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

If you can't or are unwilling to check your update history then your add no value here.  Many users have reported installing these firmware updates with no visible failure but if you check the update history you will see the update failed.  Especially since you mentioned that the update was offered to you multiple times I think the update never applied and your system is having issues.   Don't use the force.  Your not a real Jedi.  Look at the logs and use facts and data to create conclusions.

Seach your system logs for EVENT ID 41.  These are unexpected shutdowns.  I bet you don't even realize your system is crashing...  In every case of someone I have worked with who thinks it is operating perfectly they just aren't experienced enough to realize the system is crashing because the solid state drive is so fast and it boots up quickly.

PS, the hardware is identical in these units.  This is a software issue in most cases.  Microsoft couldn't even be bothered to put a functional recovery image on these devices.  When you do a full reset the surface cover telemetry driver does not reinstall properly.  That issue has been ongoing since launch.

My Windows Update History shows that the 2/11/14 firmware update is installed.  Before cleaning my Update History, it showed that the 12/10/13 firmware update failed.

On Event 41, to help folks out, you can find the Event Viewer using the Search Charm.  Look under Windows Logs, System in the event log tree.  Use a filter (righthand column) to just filter on Event ID 41.  If you're like me running at 200% font size 'cuz of the SP2 small, hi-res screen, the OK button to launch the filter may be hidden by the Taskbar.  If you place your cursor in a lower field in the filter, the next TAB key press past the CLEAR button takes you to OK to launch the filter (you can also apply a date range filter in addition to using the Event ID).

I have only 2 Event 41's before 12/10/13, both in October when I got my SP2.  After 12/10/13, Event 41'sk are a fairly regular occurrence (30 between 12/10/13 and 1/31/14) with the majority occurring after I discharged my battery down to the Critical Action Level, got locked in the 5% battery status display,.  Have 12 Event 41's on 1/30, 1/31 perhaps in consequence to that.  After doing Volume Up/Power Button Trick and resetting my Hibernation file.  Only 4 Event 41's since then, roughly every other to every third day and none since 2/9/14.

The statement that all SP2 have identical hardware is not true.  For example 4200U processor vs 4300U.  And what other components has Microsoft changed without likewise telling us.

My opinion here is not directed to DavidB1234 but given all the trolling that goes on at other sites, I've wondered whether some of the "my Surface is ------, I'm returning and getting a Mac or a ....." is that type of stuff.  Both my Surface RT and SP2 experience have been far from perfect but Microsoft has gotten most of the bugs out of both machines for what I use them for and they are now both working very well for me.

As to being beta testers....., maybe Steven_B from Microsoft is really just being polite.  It took a while to get the 2/11/14 firmware update (since 12/10/13) so to imply that MS was doing nothing but waiting 2 months for us to test it for them is silly.  Maybe they really do just want our feedback on how it works for us and want to hear about ANY problems still remaining after the 2/11/14 firmware update.  Would you rather that they not want to hear back?

I second, or 3rd this advice...