Surface Pro 9 / 8 / 7 / 6 / 5 / 4 / Pro 3 How to Factory Restore and/or Restore Recovery Partition
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- Опубліковано 12 вер 2024
- Want to wipe all the partitions on your SP3 or S3?
Lost your recovery thumb drive?
Want to recover the recovery partition so you can sell your device?
I'll show you how to recover your SP3 or S3 to a factory default state even if you have totally blitzed your S3 or SP3's SSD or installed a linux installation.
IMPORTANT: If you are having issues booting even after following these steps... try another thumb drive! Some surface devices just don't like certain models of thumb drives.
Also, try naming your drive "ESD-USB" and see if that helps
Links mentioned in the video:
www.microsoft....
This guide is super easy, all you need is an 8GB or larger thumb drive to perform the operation and a microsoft account.
If you are using this video to sell your Surface Pro for a new model, consider using these amazon links!:
Surface Laptop Studio here: amzn.to/3mL7pDI
Surface Pro 8 here: amzn.to/3Bwy4KL
Its people like you that maintain my faith in humanity. Thank you for taking the time to create this video.
I was stuck in bootloop on "surface"screen, I tried everything before I watch your video, and now, my S3 is fully working!! thanks for sharing !!
THANK YOU, I've been looking for a way to reset my SP4 for YEARS, Windows support was useless, recovery tools were not working and did not give me any clue as to why they didn't work, and your video just saved my SP4. So cool! Now it can get out of the shelf again.
Saved me yesterday!! thankyou! never usually comment in youtube videos but really wanted to show you my appreciation for this video! I spent hours trying to figure out how to wipe my computer to sell and this was so helpful!
Excellent video; I followed it to repair a Surface Pro 3, locked w/BitLocker (no password). Worked flawlessly, even though I'm not so good with CMD. For anybody out there, it works. Take your time. Thanks again!
We have a Surface Pro 3 in my lab which was used by a former employee. It had BitLocker enabled, and we didn't have the passcode. I did not know how to get it usable until I saw your video. Fortunately there don't seem to be any activation issues, which was a real surprise. THANKS!
Thank you so much. 2 hours with support and nothing. 10 min on UA-cam and solution
yup
I’m telling my dad
After all these years your wonderful video still lasts the test of time. TY.
Thanks for the help but the complications I've experienced trying to reset this surface pro is the exact reason why i have fully left windows! Enjoying this Macbook pro, which only took 5 minutes to reset without having to have a thumb drive.
A HUGE THANKS ...After soooo many videos and google searches, this took 10 min and this WORKED..
Oh, my dude! You saved my ass! Surface docs say to create a recovery image from another PC and then paste the downloaded SP7+ rescue image into the USB. I did that several hundred times and Recovering this PC stuck at 53% until finally just shutting off. Following what you did exactly did the trick and now I'm up and running. Cameras still don't work at all, but at least it boots finally. Thank you!
THANKS A LOT ! i just looked for a lot of tutorials who didn't runs... hopfully yours is here! thank a lot
Thanks for putting this video together! I installed Windows 10 Beta and wanted to revert back. I struggled for a week to get it to work. These instructions were very clear and I got if first try after your video. I am back up and running!
Great instructional, step by step guide. one of the best out there.
My issue was with the MSP 4 where no partitions were found, easily sorted with the instructions here. Microsoft states for some reason that once recovered, the recovery partition will not be stored on the device. another words reset can only be done through thumb drive in future. Don't know whether this feature is only relevant to win 10 but thought it might be worth mentioning anyway.
Thank you 3 days without any help and your video is just like the holy grail
You sir are a legend! I just tried to install Windows 10 over 8.1 and I think BitLocker was causing all sorts of mischief! Would lock up after seconds, boot loop itself and shut down randomly. Wouldn't even let me vol down + power to boot from a recovery USB and when it did, I couldn't restore Windows 8.1 'due to an error'. However, cleaning the drive with diskpart worked wonders and I'm back up and running again. :)
I tried You Tube first and problem solved immediately with the power button instructions.... Thanks so much!
Thank you for this! I had a surface was would not let me remove Win 10 from it and following these steps helped. Seams kind of ridiculous that you can't do a straight up restore from USB instead of blitzing the drives. Good old Microsoft
Thanks man! All other videos did not help me. The partition was the main issue after loading Linux. Thank you very much
Dude, thats awesome! I was going to order used Surface Pro 3, but wasnt sure if its actually possible to recover it if you lost your recovery partition!
Thank you very much for very informative and useful video!
Very Clear and Concise, Thank You very much for your video. I have a Surface Pro 4 and I don't know what happen but I was unable to do a factory reset. I watched your video and now I'm back up and running again. So again Thank You Very Much
Thanks, the method is spot on and worked (eventually) for me.
