Surface GO Boot loop and cant open UEFI

Question

So my Surface GO is stuck in a boot loop of just the windows logo flashing repeatedly. I have made a USB recovery drive properly and have tried every method out there for trying to open the UEFI menu, but i can't. None of the button combinations work and it shuts back off before it can fully power on the USB stick. I have no idea what to do from here and sending it in to get repaired is my least preferred option. How do i fix this without sending it in?

Answer 1

Hi QuintinInman,

Thank you for reaching out to Microsoft Community.

For the USB drive that you are using, is it a 16GB-32GB drive formatted to FAT32?

Just to make sure, have you tried doing this steps below?

                         While the Surface is OFF, plug in the USB Recovery drive

                         Press and hold first the Volume-down button then tap the Power button

                         Don not release the Volume-down button until you see the Windows logo with spinning dotsbelow

                         Your Surface then should go to a screen that will ask for your keyboard layout and language

                         Then choose Recover from a drive

If yes and still you are until to boot the device from the USB, please try to run the Microsoft Surface Data Eraser Tool on the device then try again performing the USB Recovery Image. You may find the step by step guide of the data eraser from the link and for the USB Recovery Image, I'll include the steps below.

USBRecovery:

         This option will reimage the entire device and reload Windows including the drivers and firmware. It is the most complete form of Reset. You will need also a 16GB/32GB of flash drive that must be formatted into FAT32 prior to downloading the Recovery Image and a USB-C adapter since the Surface Go only has a USB-C port.

How to Download, Create and Use a USB recovery drive

To download the Recovery Image:

• You'll need a PC running Windows 7 or later or Surface Device.

1. Visit the page to Download the recovery image for your Surface
2. Sign in with your Microsoft Account
3. From the list of Surface devices available, select the device that you need a recovery image for

Please note that while you will only be presented with devices that are currently registered on your account, you will also be presented with the option to get an image for a different type of device. If you try to use this option, you will be prompted to enter the serial number for that device 4. Download the recovery image using the button on the page 5. When the download bar pops up at the bottom of your screen, save the file in a location you will be able to find it.

 Format USB Drive:

• Note: Formatting a recovery drive will erase anything that is already stored on your USB drive. Make sure to transfer any important data from your USB drive to another storage device before using it to create a Surface USB recovery drive.

1. Insert your USB drive into the USB port of your PC.
2. From the desktop, open File Explorer
3. Tap and hold or right-click on the USB drive and choose Format
4. Select FAT32 as the file system and enter a Volume label to name the USB drive, such as RECOVERY, and then tap or click Start
5. Tap or click OK to erase the contents of the USB drive
6. Tap or click OK when the format is complete

Create a recovery drive:

1. On your Surface or PC, open recovery image that you downloaded by double-clicking it or right click then select Extract and then Extract all.
2. Select the USB drive you formatted earlier for the location and click Extract.

Use a USB recovery drive to reset your Surface:

1. Shutdown the Surface
2. Insert the USB recovery drive into the USB port
3. Press and hold the volume-down (-) rocker
4. Press and release the power button
5. When the Surface logo appears, release the volume-down (-) rocker
6. Surface will start the recovery software on the USB recovery drive
7. When prompted, choose your language options and keyboard layout
8. Select Troubleshoot
9. Select Recover from a Drive. Choose Remove Everything and Fully Clean the Drive. Recovering this PC.
10. If prompted, select Repartition the drives
11. If prompted for BitLocker Key, tap Skip this Drive

If this answer your question, we highly encourage you to inform our Community by clicking on Yes or marking my post as an answer. This will help other members who may have the same issue as you. Otherwise, don't hesitate to update us so we can further assist you.

Kind Regards,

Marrion Y.

Answer 2

Hello,

I installed the suggested updates and when I tried to turn my Surface Go on, this message appeared. Unluckily, I only have the principal part of the device and no keyboard or accessories, as I used it in tablet-mode.

I would appreciate your help. Thank you!

Answer 3

Edgar,
See if
https://borncity.com/win/2020/04/04/windows-10-microsoft-surface-boot-error-0xc0000098/
helps.