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
    2015-10-01T00:20:45+00:00

    Same exact problem here.  Use a 'restore point' to get your system to boot again.

    • Get a USB flash drive of about 4-8gb (Could use DVD media too)
    • Go to https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-download/windows10
    • Select 'Download Tool Now' using either 32 or 64 bit, depending on the system you're using to download the tool. (Irrespective of your Surface OS)
    • Select 'Run'.  Approve any popups verifying you want to run the application.
    • When prompted, select 'Create Installation Media for another PC'.
    • On the next screen select the proper Language, Edition, and Architecture to match your Surface.  (English (United States) / Windows 10 Home or Pro / 64 bit (or 'Both' if your flash drive is big enough).  Press Next.
    • On the next screen select "USB flash drive".  Press Next.
    • After the download / installation is finished, power down your surface (Hold the power button for 5-10 seconds) and insert the USB flash drive.
    • Press the power button again to power up WHILE HOLDING DOWN the VOLUME-DOWN button on the side of the Surface.  This will cause the Surface to boot from the USB flash drive.
    • Screen: Windows Boot Manager - select 32 or 64 bit (Probably 64)
    • Screen: Windows - Select proper settings, they're probably all correct - Press Next
    • Screen: Windows Setup - DO NOT PRESS 'Install Now', instead use your mouse or press ALT-R to select the text link 'Repair your computer' in the lower-left hand corner.
    • Screen: Choose an Option - Select 'Troubleshoot' (Reset your PC or see advanced options)
    • Screen: Troubleshoot - Select 'Advanced Options'
    • Screen: Advanced Options - Select 'System Restore'
    • At this point if you have BitLocker enabled you may be asked for the recovery key.  Hopefully you've kept it safe somewhere.
    • Screen: System Restore - Select 'Windows 10'
    • Screen: System Restore - Select 'Next'
    • Screen: System Restore - You should see one restore point listed, and you can try it, but if that doesn't work you may need to repeat the above process and select the 'Show more Restore Points' checkbox in the lower left-hand corner.  Keep trying them going backwards in time.  I had to go back 2.
    • At the end of the restoring the system restore point you may see a dialog box saying that the process failed and no files were altered.  This may or may not be true.  Try booting from a power down state to test.

    Best of luck to you.  This situation sucks to say the least.  If this works for anyone please let me know and pay it forward.  If nothing else you now have a Windows 10 install USB Drive.  :)

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  2. Anonymous
    2015-10-01T00:19:52+00:00

    Hello Everyone,

    Thank you for reporting this issue to us. We've reported this issue to our engineers and they are actively investigating.

    As soon as we receive an update or a workaround, we will share the information with you.

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  3. Anonymous
    2015-10-01T00:16:45+00:00

    Yes, this is messed up. I just got home from work and was going to try to work through this again and the thread is all full of ****. It may be related but the two should not have been merged because now I can't find what I was looking for!

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  4. Anonymous
    2015-09-30T23:47:03+00:00

    gross. why did our thread get merged into a wifi device issue thread? our thread was about the system update causing blue screen of death on boot. (not even getting into the OS)

    now the title is misleading for folks seeking our particular issue.

    Update: looks like we're re-merged into a more related thread now. all is well again. thanks mods

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