Just a word from the wise:
If anyone is getting a message saying "Reset has failed" after booting from the USB drive, try using a brand new thumb drive. I was getting that error every time when using a 5 year old thumb drive. Tried again with a brand new sandisk one today and it worked straight away. Also I recommend extracting the zip file first and then copying the files to the usb drive.
for surface pro 4 worked , not exactly the same steps but was easy to figure out , many thanks man
I tried support, other tutorial and you were the only one to work. Thanks!
Thank you so much. I looked for help at various sites and videos. This approach was the only one that worked. Thanks for putting this together. You are the best.
This is valuable information since it's not like you can use reinstall disks for Surface. Some tech gurus recommend reinstalling Windows about once a year just to clear out the junk that accumulates.
DON'T FORGET TO RUN WINDOWS UPDATE IMMEDIATELY AFTER REINSTALLING! Or learn the hard way and have to reinstall all over again like I've done. Keep checking for updates, because it won't give them all to you in one batch. Do this BEFORE you download Chrome or anything else. I learned this the hard way when I first got my Surface and rushed to download all my programs before updating. You have to wipe again, then run updates. Cycle through checking for updates several times until you get the message that Windows is up to date.
Thanks again! I'm off to creating my own thumb drive backup :)
OMG, this is exactly what I needed. My friend got a Surface Pro 3, beautiful machine.... BUT, he messed it up in a huge way.Black screen and all. It was crazy. Of course he did not made a recovery jump drive before all hell broke lose. I went to Best Buys where he got it from, the Geek idiots wanted $259 to to restore the surface pro. WHAAAT??????? With your video I was able to help my friend for NOTHING!!!!!! OMG thank you thank you, thank you for this video. I did exactly as you showed and the surface is alive again. My friend think I'm a genius but really it all because of you dude.... You are a freaking legend!!! You are the MAN!!!! Thank you......
Thanks for the video, I got one for Christmas that was boot looped from the start. This fixed it even after MS advised me to return it.
You sir, are an Angel!!!! Thank you so very much!!!! I've tried and tried and tried some more to fix my problem, and finally I found your video, I copied everything you did, exactly how you did it, and you have fixed my problem! Thank you again!
+Reece's Pieces Very glad I could help!
Thank you soooo very much, this works on surface pro 7 too. just follow the steps to the letter and your computer will be saved. I accidentally wiped everything and I tought my surface was lost but nope, thanks to this video.
note: when getting a usb I recomend getting a 16GB or 32GB. dont get a usb with a storage capacity more than 32GB or you wont be able to make it into a FAT32 filling system and will have to use other apps to manage it, so tip, get a 16 to 32 GB usb
Thanks for this information! I used USB Bootup disk to bring the screen to deleeting partitions because my USB storage size is only 8GB...and it wouldn't copy the recovery image for my Surface Pro 3. You showed me how to delete partitions, which I did. Thank you!
Awesome video... worked perfectly. I made a backup image of my computer using a third party software and the image failed during the restore... I was lost and this video got me back up and running. Thanks dude
Many thanks for this video. I was about to throw my tablet in the bin as I was so frustrated from having the blue screen of death loop! Removed all partitions through the cmd, ny tablet wouldn’t turn on for a few days but after it did and saw the restore all partitions, it then proceeded to boot up! Legend! Btw mine surface is a Surface Rt model 1516 so works on the older model 😀
my process was a little different i did not have the same options but thanks for your help this is the direction to go
Thank you so much! You made my Christmas 2018.
Thanks to your video, my Surface 3 Pro is working properly again.
Really easy to follow and clear step-by-step how to do!
How did you manage that? My Pro3 cannot reset. It keeps saying 'A required drive partition is missing'. I followed his every step...
@@GreatBPO If you managed to find a solution please let me know because I am having the same issues
thanks after windows messed up my surface you video saved my surface from the scrap heap
Thanks a lot Sir.. From my India Team. We were struggling for the same...... Finally we got the solution from your Video.
Saved my bacon. Thank you so much for taking the time to make this video.
thanks Cbutters, it worked for me , on Pro Surface 4.
Hi cbutters Tech, Thanks for tutorial. I am back in business now. Restored my Surface Pro 3 using your instructions.
Excellent video, wow I've been trying to do this for two days. Now I will sleep. Thank you!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Glad that I was able to help
this really helped me out !! much appreciated dude! i was stuck on a erorr boot loop. your video helped me fix it :)
you deserve a lot more views my friend
Thank you - your instruction is 10/10 - i got back with Windows 8.1 with less conflicts.
Thanks!!!!!! I was looking everywhere on how to fix my Surface Pro 3.
You are awesome! This video was so helpful!
Thank you very much you know you stuff thank you for taking the time to put this video on youtube to help me out .Thank you !
You just solved mi problem. Thank you!
this helped a lot, i had to DL rufus to format my usb to fat32
thank you really help a lot, your video was the only one that help me thanks
you're my hero. This worked for my surface pro 3 64gb. Thanks a lot.
When I put reset the ask me about a “the recovery key to get going again (keyboard layaout :US ) And don’t let me do nothing also
Finally worked! Thank you so much for this.
