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
    2015-10-01T05:28:40+00:00

    Hi,

    Thank you for posting your concern here at the Microsoft Community forum.

    I am sorry to hear about your experience with the Surface Pro boot loop.

    Try removing any external devices connected to the Surface and check if you can boot to the computer.

    Also you can try running an Automatic Repair from the OS disc.

    1. Boot into the Windows 10 disc/USB. ( If you did not make one, you can find the ISO file download to create a disc in this link: https://www.microsoft.com/en-in/software-download/windows10 )
    2. Once selecting your language, time and keyboard settings, click Next to load the next window, then click on the Repair your computer link on the bottom left corner of the window.
    3. You should then be presented with a Choose an Option screen, with Troubleshoot as an option to select.
    4. In the Troubleshoot screen, select Advanced options.
    5. Select Automatic Repair from the Advanced options screen and then select the target operating system to repair, which would be Windows 10 in this case.

    Hope this helps. If you need further assistance with Windows, let us know and will be glad to help.

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  2. Anonymous
    2015-10-01T05:59:01+00:00

    After following these steps, I was able to get my machine to finally boot again. The restore claimed to fail but then after reboot the system came up and said the restore was successful. Unfortunately, an hour or so later the machine was bricked again in the same way because the bad update was reinstalled. I haven't figured out how to block it from getting installed at this time, so I'm sort of stuck.

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  3. Anonymous
    2015-10-01T09:34:00+00:00

    I have this issue too. I was avoiding the update, then stupidly restarted my Surface Pro 3! Arg. Now I have a BSOD :( Bricked Surface Pro 3. I'm totally not enjoying the new "Compulsory Update Model" from Microsoft. At least test the software before releasing it.

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  4. Anonymous
    2015-10-01T11:20:32+00:00

    wizII

    I'm modified the title to include BSOD, etc. The engineering folks are tracking all the issues. They actually wanted to work with you in particular. I need you to email me at barb AT msmvps DOT com so that I can connect you up with support to do this.

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