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... The first time I installed many updates by hand because WindowsUpdate got stuck - OK I thought this was the mistake... 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... 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.

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

Hello Greg, i tried everything but my Surface RT won't start. I tried almost every Combination of Buttons but without success. Is there a Return-Service where I can send the Surface RT to be checked and may be re-animated? Best regards Stefan Schwarz

Thank you for the updated information. I've decided to hide the optional update. There is problems with how the system looks for updates even after the troubleshooter. Anyways, I would have the ability to download and run any .exe on a newer surface, i may consider upgrading. If not, then i wont think about Microsoft hardware.

Mine went from bad to worse. Not only do i no longer have any fules pertaining to rt8.1, the k Log in screen goes directly to drive recovery mode and even using bitlocker code continues the login failed mesaage and just goes in a cycle of restart, drive error,enter bit code,restart,repeat. Been a good five years with this tablet, maybe time to replace. maybe if you reset / restore completely the problem can be solved mine is running smoothly after more than five years, and though new models are atractive I think I’ll wait before I replace it for a better one good luck

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

Anonymous

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...

The first time I installed many updates by hand because WindowsUpdate got stuck - OK I thought this was the mistake...
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...
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.

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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Answer accepted by question author

Anonymous

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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Answer accepted by question author

Anonymous

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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78 additional answers

Anonymous

2018-09-11T12:43:11+00:00

Hello Greg,

i tried everything but my Surface RT won't start.

I tried almost every Combination of Buttons but without success.

Is there a Return-Service where I can send the Surface RT to be checked and may be re-animated?

Best regards

Stefan Schwarz
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Anonymous

2018-08-16T20:44:19+00:00

Thank you for the updated information. I've decided to hide the optional update. There is problems with how the system looks for updates even after the troubleshooter. Anyways, I would have the ability to download and run any .exe on a newer surface, i may consider upgrading. If not, then i wont think about Microsoft hardware.
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Anonymous

2018-07-17T23:09:09+00:00

Mine went from bad to worse. Not only do i no longer have any fules pertaining to rt8.1, the k

Log in screen goes directly to drive recovery mode and even using bitlocker code continues the login failed mesaage and just goes in a cycle of restart, drive error,enter bit code,restart,repeat. Been a good five years with this tablet, maybe time to replace.

maybe if you reset / restore completely the problem can be solved

mine is running smoothly after more than five years, and though new models are atractive I think I’ll wait before I replace it for a better one

good luck
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