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
    2015-10-01T12:24:12+00:00

    As soon as you receive new device, make sure to check that you can boot it from USB :)

    But the main issue still stands - can we somehow stop this update from being installed again and again? I don't like the idea of having to repair my computer every time it reboots.

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  2. Anonymous
    2015-10-01T12:48:36+00:00

    I just wanted to chime in that I've had the same issues.  SP3 i7 256 running 10.

    Making matters worse for me is the fact that I purchased my machine 2 months ago "Certified Refurbished", and Microsoft is brilliant and doesn't de-register their "certified" devices, so I was unable to register my machine and download the USB Recovery. 

    After hours on hold with useless technical support reps, simply trying to get a link for the USB recovery download, I was told that it would take 3-5 days to release my serial number from the "Business" side so that I could register it as "Personal", at which point I could attempt to fix their malfunctioning device. 

    I was able to have a business associate download the file for me and host it, and using the restore point I was able to recover.  However, every time it would reboot I had the same issues. (BSOD/USB Boot/Bitlocker unlock/Fix Drive Errors/Restore). 

    I've set it as a metered connection to avoid the automatic update, but I do not trust the device any more.  Any suggestions on how to avoid the update that bricks my machine?

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  3. Anonymous
    2015-10-01T12:54:09+00:00

    For you folks with the BSOD issue only. I've been in contact with engineering. They need FULL dumps (dmp) not mini dumps. There is a tutorial on how to do this at http://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/5560-bsod-minidump-configure-create-windows-10-a.html that may help.

    Once you have a full dump file, you need to upload it to your public OneDrive and reply here with a link.

    Also, can you tell us f you have a custom power plan?

    No custom power profile but it was running with "Battery Saver" on when I docked it prior to restarting.

    https://onedrive.live.com/redir?resid=83EC0E46FD68C9C8!3152&authkey=!AIVJYxwznnddfG4&ithint=file%2cDMP

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  4. Anonymous
    2015-10-01T13:10:08+00:00

    Emile,

    I contacted some internal folks who I thought were going to get in touch with you. Can you email me at barb AT msmvps DOT com so I can try to speed this up?

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