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
    2015-10-01T20:24:26+00:00

    I preordered my i7/256 for instore pickup and picked it up on the first date of sales, August 1st, 2014. Didn't have anything plugged into USB during update (I rarely have anything there). But it was connected to the charger if that makes any difference.

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  2. Anonymous
    2015-10-01T20:06:48+00:00

    So how many people here preordered or got a vary early model of the Surface Pro 3? Did anyone have anything plugged into the USB port when the firmware updated started? I had a preorder platform and a Xbox one controller plugged in when the firmware updated.

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  3. Anonymous
    2015-10-01T19:55:34+00:00

    Thanks for the reply Barb, and if I sounded irate, it certainly wasn't directed at you or anyone on the forum.  I was really shocked that I happened in on 6 pages of posts within a day...and of course there's no way of telling how many had problems vs. how many had it go smoothly.  It would be so simple if I could disable the update and wait to re-enable later, but you know the rest of that story.

    I think I'll hold off booting it up, as I have a few days before leaving, and get my Win7 Toshiba ready for the trip, just in case.  I'll watch here for any updates ( if the driver update disable works, update is pulled or fixed,  etc.), and if it looks reasonable I'll make a disk image, then connect a day or so before leaving and see if I'm one of the "lucky" ones.  If not, I'll restore from the image and then hope it boots.  Since some have been able to fix it until the update reinstalls, I'm guessing it's not a firmware issue and will still boot OK to the restored image.  Would much rather take the Surface than the bulky Toshiba, but I need something that works.

    Thanks again for your response, and your efforts in the forums.

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  4. Anonymous
    2015-10-01T19:48:23+00:00

    Its blocking some, like me, from using any advanced actions. No Safe mode options even showed. Mine would boot from a official Microsoft Windows 10 USB but would not allow any restore, repair, etc options. Would try and say "failed". Will try the other option below when I have the time but will have to keep the system on till a solution is officially found.

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