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
    2020-08-29T00:38:15+00:00

    Hopefully you can get that working. I was able to get my screen off successfully with a hair dryer, guitar picks, business cards (for the areas I passed with the pick to prevent it sticking together again), and of course a large chunk of time. I did mess up the antennae at the top though.

    I haven't been successful with soldering to the chip's pins because I am not very good at it. I will be printing the pin probe soon.

    Has anyone else made any progress?

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  2. Anonymous
    2020-08-12T16:39:15+00:00

    Hey guys, 

    Just wanted to add my experience after RT-XD pointed this thread out to me.

    Extremely similar issue on my end a couple of months back. Update followed by no getting past the "Surface" boot screen. MS support unwilling to help or acknowledge that the problem is their fault.

    I don't know the exact specifics of my Book right now but it's definitely a gen 1 with an i7, 16GB of RAM and doesn't have the performance base.

    I would add that this is the 3rd dead Surface Book I have. First one hinge gave up (around 6 months), second one battery expanded (18 months), and now this. Since MS didn't want the exploding one back, I still have it and can presumably swap parts between them to achieve one functioning book, but I already cracked one screen...

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  3. Anonymous
    2020-08-06T19:55:45+00:00

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  4. Anonymous
    2020-08-01T22:16:02+00:00

    interesting. i've seen the teardown on ifixit an it looked like a dip chip with exposed contacts and not smd

    or are they just too small?

    anyways, soldering a few wires shouldn't be difficult.

    have you heard anything from microsoft via the odr platform?

    Nothing for me on the ODR. Anyone else?

    The contacts are too small. Also, there are a couple of tiny resistors very close to it on one side and prevent the Pomona from gripping the chip from the bottom.

    I think wires is the way to go. I'll probably do that when I get the chance.

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  5. Anonymous
    2020-08-01T18:06:27+00:00

    interesting. i've seen the teardown on ifixit an it looked like a dip chip with exposed contacts and not smd

    or are they just too small?

    anyways, soldering a few wires shouldn't be difficult.

    have you heard anything from microsoft via the odr platform?

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