Repeated BSOD after firmware update - Surface pro 3, Windows 10

Anonymous
2015-09-30T05:24:22+00:00

Hey everyone

There was a firmware update for the SP3 I just did and my device now seems completely bricked. When I boot it, I instantaneously get a BSOD with one of those two messages : kernel security check failure or driver unloaded without cancelling pending operations.

The BSOD tells me I have to use a win10 device to boot it from, but when I tell the BIOS to boot with my USB win10 key, it doesn't and keeps telling that the OS can't boot and to use a win10 disc (no CD reader on the SP3). Nothing I've tried works so far. 

I've had my sp3 for just over a year and I really liked it before windows 10, and I really hope I can get it fixed.

Thanks for your help, 

Émile

Surface | Surface Pro | Install and update

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Anonymous
2015-10-01T02:21:41+00:00

MODERATOR EDIT (10/5/2015): Steps listed here previously are now updated to the following.  If you receive a blue screen error after installing the 9/29/2015 Surface Firmware Update please start at step 1 to address.

Step 1 – System Restore Point

1.    Boot Surface using USB recovery media.  If you do not have recovery media you can download from here: http://www.microsoft.com/surface/en-us/support/warranty-service-and-recovery/downloadablerecoveryimage.  Once you have recovery media proceed to next steps.  Note:  The USB drive must be formatted to FAT32 (not NTFS) in order to work correctly.

2.    Press and hold the volume-down button while you press and release the power button.  When the Surface logo appears release the volume-down button.

3.    When prompted select the language and keyboard layout you want.

4.    Select Troubleshoot, then Advanced Options, followed by selecting System Restore then select the target operating system.

5.    In System Restore, click Next.

6.    Click on a system restore point that was prior to applying the System Firmware update. Please use a restore point 9/28 or earlier.

7.    Click Next.

8.    Click Finish.

9.    Click Yes when asked if you want to continue.

10.    After moving to an earlier restore point you should boot into Windows.

If you were able to restore to an earlier restore point you should now be able to use your Surface again, no additional steps are needed.  If you were not able restore to an earlier restore point or you did not have a restore point then continue to step 2 below.

Step 2 – Safe Mode

1.    Boot Surface using USB recovery media by pressing and holding the volume-down button while you press and release the power button.  When the Surface logo appears release the volume-down button.

2.    When prompted select the language and keyboard layout you want.

3.    Select Troubleshoot, then Advanced Options, followed by selecting Command Prompt.

4.    Type the following command in the command prompt and then press enter:

               bcdedit /set {bootmgr} displaybootmenu yes

5.    Type the following command in the command prompt and then press enter.

               exit

6.    Press Turn off your PC.

7.    Press the power button on Surface to turn it on.

8.    Press F8 when the Windows Boot Manager screen comes up to go to Startup Settings.

9.    Press “4” to enable Safe Mode.

10.    Surface may do disk checking as well as perform a scan and repair.  Surface will then restart.  If Surface does not do this and instead boots into Safe Mode, go to step 13.

11.    Press F8 when the Windows Boot Manager screen comes up to go to Startup Settings.

12.    Press “4” to enable Safe Mode.

13.    Surface will start in Safe Mode.  Sign into Surface.  Press the Windows Start Menu, press Power and select Restart.

14.    Press Enter when the Windows Boot Manager screen comes up to boot into Windows 10.

15.    Surface will start normally.  Sign into Surface.  Right-click the Windows Start Menu and click Command Prompt (Admin).

16.    Click Yes to allow this app to make changes.

17.    Type the following command in the command prompt and then press enter.

               bcdedit /set {bootmgr} displaybootmenu no

18.    Press the Windows Start Menu, press Power and select Restart.

If you are now able to boot into Windows you should now be able to use your Surface again, no additional steps are needed. If you were not able to boot into Windows then continue to step 3 below.

Step 3 – Reset Surface to factory settings

1.    Follow the steps in the article below to boot Surface using USB recovery media and reset Surface back to factory settings: http://www.microsoft.com/surface/en-us/support/warranty-service-and-recovery/usbrecovery

Please let us know how it goes.

Thanks,

Josh

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  1. Anonymous
    2015-09-30T23:40:47+00:00

    when i look up latest updates, the last one showing on installed updated is kb3087040, but that was done the 22nd. and  i reboot the PC every day, and the day the update came in that broke windows was no different than any other day. I boot up the PC, update anti virus signatures in Defender, then check to see if there are are windows updates. and there was, and it required a reboot, so i did that, then it failed to reboot. and thats the way it has worked since. or to be really precise has failed every time since

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  2. Anonymous
    2015-09-30T23:30:23+00:00

    i am able to get into safe mode

    defender shows

    antimalware client version 4.8.10240.16384

    engine version 1.1.12101.0

    anti virus definition 1.207.1367.0 

    anti spy ware definition 1.207.1367.0

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  3. Anonymous
    2015-09-30T23:02:00+00:00
    1. Did you purchase the computer at a Microsoft Store last December or...?

    bought it from Microsoft web site

    still seeing whether i can get into safe mode or not

    1. Any idea as to which update(s) was installed on the morning of 29 September?
    • AFAIK the most recent Win10 updates at that point (i.e., KB3081455 & KB3081454) had been released on 08 September.

    from what i recall there was only ONE update that was installed before that update trashed my PC.  before that update, the PC had just been booted up, and the defender virus signature file(s) had been updated. both of these thing had been done many many many many times before.  I checked the day to see if there was an update, and there wasnt one. so what updates came in on the 29th? is there just one? doesnt that sound like its a probably candidate for the cause of the failure to boot?

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  4. Anonymous
    2015-09-30T22:47:50+00:00

    Could it be the initial OS that  was on the Computer? Mine came with 8.1 but was able to flash it with someone I know  who had windows 10 surface image from the beginning.  I had no problem with the update .Honestly I hated w10 until I got the 10 default windows 10 Surface pro 3 image. It made my computer so much better. Don't know why MS wont just release one for all surfaces that want to run w10 and keep w8.1 for people who dont

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