Surface 3 - How to Clean Install Windows 10

Question

After following the upgrade process to install Windows 10 on my Surface 3, Windows 10 installed smoothly and was operating well, however after two weeks many Windows updates failed installing with error code 0X80246008. I tried using the built-in repair options in Windows 10 to clean install, however half-way through the installation process my Surface 3 fell into a BSOD loop. To resolve I resorted to clean installing Windows 10 again from a USB drive.

Preparation

Before you upgrade, you must complete the following:

• Install Windows 10 via an upgrade process, whether through Windows Update on Windows 8.1 or with the bootable USB drive; **this ensures later activations** if you don't have a product key and want Windows 10 for free
• Create a bootable USB drive with the Windows edition you need, most likely Windows 10 Home 64-bit
• Download the Surface 3 drivers and copy to a USB drive (only download Surface3_US1_Win10_150724_2.msi)
• Ensure all personal files are copied elsewhere, maybe to another USB or a cloud storage service; this installation method wipes all data from the Surface 3
• Print these instructions to Boot a Microsoft Surface from USB drive

Clean Install Windows 10 on Surface 3

After you've prepared for your installation, do the following tasks to install Windows 10:

1. Follow the instructions you printed to boot the Surface 3 via USB
2. Complete the installation steps in Windows setup window to install Windows. NOTE: you will be asked for a product key! Once asked, always click "Skip this step" or "Do it later" or whatever combination of English words on the screen that mean the same thing
3. Create a local user account first; you can attach a Microsoft account to it later
4. Copy the Surface3_US1_Win10_150724_2.msi file from the USB drive onto the Surface 3 and run the installation to install the Surface 3 drivers and firmware
5. Reboot as necessary until all drivers are installed
6. Activate Windows by going to Settings > Update & security > Activation, and then click Activate. NOTE: my first attempt was unsuccessful; the activation tool said my product key was blocked! It didn't make any sense since I didn't need a product key and I panicked, however, after about five minutes something else finished installing and required a restart. After restarting, Windows 10 activated successfully.

Post-Installation

After you've installed Windows 10 on your Surface 3, do these general steps to finish setting your computer; they're all optional:

1. Install all Windows updates, patches, and drivers via Windows Update
2. Sign into a Microsoft account and download OneDrive files
3. Pair all Bluetooth devices like a Surface Pen or the Arc Touch Mouse

Answer 1

Looks like there is a typo - the directions say to download Surface firmware **Surface3_150623.msi.**However, on the next screen it states this is for Windows 8. Not completely sure which is the correct file but guessing for a US Surface 3 it would be: Surface3_US1_Win10_150724_2.msi

Answer 2

Looks like the name changed; I'll update it.

Answer 3

For repaving my Surface 3, the Surface3_US1_Win10_150724_2.msi installer did *not* work.

However, Surface3_Win8x_150623_2.msi *did* work and allowed me to complete the clean install of Windows 10 on my Surface 3.

Answer 4

Hi,

Followed this guide but my Surface 3 couldn't able to boot from USB drive,  had tried with 02 different USB drive.

However, it did boot from USB if I go to Settings - Update & Security - Recovery - Advanced Startup - Boot from a disk (ex: USB or DVD) or device (UEFI only), and this is the only way to clean install W10 on my Surface 3.

Is my Surface 3 UEFI firmware have problem?

Answer 5

Ive tried Surface3_NAG_Win10_150724_2.msi, Surface3_ROW_Win10_150724_3.msi & Surface3_US1_Win10_150724_2.msi to no avail.  All of them say something like "this is not a [blah blah] device.".  Im now trying Surface3_Win10_150723_0.zip & Surface3_Win8x_150623_2.msi.

I am able to clean install Win10 Pro on my Surface 3 (purchased at a Microsoft store), but none of the important drivers (network, touchscreen etc etc) work.

This is frustrating, at best.