Surface tablet RT windows installation Error

Question

I was doing a factory reset on my surface tab rt however when I came to switch it on the following is being displayed " The computer restarted unexpectedly or encountered an unexpected error. Windows installation cannot proceed. To install Windows, click 'OK' to restart the computer, and then restart the installation"

Answer 1

The restore partition on your RT may be corrupt.  The guide below will refresh your recovery partition and install the system updates. Other updates will still have to be installed. It was written for other users that installed updates and their RT would not boot up.

Windows RT 8.1 Update 3, KB3033055, has to be installed before the rollup updates listed below.  This applies to the Surface RT and the Surface 2. Future Security Rollup updates will probably have the same effect for users that have to reset or refresh their RT device.

2018-01 (Jan) Security Monthly Quality Rollup KB4056895

2018-02 (Feb) Security Monthly Quality Rollup KB4074594

When the RT updates automatically the rollup updates will install. Update 3 is an optional update and this creates the problem if it is installed later.

Get Update 3 installed as soon as possible. This is the update that gives the Windows 10 interface and does away with the metro start screen.  You do not have to wait for KB3033055 to show up as an optional update.  It is available as a Standalone Package, KB3097667, for download.

All you need is a good 4GB USB memory stick. Backup anything you want to save from the RT to a PC, another memory stick or the micro SD card if you have one installed on the RT.

Download the Windows RT recovery image

https://www.microsoft.com/surface/en-us/support/warranty-service-and-recovery/downloadablerecoveryimage      SurfaceRT_BMR_10.8.17.0.zip  3.033GB.  

Extract the zip and paste all of the folders and files in the SurfaceRT_BMR  folder to the USB stick.

Restore or refresh your Surface RT with the recovery image, booting from the USB drive.

Turn the RT off and boot from the USB drive, 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. It will take a while to boot, maybe a minute or longer. Go to troubleshooting.

You will have the selection, - ‘Just remove my files’ or ‘Fully clean the drive’. Select ‘Just remove my files’.

One of the pages will ask for a drive encryption key. Go to the bottom of the page and select ‘Not this Drive”.  Partition selection, Select Yes, repartition the drives.

In the setup, select your color, you can’t change this later, skip connecting to WiFi, you can add your account later, you do not have to enter a password when you set the user name.

When the reset finishes, in settings go to ‘Power and Sleep’, ‘When plugged in’ set to ‘Never’. Setup anything else you need, like connecting a mouse.

Turn on WiFi, Search for updates from the Control Panel, Windows Update you, will see a firmware update, install all Windows updates, restart

Go back to Windows Update it will show updates are available. Do not install these updates. What you need is KB2919355 and it will not be there.  Stay on the page and select ‘Check for updates’, top left side.  When this finishes, click the line to see ‘important updates are available’ to check.  Install KB2919355 along with the other updates.  Restart. 

Turn off  Wifi,  install KB3173424, restart

 Install KB3172614, restart

Turn off Wi-Fi and install KB3097667. 

After the restart, right-click on Taskbar > Properties, Start Menu.   Check the box, Use the Start Menu instead of the Start Screen for no more metro screen.

If you have to stop before you get this last one installed turn off WiFi to prevent automatic updates from installing.

Finish with other updates or let the RT do it automatically.

KB3173424, KB3172614 and KB3097667 are standalone MSU update installer files that you download to install at the correct time.

Download KB3173424 HERE.

Download KB3172614 HERE.

Download KB3097667 Windows RT 8.1 Update 3 Standalone Package

Download these ahead of time and place them on a USB drive to install at the correct time. There is room on the boot USB drive you use.

If you do not want the Metro browser opening for some links go the control panel, internet options,  programs tab.  From the dropdown select ‘Always in Internet Explorer on the desktop’ and check the box Open Internet Explorer tiles on the desktop.

Answer 2

If you installed the downloaded KB3097667 MSU  Windows RT 8.1 Update 3 Standalone Package

You can install any update that comes up.

KB3033055 will still show up in optional updates, do not install it or any other optional updates, they are not needed.

If you installed the KB3097667 MSU  Windows RT 8.1 Update 3 Standalone Package 

Finish your important updates and you are done.

KB3097667 MSU and KB3033055 are is the same update, one you download the  other comes through Windows Update.

**************************************************************

Answer 3

The restore partition on your RT may be corrupt.  The guide below will refresh your recovery partition and install the system updates. Other updates will still have to be installed. It was written for other users that installed updates and their RT would not boot up.

Windows RT 8.1 Update 3, KB3033055, has to be installed before the rollup updates listed below.  This applies to the Surface RT and the Surface 2. Future Security Rollup updates will probably have the same effect for users that have to reset or refresh their RT device.

2018-01 (Jan) Security Monthly Quality Rollup KB4056895

2018-02 (Feb) Security Monthly Quality Rollup KB4074594

When the RT updates automatically the rollup updates will install. Update 3 is an optional update and this creates the problem if it is installed later.

Get Update 3 installed as soon as possible. This is the update that gives the Windows 10 interface and does away with the metro start screen.  You do not have to wait for KB3033055 to show up as an optional update.  It is available as a Standalone Package, KB3097667, for download.

All you need is a good 4GB USB memory stick. Backup anything you want to save from the RT to a PC, another memory stick or the micro SD card if you have one installed on the RT.

Download the Windows RT recovery image

https://www.microsoft.com/surface/en-us/support/warranty-service-and-recovery/downloadablerecoveryimage      SurfaceRT_BMR_10.8.17.0.zip  3.033GB.  

Extract the zip and paste all of the folders and files in the SurfaceRT_BMR  folder to the USB stick.

Restore or refresh your Surface RT with the recovery image, booting from the USB drive.

Turn the RT off and boot from the USB drive, 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. It will take a while to boot, maybe a minute or longer. Go to troubleshooting.

You will have the selection, - ‘Just remove my files’ or ‘Fully clean the drive’. Select ‘Just remove my files’.

One of the pages will ask for a drive encryption key. Go to the bottom of the page and select ‘Not this Drive”.  Partition selection, Select Yes, repartition the drives.

In the setup, select your color, you can’t change this later, skip connecting to WiFi, you can add your account later, you do not have to enter a password when you set the user name.

When the reset finishes, in settings go to ‘Power and Sleep’, ‘When plugged in’ set to ‘Never’. Setup anything else you need, like connecting a mouse.

Turn on WiFi, Search for updates from the Control Panel, Windows Update you, will see a firmware update, install all Windows updates, restart

Go back to Windows Update it will show updates are available. Do not install these updates. What you need is KB2919355 and it will not be there.  Stay on the page and select ‘Check for updates’, top left side.  When this finishes, click the line to see ‘important updates are available’ to check.  Install KB2919355 along with the other updates.  Restart. 

Turn off  Wifi,  install KB3173424, restart

 Install KB3172614, restart

Turn off Wi-Fi and install KB3097667. 

After the restart, right-click on Taskbar > Properties, Start Menu.   Check the box, Use the Start Menu instead of the Start Screen for no more metro screen.

If you have to stop before you get this last one installed turn off WiFi to prevent automatic updates from installing.

Finish with other updates or let the RT do it automatically.

KB3173424, KB3172614 and KB3097667 are standalone MSU update installer files that you download to install at the correct time.

Download KB3173424 HERE.

Download KB3172614 HERE.

Download KB3097667 Windows RT 8.1 Update 3 Standalone Package

Download these ahead of time and place them on a USB drive to install at the correct time. There is room on the boot USB drive you use.

If you do not want the Metro browser opening for some links go the control panel, internet options,  programs tab.  From the dropdown select ‘Always in Internet Explorer on the desktop’ and check the box Open Internet Explorer tiles on the desktop.

Thank you so much > Garym123 after 5 days, countless hours and 6 full refreshes I was able to install using your details instructions.

Could you answer this follow up questions?

I have my RT updating the extra 150+ recommended updates, Under the optional updates I have about 6 additionals KB's, which include >>KB3033055<< (this is the one that was crashing every time with a blinking wifi icon) Should I attempt to let ir run it course ans install all including the above or just skip all optionals KB's updates at this point?

Again, thanks a million my friend!

Answer 4

I selected fully clean the drive. And from Windows I believe.

Answer 5

When you were. selecting reset options which did you select,  Just remove my files or Fully clean the drive.

Were you resetting from within windows or from a USB?   What was the source of the files on the USB drive?