Lock Screen Flashing, Can't Log in

Question

I have a first generation Surface Pro. When I start up and get to the lock screen, the screen keeps flashing from my lock screen/background picture to black and I can't get to the login to the device. There is also a "loading circle" above/near the cursor. I've tried shutting down and doing a hard reset, but it hasn't solved the issue.

Answer 1

if the 2 button reset does not work

Step 1:    Press and hold the power button on your Surface for 30 seconds and then

release it.

Step 2:    Press and hold the volume-up button and the power button at the same

time for at least 15 seconds and then release both.

The screen may flash the Surface logo, but continue holding the buttons

down for at least 15 seconds.

Step 3:    After you release the buttons, wait 10 seconds.

Step 4:    Press and release the power button to turn your Surface back on. You

should see the Surface logo.

the next step is to try to boot from USB and reimage:

Go to https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/surfacerecoveryimage

(with a different Windows computer if yours is not working properly)

and download a recovery image for your Surface. You will need a 16GB USB stick

formatted FAT32 (use a Windows computer). Use FULL format and not quick format.

Give the volume a name like surfboot.

Unzip/extract the recovery zip to the formatted USB stick and then-

To reset your Surface from a USB recovery drive:

Step 1:    Make sure your Surface is turned off and plugged in (hold down the power

button for 30 seconds).

Step 2:     Insert the USB recovery drive into the USB port on your Surface.

Step 3:    Press and hold the volume-down button while you press and release the

power button on your Surface.

Step 4:     When the Surface logo appears, release the volume button.

Step 5:    When prompted, select the language and keyboard layout you want.

Step 6:     Select Troubleshoot > Reset your PC.

If prompted for a recovery key, select Skip this drive at the bottom of the

screen.

Step 7:     Select the target operating system you wish to reset. This

refers to the current operating system installed on your Surface.

Step 8:    Select Yes, repartition the drives, and on the next page, select Next.

Step 9:     Choose Just remove my files.

Step 10:    Select Reset.

Surface restarts and the Surface logo displays while the reset process continues

(this can take a while).

Answer 2

Again, the problem isn't with booting it up. It boots or I wouldn't be able to get to the lock screen. The problem is getting passed the lock screen to sign in.

Answer 3

I understood your issue. The 2 button reset was the first step. Since that

failed, with the symptoms you describe, you need to try the wipe and reset from

a downloadable recovery image.