Surface Embedded Controller firmware cannot start - critical_process_error + unexpected_store_exception

Question

Hi there,

For the last few days my surface 4 has been crashing - initially when saving a word document or shortly after giving an unexpected_store_exception blue screen error message or a critical_error message. This has progressed to running games like League of Legends, watching online media and even trying to scan and identify the problem!

I can't run windows defender fully, sfc /scannow fails and when trying to reboot and identify issues it reaches 15% of looking for issues and restarts. I can't get it to restart in safe mode.

This seems to have started after the recent surface firmware update but I could be wrong. My Surface Embedded Controller Firmware states:

"This device cannot start. (Code 10)

Indicates a revision number encountered or specified is not one known by the service. It may be a more recent revision than the service is aware of."

This interchanges with messages telling me the device will function on restart, which it does not.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated as my medical finals are in two weeks and this is not ideal! Many thanks

Edit: I tried to reinstall windows 10 and i can't even do that as I get a bad_pool_caller error. Oh dear.

Answer 1

Hi,

To proceed with this case please contact Surface Support

They would be best equipped to handle this case.

Answer 2

Try reinstalling the latest EC firmware.  It's now available HERE for download. 

You'll want to download this zip file which will allow individual installs of each component  -

   SurfacePro4_Win10_160128_0.zip