Surface Pro 3 won't start unless I force it to shut down

Hello Cat's Whisker,

Thanks for posting your concern here.

If your device encounters power failure, it may be due to battery issue, software conflict, corrupted operating system or possible hardware error. Please try these methods to isolate the issue:

• Run Power troubleshooter. Go to Settings > Update & Security > Troubleshoot > Power > Run the troubleshooter.
• Run Surface Diagnostic Toolkit and check for Windows Update. Make sure to check View Optional features and select all recent updates. Restart the Surface after installing updates.
• Update drivers and firmware Check what is the current OS Build of your Windows version by typing winver on the search bar near the Windows logo. Go to Download driver and firmware for Surface, choose (your Surface model) then click Download.
  Choose the .msi file that matches or nearest to your current OS Build and click Next.
  After downloading, run and install the .msi then Restart.
• Run System File Checker in Windows 10.

In any event, the issue persists after performing the above mentioned, we would highly recommend that you reset the Surface using a USB Recovery Image. This option reimages the entire device, including the partition on the hard drive. It is the most complete form of reset. You must have at least 16GB/32GB of USB Flash drive and it must be formatted to FAT32 prior to downloading the Recovery Image.

Note: This removes all the files and apps on your device. You will need to back up your data and reinstall the desktop apps or run updates after the completion.

To download the Recovery Image:

1. Visit the page at http://www.surface.com/support/warranty-service-and-recovery/downloadablerecoveryimage
2. Sign in with your Microsoft Account (this is the email address we asked you for at the start of the call)
3. From the list of Surface devices available, select the device that you need a recovery image for
   Please note that while you will only be presented with devices that are currently registered on your account, you will also be presented with the option to get an image for a different type of device. If you try to use this option, you will be prompted to enter the serial number for that device
4. Download the recovery image using the button on the page
5. When the download bar pops up at the bottom of your screen, save the file in a location you will be able to find it.

Format USB Drive:

1. Insert your USB drive into the USB port of your PC.
2. From the desktop, open File Explorer
3. Tap and hold or right-click on the USB drive and choose Format
4. Select FAT32 as the file system and enter a Volume label to name the USB drive, such as RECOVERY, and then tap or click Start
5. Tap or click OK to erase the contents of the USB drive
6. Tap or click OK when the format is complete

Create a recovery drive:

1. On your Surface or PC, open recovery image that you downloaded by double-clicking it
2. At the top of the window tap on Extract and then Extract all. Select the USB drive you formatted earlier for the location and click Extract.

Perform USB recovery image:

1. Turn the Surface off by pressing the power button
2. Insert the USB recovery drive into the USB port
3. Press and hold the volume-down (-) rocker
4. Press and release the power button
5. When the Surface logo appears, release the volume-down (-) rocker
6. When prompted, choose your language options and keyboard layout
7. Select Troubleshoot
8. Select Recover from a drive. If prompted for a recovery key, select Skip this drive at the bottom of the screen.
9. If prompted, select Repartition the drives.

Hope this helps.

StevenK

I don't see that you mentioned the docking station in your original post, and that is a key piece of information.

Try the two button reset both OUT of the docking station and when docked. Also, what is connected TO the dock? Do you have this issue if you just use the slide in dock without having anything attached to it?

Many thanks for this advice - I'm in the middle of a project at the moment and so I am putting up with the need to do the long-press shutdown every day until I can afford to risk wrecking the PC.

However, one thing I have noticed - I went away from my office for a few days which meant I was working without my docking station.  During this whole period I didn't have any problems at all.  This leads me to suspect that the problem is related to having the Surface Pro 3 in its docking station.

I will report back if I have any constructive news.

A couple of things before using the sledgehammer wipe and reinstall. First, try a two button reset.

Second, if you have reason to believe it is a Windows Update, you can try UNinstalling the update you think may have caused the issue. If you aren't sure, and IF you have System Restore turned on, you can try going back to a restore point when things were working as they should.

Actually, Optional Updates may or may not be appropriate. But the advice to install ALL of them is not.

"

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I see Optional Updates offered at times that are not appropriate at all and not related to Surface.

Here is one currently showing on my SP7+ - it is for a USB to Ethernet Adapter (that has never been attached to this Surface)

I've seen Optional Updates show up for HP Printers (and I haven't had an HP Printer for over 12 years) that eventually disappear.

And you need to stop uploading the same boilerplate for so many different issues. For a SP3, the FIRST thing to try for something like this is a 2 button reset: