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Surface Pro 6, Windows 10. Microsoft recovery usb drive does not work! =[

Anonymous
2023-01-17T07:33:56+00:00

• Recover from a drive -  gives the error message "There was a problem recovering your pc"

• Troubleshoot •system image recovery - gives the error message "Windows connot find a system image on this computer".  I then select the usb from the advanced tab - install a driver, it shows the usb on drive c as the recovery stick, no file is accepted, they all come back with "the specified location does not contain information about your hardware" =[ ...  I have tried using different usb sticks and all of the available system image windows version downloads Microsoft has available on the site!  It was posted here by a Microsoft Representative that we should try the Data Eraser and then retry the sytem image recovery, it will not recognize it either.

I have also tried to install Microsofts Windows.  Also a no-go.

Please send help 😢

Surface | Surface Pro | Install and update

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  1. Anonymous
    2023-01-17T13:33:33+00:00

    Is THIS what you are doing?

    Go to https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/surfacerecoveryimage  (with a different Windows computer if yours is not working properly, use any Windows computer - it does NOT have to be a Surface) and download a recovery image for your Surface. You will need a 16GB or 32GB USB stick (also called a flash drive) formatted FAT32 (use a Windows computer).  You can't use an actual external USB hard drive for this and don't use anything larger than a 32 GB USB stick. Best to purchase and use a new, previously unused USB stick for this. Use FULL format and not quick format and give the volume a name like surfboot. Unzip/extract the recovery zip to the root of the formatted USB stick.

    There are full instructions and a video at https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/4023512/surface-creating-and-using-a-usb-recovery-drive#download but below are quick instructions.

    1. Make sure your Surface is turned off and plugged in, and then insert the USB recovery drive into the USB port.
    2. Press and hold the volume-down button while you press and release the power button.
    3. When the Microsoft or Surface logo appears, release the volume-down button.
    4. When prompted, select the language and keyboard layout you want.
    5. Select Troubleshoot , and then select Recover from a drive .

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

    1. Note:
      Be sure to select the Troubleshoot option on this screen. Don’t select the Use a device option. If you select the Use a device option, your Surface will reboot from the USB recovery drive again and the reset process will start over.
    2. Choose either Just remove my files or Fully clean the drive.
      The option to clean the drive is more secure but takes much longer. For example, if you’re recycling your Surface, you should clean the drive. If you’re keeping your Surface, you just need to remove your files.
    3. Select Recover.
      Surface restarts and displays the Surface logo while the reset process continues. This can take several minutes.
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