Thank you so much dude! Worked a little differently on my SP4 but ultimately did the job.
thank you man. I did this on surface pro 4 and it worked....
Thank you for sharing this video clip on how to restore Surface Pro 3 back to factory default.
Great Video. I did it to revert back from Windows 10 since my surface wouldn't avtivate after a clean install.
Yeah supposedly you're not able to do a clean install. You MUST upgrade from 7 or 8. However I was able to do a clean install on one of my 3 computers. Microsoft said it was impossible.
Thank you for this break down. It worked for me
Hey Man. I know it’s been a while but I did everything you said and it still comes up asking for the password. I’m sooo over looking for an answer. Any help?
Brilliant - perfectly illustrated - worked 100% - saves your ass if your Windows 10 upgrade causes activation failure
You are my hero! Saved my Pro 4 from becoming a nice aluminum brick!
Thanks champ! Fixed my Surface thanks to you!
thanks for this detailed step-by-step video. very helpful!!
Best Tutorial Ever!!!! Thank you!!
You gotta be fucking kidding!
It's so easy to follow than Microsoft website instruction....BTW Surface sucks after updates installation fails
Thank you. Now my surface 3 is working
Thank you! very usefull!!! I repeated same so it is work
Thank you bro. It works for my surface 3. Brilliant
Thanks for the step by step video! This is the first that I have found that uses the combination of the volume rocker and the power switch to access the thumb drive.
Would you also do a video on doing a CLEAN Windows 10 install from Win 8.1.
Please keep the same step by step format. I also have a Surface pro 3.
Thanks for the great work!
Here's a quick read guide.
Prerequisites:
USB 8-16GB
INTERNET
PC
1. Download recovery.zip via Microsoft website - MS acc needed (Surface 3 in my circumstance)
2. Format USB, FAT32
3. Extract all files from the recovery.zip to the USB
Now to the surface...
1. Insert USB
2. Press hold vol down
3. Tap power
3. Release Vol down when you see surface logo
Troubleshoot > advanced options > command prompt.
Enter commands:
Diskpart
List disk
Disk 0
Select disk 0
Clean
List partition
(This is used to double check if it worked)
Not all heroes wear capes thanks
Thank you, it worked well. Took a while but it worked..
Thank you for such an informative video. I have a Surface 3 that I am trying to do a factory reset of Windows10 I followed your instruction but when Windows was doing the reset, it stopped with an error saying "The drive where Windows is installed is locked. Unlock the drive and try again.". I repeated your instruction a few times, all ended with the same error. What do I do now? Thanks in advance for your help!
u r the best
THANK YOU SO MUCH BRO,YOU FIXED MY SURFACE!
Worked perfectly on my Surface Pro 4, thank you for the info!
did you do it just with the image or with the recovery drive option from another Computer?
Thank you, dude! Extremely helpful video!
Thankyou so much brother! 100% legit and working 💪
You Saved my surface 3. THANKS!
Great Video, very helpful my friend! Thank you !
Thank you dude!
thanks so much cbutters Tech for posting this video and i also enjoy your video !!!!
10x very helpful made the bad decision of installing the windows 10 preview on my surface pro 3.
Thanks mate, now I can use my beloved Windows 8.1 again :)))
Thank you for this video it has been most helpful
Yesssssssss worked! Thank you so much for this.
Worked Perfectly Thanks
Thank you for the tutorial. You are a life saver!!
Absolute legend....i salute you. Saved my life lol
You rock dude thanks so much for this tutorial.!!!
Eres el mejor, muchas gracias me has resuelto un problema que llevo meses sin resolverlo.
Thank you very much my friend.
THANKS MAN, Such a beast!!!!!!!!!!
You obviously know what you're doing.
There are two types of instructors, those that can do and those that can teach.
Unfortunately it's rare to find anyone that can do both. As a teacher you are the later and those silly enough to follow you are bound to get into trouble.
Most who come for help may have little experience and want to hear you speaking clearly and confidently, something you need to learn before your next video.
Obviously, you have a need to help others and that's a good thing, just be more prepared in future. Please don't be offended and take this post from someone trying to help you.
Thanks for the constructive criticism. It helps me improve.
Thank you so much I fucked my surface pro up trying to install arch Linux this is a life saver
Just curious? I've seen about a dozen troubleshooting tips and tricks and a bunch of questions regarding the data. I work for a company where we have a stock of Surface for our users. No pressure to replace a unit if need be. I want to know about "data recovery"? Is there a way to save the data? That's my question? Folks are giving you lots of "High Five" but will this get me to a place to retrieve or restore data
You're a lifesaver. THANKS!
Very helpful. Thanks
Thank you
You are awesome, thanks bud!
you are a life-saver! (time-saver!) thanks a lot... I could not install windows 8.1 recovery image until I saw your video.
I forgot my BIOS password as well, is there any solution for that on Surface pro 3 ?