System Firmware Update - 12/10/13 fails to install

In the golden age of Microsoft there used to be multiple ways of giving Microsoft a heads-up about a problem, and one frequently got an immediate appreciative response.  There is the charming story of the (now) Melissa Gate describing her first date with Bill Gates being at a later hour than she expected in the evening because Bill was going to a user group meeting.  She found that a bit geeky, but that was a big part of the spirit that made Microsoft great.  Today much of such activity is relegated to these forums, and there is almost no feedback as to whether Microsoft is paying any attention. 

If I were advising the next CEO of Microsoft how to regain the magic of the golden age, a key part of that advice would be to have some real Microsoft employees with actual authority involved in these forums.  I've seen and written about such a model working in medicine, and the added value is tremendous.

Hi Mickey.

This is one of the reasons why People like Tim from the SURFACE developement team is attending - and answering in this thread when he know - and is allowed to inform the users.

The second part, this is what the MVP- Group for SURFACE is for.

Myself and 12 others around the world is continuously looking for ways to improve the SURFACE and its Portfolio. Feedbacks like this thread is invaluable in this matter.

I'm not the top- poster, but I definately pay attention. So does Microsoft :)

I found with sites IE11 hates with win7 64 - I do tools->compatibility settings->"then add the url to the list" and then it works

had this problem with battle.net and others - although your one seems to work ok for me

It is odd that Microsoft URLs would not work with the current version of Internet Explorer on the most common Microsoft operating system, Windows 7.  It is good to know that there is a way of patching this problem. but if Microsoft can't make its own URLs work with its own key software, it is not very focused on a basic part of interaction with customers. 

In the golden age of Microsoft there used to be multiple ways of giving Microsoft a heads-up about a problem, and one frequently got an immediate appreciative response.  There is the charming story of the (now) Melissa Gate describing her first date with Bill Gates being at a later hour than she expected in the evening because Bill was going to a user group meeting.  She found that a bit geeky, but that was a big part of the spirit that made Microsoft great.  Today much of such activity is relegated to these forums, and there is almost no feedback as to whether Microsoft is paying any attention. 

If I were advising the next CEO of Microsoft how to regain the magic of the golden age, a key part of that advice would be to have some real Microsoft employees with actual authority involved in these forums.  I've seen and written about such a model working in medicine, and the added value is tremendous.

Well said. However you (and I) are living in a world that has run its course. Here I am writing this on a device that cost almost £1K whose life expectancy is determined by the  longevity of its battery... Which, if past experience with lithium batteries is anything to go by isn't too long - at least if I want to use it untethered - which is more than half the raison'd'etre of the Surface. 

So I'd guess that within about 3 years it's only going to be useful when connected to mains power. Worse, judging by the posts on this thread, no one is even certain what the optimal recharging regime is, or whether or not this regime is incorporated into the Surface's obnoxious firmware.

Of course Apple started this atrocious concept of disposable, premium-priced, computing devices. But aren't I correct in thinking that at least they allow for return to base battery exchange units, even if at eye-watering prices? I've gained the impression here that the Surface is for the trash-can once the battery is clapped out. If so, I bitterly regret buying it. For the same outlay I could have acquired a decent laptop/notebook plus one of the excellent Samsung Galaxy tablets.

As for forums (fora?) like this one, it's become the absolute norm for corporations to offload support to its own customers. I'm told that Apple, a company of whose products I was an early adopter and enthusiast (from Mac Plus/SE up to the mid-90s), actually have decent customer support - as they should given their excessive pricing and ludicrous profitability.

Having used Windows in its various incarnations both professionally and domestically since NT 3.n, the mess that they've made with the Surface range dwarfs any previous blunders. I certainly can't previously recall a situation comparable to where the "updater repair tool" is itself broken. Astonishing. And their lack of clarification of the Surface update situation is simply a disgrace.

I wouldn't advise anyone to buy a Surface of any model. There is simply no compelling reason to do so and many compelling reasons not to.

Roy