Surface RT "dead"/black screen after installing optional upgrade(s)

Anonymous
2018-01-23T22:02:45+00:00

Hello!

I've recently reset my Surface RT to factory settings.

Now after setting it up again and installing all needed updates via WindowsUpdate, I also wanted to install the optional ones - especially the one with the Windows 10-like start menu because I like it much better than the big tiles :D

So here I go... but after the needed restart the screen stays black with a blinking WiFi icon in the bottom left and a mouse arrow when I touch the screen or the touchpad (watch here: Youtube Video)

I waited a few hours if there was an update to be finished (until the battery ran out!) - but nothing happened.

  • I already did a complete factory reset
  • Also a complete reset with a recovery USB drive (Windows 8.1 RT image 20.8.17.0)
  • I am out of ideas...

I tried these procedures already...

  1. The first time I installed many updates by hand because WindowsUpdate got stuck - OK I thought this was the mistake...
  2. So the second time I installed only KB2919355, KB3173424 and KB3172614 by hand because of WindowsUpdate stuck again... afterwards I thought this was the mistake because it didn't work...
  3. So the last time I tried everything over WindowsUpdate - which worked only because I flushed the DNS cache before and did the WindowsUpdate repair option from the settings. Again it didn't work...

It works completely flawless until I install an optional update.

PS: I've seen there are already others with this issue which seems to happen since this january...

Please help!

Thank you.

Surface | Other

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Anonymous
2018-02-14T04:32:38+00:00

You can remove KB3033055 after getting the flickering wifi icon, no need to reset from scratch.  

 - Interrupt the boot process a couple times by holding down the power button to force windows into startup repair.

 - Open the command prompt from the menus. (Troubleshoot, Advanced, Command Prompt)

 - You will be prompted to enter username and password

 - At the command prompt type:

dism /image:c:\ /get-packages > c:\dism-output.txt

notepad c:\dism-output.txt

In notepad press ctrl-f and type 3033055, you should find the full name (In my case it was Package_for_KB3033055~31bf3856ad364e35~arm~~6.3.1.19)

Back to the command prompt, In my case I typed:

  dism /image:c:\ /remove-package /packagename:Package_for_KB3033055~31bf3856ad364e35~arm~~6.3.1.19

  exit

From there you should be able to continue to Windows as normal.

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Anonymous
2018-08-15T17:57:24+00:00

Hi everyone,

Thank you for your feedback. We have identified the root cause and published a fix through Windows Update. This fix is available in the August 14, 2018—KB4343898 (Monthly Rollup) package.

  • Addresses an issue that may prevent your device from starting up properly if you install KB3033055 (released September 2015) after installing any Monthly Rollup dated November 2017 or later.

If your device is already booting to a black screen, you may need to Restore/refresh Surface with a recovery image.

Greg

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  1. Anonymous
    2018-02-15T16:29:32+00:00

    MS may have "fixed" the problem with the Feb. Security Rollup. (KB4074594)

    You can have KB3033055 and KB4074594 installed without issue and the Feb. Update takes care of the patches in the problematic Jan. Update (KB4056895).

    For the record: 

    (1) never installed KB4056895

    (2) installed KB3033055 first

    (3) Installed KB4074594 last

    BTW, I think KB3033055 was the last feature update to RT (so I don't recommend skipping it).

    I am definitely saving timpeq's way of avoiding a full reset when this happens again!

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  2. Anonymous
    2018-02-13T18:35:01+00:00

    I am certain the issue is January 8, 2018—KB4056895 (Monthly Rollup).

    (it likely has a conflict with KB3033055)

    I did a clean reset, hid KB4056895, and installed ALL other updates (except Previews).  Surface RT is fine and there is ~15GB free space leftover.

    Note that MS reports that KB4056895 causes some old machines to get "into an unbootable state after installing this KB."  Surface RT is not mentioned (and this black screen issue is not a boot problem), but maybe the KB4056895 problem is related.  Read details in KB4056895 support page.

    I suggest skipping KB4056895 and waiting for the February Rollup.  Who dares try the February Rollup!?

    Thank you so much - you were absolutely right, the problem was kb4056895 .

    Everything now working perfectly

    Thanks again

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  3. Anonymous
    2018-02-10T13:04:01+00:00

    I am certain the issue is January 8, 2018—KB4056895 (Monthly Rollup).

    (it likely has a conflict with KB3033055)

    I did a clean reset, hid KB4056895, and installed ALL other updates (except Previews).  Surface RT is fine and there is ~15GB free space leftover.

    Note that MS reports that KB4056895 causes some old machines to get "into an unbootable state after installing this KB."  Surface RT is not mentioned (and this black screen issue is not a boot problem), but maybe the KB4056895 problem is related.  Read details in KB4056895 support page.

    I suggest skipping KB4056895 and waiting for the February Rollup.  Who dares try the February Rollup!?

    Thank you so much - you were absolutely right, the problem was kb4056895 .

    Everything now working perfectly

    Thanks again

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