Access bios at start up

The Microsoft Surface uses its own unique interface for booting into the UEFI firmware interface.

First, you need to access your BIOS / UEFI setup utility on your Surface.

Make sure your Surface or Surface Pro is fully powered down.

Press and hold the volume up button located on the left side of the device.

Press and hold the power button for five seconds located on the top of the device.

Release the power button after five seconds but continue to hold down on the volume button until you see BIOS UEFI.

The Surface uses a combination of text-driven interface, touch and mouse input to modify boot settings. Navigate down to the option Configure Alternate System Boot Order using the down arrow key. Hit the Enter key, which will load a sub menu; use the up and down arrow to select the first boot device then hit Enter.

Navigate down to the Exit setup menu, hit Enter, use the left or right arrow keys to select yes then hit Enter.

Source: https://www.groovypost.com/howto/bios-uefi-setu...

Hi Ken, can you actually get into the Recovery Environment, and if so what happens if you try to reset?

Nothing worked.

Hi Ken,

Start your Surface, just as Windows attempts to load (spinning dots), press and hold Power Button for 5 - 10 seconds to perform a Hard Shut Down

Do this twice

On the third start Windows will boot into the Recovery Environment and from there you can access System Repair, Safe Mode, Command Prompt . . . etc.

Please try each option one at a time, then see of Windows will boot . . .

Go to Troubleshoot - Advanced Option - Startup Repair

See if Windows startup can repair itself

Go to Troubleshoot - Advanced Option - System Restore

Check to see if you have a restore point you can go back to

If you do not have a Restore Point, go to Troubleshoot - Advanced Option - Startup Settings and click Restart

Upon restart, press 4 to enter Safe Mode

Once in Safe Mode, backup your data if you do not already have a backup

Open Device Manager and check to make sure all your Drivers are up to date

Reboot to see if Windows will start Normally

If the above fails, go to Troubleshoot - Advanced Options - Reset this PC

Choose to keep your files and apps, just your files or to keep nothing

Then start the Reset

Hi Ken. I'm Greg, an installation specialist and 8 year Windows MVP, here to help you.

1. Use whichever method works in this link to access Advanced Startup Options: https://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/2294-advanc.... Easiest may be to restart PC three times to trigger the Startup Options.
2. If none of the other methods work it may be necessary to Create Windows 10 Installation Media on another PC: http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-10/m...

Insert media, boot it by powering up PC while pressing the BIOS Boot Menu Key: https://www.sysnative.com/forums/hardware-tutor...

Choose the boot device as a UEFI device if offered, then on second screen choose Repair Your Computer. If the media won't boot you may need to enter BIOS/UEFI Setup (pressing key given in chart in link above) to turn off Fast Boot or Fast Startup first.

3. In the Advanced Troubleshooting options try to System Restore to a point before the problems began, Startup Repair, then if necessary from Startup Settings try to get into Safe Mode with Networking, or lastly Safe Mode.

If Startup Settings aren't available you can force Safe Mode from Command Prompt using the command to unhide F8 Advanced Startup Options here: https://www.digitalcitizen.life/4-ways-boot-saf.... Try Last Known Good Configuration and then Safe Mode with Networking.

4. From Safe Mode w/Networking work through the Windows 10 Install Integrity Checklist to make sure the install is set up correctly, optimized for best performance, infection cleaned up and any needed repairs get done: http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/wiki...:
5. If Safe Mode doesn’t work or help stabilize things then return to Advanced Troubleshoot options. Next try Command Prompt to run through Windows 10 Install Integrity Checklist (above link) repair commands including sfc /scannow, DISM, a full Disk Check, or return to Troubleshoot options to Reset Your Windows 10 PC.
6. Better yet do the vastly superior Clean Install Windows 10 following the steps in this link to delete all partitions down to Unallocated Space to get it cleanest: http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/wiki...
7. There is a step to Rescue Files from the booted media Command Prompt first: http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/wiki...

Feel free to ask back any questions and keep us posted on how it goes.