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Windows Cannot Find a System Image on This Computer

Anonymous
2022-01-12T15:18:27+00:00

Hi,

I am trying to resolve the issue on my Surface Pro: "Surface turns on and shows "Couldn't find a bootable operating system"" https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/topic/surface-turns-on-and-shows-couldn-t-find-a-bootable-operating-system-b8e6c5b8-7b09-81bb-bfd9-bc118930439c#:~:text=%20Surface%20turns%20on%20and%20shows%20%22Couldn%27t%20find,your%20Surface%20using%20a%20USB%20recovery...%20More%20 To do that, I am trying Solution 3 to reset my Surface Pro using a USB recovery drive.

However, the following prompt keeps blocking the process: Windows Cannot Find a System Image on This Computer

I tried downloading two different system images.

First try: Surface Pro (5th Gen) - 256GB i5 8GB M1796 - Windows 10 Pro Version 20H2

Second try: Surface Pro (5th Gen) - 256GB i5 8GB M1796 - Windows 10 Pro Version 1909

But both the versions do not end up functioning. It's heavy to download and there are five other versions. I am not sure if I should download each one of them and try them? That is, if the problem if with the version of system image. Or is there another issue that is blocking the process?

I tried also solutions from this thread here, but even then it stops with the same prompt.

https://www.easeus.com/computer-instruction/windows-cannot-find-a-system-image-on-this-computer.html

Any clues what can be done? My work is suffering terribly for the last 4 days.

Thank you very much for your help!

Surface | Surface Pro | Performance and maintenance

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  1. Anonymous
    2022-01-26T13:33:44+00:00

    Hi Barb,

    I tried the Surface Data Eraser. After following the steps, here is what i got:

    What next? For Architecture Selection, I tried first ARM64 (i have Surface Pro (5th gen) but when it didn't work, i tried x64. That gave a different prompt (no disk detected, or something), and didn't work either.

    Warmly

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  2. Barb Bowman 80,440 Reputation points MVP Volunteer Moderator
    2022-01-26T15:20:30+00:00

    You have an x64 device, NOT ARM, for future reference.

    Try the Surface Data Eraser one more time. If it does not find a SSD, then you need to contact support for an exchange. To start an exchange online, see Check your Microsoft warranty and create service orders

    Also see https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/4023527/surface-how-to-get-service-for-surface

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