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

Anonymous
2013-12-10T19:14:53+00:00

Got the updates on todays patch Tuesday, but the firmware update failed to load.  Rechecking for an update does not give the opportunity to try and reinstall.

Anyone else having this problem?  I do notice that my telemetry driver is now loaded. so not sure what is going on here.

Surface | Surface Pro | Install and update

Locked Question. This question was migrated from the Microsoft Support Community. You can vote on whether it's helpful, but you can't add comments or replies or follow the question.

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Anonymous
2013-12-19T06:53:02+00:00

Josh,

We are working through the holidays to deliver a fix for the small number of customers that have experience decreased battery life and booting/sleeping problems as a result of the December update.  We took the update down to prevent additional customers from ending up in this state. All hardware failures, none of which are known to be caused by the December update, are being handled promptly through our warranty exchange policy.

The UEFI firmware that we released in the December update prevents some devices from entering sleep mode (and other low power states) properly during periods of inactivity. In order to release an updated version of the UEFI firmware we need to test the new version with the other drivers in the set to make sure we are not releasing yet another unknown state to customer machines. We certainly feel your pain and assure you that we are doing everything possible to make this right, as quickly as we can.

Thank you,

Tim

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Anonymous
2014-02-15T00:49:31+00:00

Greetings all,

We understand that the February Firmware Update has fixed the Battery gauge issue and the Firmware showing as failed. However we can see that there are some customers who are still experiencing issues with their Surface Pro 2 going into Sleep mode and Hibernate.

So we can better track those particular issues, we have decided to close this thread off. We encourage you to create a thread related to your Surface Pro 2 not going to sleep or not going into Hibernate. Please give as much detail as possible to your scenario.

We understand that the February Firmware update did not resolve the issue with waking from Sleep or Hibernate, as it was not intended to fix that particular issue. We are continuing to work to deliver a high quality solution. More updates will become available as this effort progresses.

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Anonymous
2014-02-13T22:35:08+00:00

The February update has resolved all issues for me.  The firmware installed with no issues.  Prior to this, I had all sorts of problems with the December firmware.  Sleep and hibernate issues were rampant.  The January update helped a bit, but the battery meter was always getting off calibration. 

With the February update, all issues have been resolved and my Surface 2 128gb is working as it was prior to the December updates.  Very solid and all is back to normal.

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  1. Anonymous
    2014-01-28T11:23:30+00:00

    UK SP2 128

    Meanwhile back on the firmware/hardware updates treadmill...

    I have just been offered and installed a "hardware" update dated 18/01. My update history already had an entry listed for this date (annotated "firmware"). Subsequent to the latest installation I now have two installed updates recorded as issued on 18/1, both described as "firmware". Now I don't really imagine a hardware update is different to a firmware update unless they can now send PCBs and components via broadband. But this sort of inconsistency in simple nomenclature is breathtaking from a corporation of the size and scale of MS.

    I've tried to get an answer to the following question several time, but maybe someone could please clarify the situation for this weary old geezer.

    In the past, before installing any update, one could always go to the MS KB and read a description of the patch's functionality and relevance before installing (or not). This now seems impossible. Clicking on "details"  of the checked update simply takes me to the top level of the MS support site. Which is, in this context, absolutely useless.

    Is there any route by which one can investigate the (no longer numbered and thus vague and ambiguous: see above) updates before installation? If not why has this essential information become hidden?

    Thoughts on battery performance:

    Occam's Razor would seem to apply here. The simple way to solve the battery problems being discussed is to design the products with interchangeable/replaceable batteries: as always in the past! This regression to a situation where a serviceable device must be abandoned or confined to mains-tethered use when the battery performance has declined significantly is an outrageous development, pioneered, inevitably, by Apple - if you discount electric toothbrushes. Some of us have to make these purchases last a while. My  Vaio (&XP) which the Surface Pro2 replaces is still usable (just) after >7 years, although it has consumed 3 batteries in that time.

    Roy

    Have you ever thought of selling your SP2 while it still has a high value since you are so upset about the non-removable/replaceable battery and the other flaws you've repeatedly pointed out?  Maybe there is another device or combination of devices that would serve you better.

    And if you want to talk about planned obsolescence you can't pin that on Apple. It's existed long before they came around.  And as far as I know, Apple had absolutely zero input on the design of the Surface line of devices.

    Pointless response.

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  2. Anonymous
    2014-01-27T23:14:16+00:00

    UK SP2 128

    Meanwhile back on the firmware/hardware updates treadmill...

    I have just been offered and installed a "hardware" update dated 18/01. My update history already had an entry listed for this date (annotated "firmware"). Subsequent to the latest installation I now have two installed updates recorded as issued on 18/1, both described as "firmware". Now I don't really imagine a hardware update is different to a firmware update unless they can now send PCBs and components via broadband. But this sort of inconsistency in simple nomenclature is breathtaking from a corporation of the size and scale of MS.

    I've tried to get an answer to the following question several time, but maybe someone could please clarify the situation for this weary old geezer.

    In the past, before installing any update, one could always go to the MS KB and read a description of the patch's functionality and relevance before installing (or not). This now seems impossible. Clicking on "details"  of the checked update simply takes me to the top level of the MS support site. Which is, in this context, absolutely useless.

    Is there any route by which one can investigate the (no longer numbered and thus vague and ambiguous: see above) updates before installation? If not why has this essential information become hidden?

    Thoughts on battery performance:

    Occam's Razor would seem to apply here. The simple way to solve the battery problems being discussed is to design the products with interchangeable/replaceable batteries: as always in the past! This regression to a situation where a serviceable device must be abandoned or confined to mains-tethered use when the battery performance has declined significantly is an outrageous development, pioneered, inevitably, by Apple - if you discount electric toothbrushes. Some of us have to make these purchases last a while. My  Vaio (&XP) which the Surface Pro2 replaces is still usable (just) after >7 years, although it has consumed 3 batteries in that time.

    Roy

    Have you ever thought of selling your SP2 while it still has a high value since you are so upset about the non-removable/replaceable battery and the other flaws you've repeatedly pointed out?  Maybe there is another device or combination of devices that would serve you better.

    And if you want to talk about planned obsolescence you can't pin that on Apple. It's existed long before they came around.  And as far as I know, Apple had absolutely zero input on the design of the Surface line of devices.

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