Linux functions correctly, Windows fails, need assistance!
Linux functions correctly, Windows fails, need assistance!
I own a fresh Surface 2017 with a Core i5 processor, 128GB NVMe storage and 4GB RAM. Everything worked until the fall update I received. After rebooting, I encountered a BSOD and couldn’t access Windows. I used my Windows flash drive, which also triggered a BSOD during installation attempts. I then booted from a Linux flash drive and successfully formatted the NVMe drive. Still faced BSODs when trying to load the installer. Despite testing five different ISO files and two Surface recovery images, the issue persisted. I’m considering returning the device to Microsoft for replacement, but it would take about three hours each way. Before doing that this weekend, I’m hoping someone can offer advice or suggestions. If you can assist, I’d appreciate it—whether it’s a gift card or some cryptocurrency. Thanks!
Have you attempted to set up Windows 8.1 there? Windows 10 might be the issue.
Do you have a method to start from an external hard drive completely? Yes, connect the drive and boot directly from it rather than using the internal one. Make sure the necessary drivers and a full Windows installation are already installed on that drive. If this works, the issue is likely with the Surface drive itself, which may need replacement. *I don’t know the exact model of your Surface. I’m assuming you can access the BIOS since I haven’t used it before.*
I don't have access to diskpart or Windows environments. I've set up Linux Mint using gparted, KDE Partition Manager, and other tools. The drive was prepared in various formats—NTFS, FAT32, etc.—and I've tried numerous methods to get started.
Begin with a Windows 10 setup USB, then press Shift+F10 to launch the command prompt. This is one of several possible methods you might explore.
I accessed the bios smoothly without any problems. The drive appears to be functional since I can run Linux there and everything operates correctly. However, I don’t have an external hard drive, or I’d consider using one. I’ve tested three different flash drives—a 16GB, a 32GB, and a 256GB—to see what works best.