wpuld look a lot better. Nevertheless... Im loving my MacBook Pro. Its way thinner than the Surface Book 2... it links to my iPhone, AirPods and Apple watch seamleasly. Not to mention its three times faster. So I am grateful to Microsoft for one thing... they pushed me back toward using Apple products. If they ever fix their screw up, I’ll either sell it on eBay or ise it to play Battlefield. Until then, I just can fathom destroyimg it... habing it replaced and selling it tonsome sucker on eBay nc as soon as they boot it up it will force an update and be bricked. Like I said. My moral compass is the complete opposite of Microsoft. Like you said. Nothing from them. Then again... what should they say? They are knowingly screwing people who bought their flagship product and couldnt care less. SO glad I didnt get the desktop model. Sorry youngot screwed too!!!

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