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
    2015-10-02T15:41:11+00:00

    the 9/15 is the previous update with the driver for the microSD card. it looks like the 9.29 update is no longer being offered at this time.

    WU won't let you pick and choose. You can disable device driver updates

    In the Cortana/Search box, type Device Installation Settings

    Select Change Device Installation Settings/Control Panel

    Select No, let me chose what to do

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  2. Anonymous
    2015-10-02T15:24:13+00:00

    Can you give detailed instructions on how to install updates one-at-at-time?

    As I wrote earlier, I was able to roll back to a system state that was current on 9/26.  This morning, Windows Update shows me three updates, each of which is advertised as "Requires" restart.  But I don't see a screen in which I can specify which one(s) to install.

    Also, I don't see the newer firmware update you mentioned.  The three updates being offered are:

    Security Update for Internet Explorer Flash Player (KB3087040)

    Cumulative Update for Windows 10 for x64-based systems (KB3093266)

    System Hardware Update - 9/15/2015

    Is the last of these the new firmware update you mentioned?  And is the network driver update part of the Cumulative one?

    Thanks.

    Roy

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  3. Anonymous
    2015-10-02T13:38:38+00:00

    On Fri, 2 Oct 2015 12:03:41 +0000, Vylenous [Insider] wrote:

    >>So I have a week before I have to go through the process again to remove the update.

    1. so, disconnect from the Internet (turn off your router)
    2. do the safe mode/system restore
    3. disable driver updates for now:

    In the Cortana/Search box, type Device Installation Settings

    Select Change Device Installation Settings/Control Panel

    Select No, let me chose what to do

    1. reboot and connect to the Internet

    this HOPEFULLY will hide the firmware - not a long term solution but will

    prevent Ground Hog Day..

    __________________________________________________________________________________________________

    Barb

    Windows Experience MVP

    My Blog - http://digitalmediaphile.com/

    Please mark as answered if this answers your question

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  4. Anonymous
    2015-10-02T12:40:50+00:00

    As per the postings above I've managed to fix this by just running SP3 in Safe Mode and then just reboot.

    What I discovered when doing this was that the laptop (my wife's) was BitLocker locked, hence needed to jump through a few hoops to actually get to "Safe Mode".

    So I was wondering did this issue happen to anyone whose SP3 is not BitLockered?  Or is it just a BitLocker issue that MS didn't think of before messing with Firmware/Bios?  (I'd like to know so I can provide MS with feedback so it doesn't happen again).

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