Forum Discussion
Accidentally booted ASUS laptop from Surface Hub 2S Recovery USB, now can't boot/reinstall Windows
*This post is not about troubleshooting a Surface Hub device, it's about troubleshooting my personal ASUS GU604VI laptop that a Surface Hub 2S Recovery Image on USB has altered and potentially destroyed* 🙁
Backstory:
I had a task at work to reset a Surface Hub 2S device. I followed Microsoft's instructions (here: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/surface-hub/surface-hub-recover-reset) to create a Windows 10 Team 2022 Update recovery image on a USB device. I then accidentally booted my own personal laptop from the USB drive - I was trying to put a couple of files on it and put it in my laptop before turning the laptop on (I should not have used my personal laptop for this in hindsight). The laptop booted automatically from the recovery flash drive instead of my internal SSD. I then realized I what was happening and shut it down. After that point NO Windows OS or other Windows install media will boot on my device.
It appears that simply booting from the Surface Hub 2S recovery media made firmware-level changes to my laptop and is preventing me from booting into any non-Surface 2S Windows installation or even reinstalling Windows via boot from any Windows install media. I can boot Linux.
Here is what I've tried to resolve it myself:
- Confirmed boot order and all the basics within the BIOS/UEFI firmware
- Reset BIOS to defaults
- Reflashed my BIOS (tried multiple different BIOS version levels)
- Disabled Secure Boot
- Wiped Secure Boot keys (returned to Setup Mode + restored default keys)
- Wiped my hard drive and tried to reinstall Windows (can't boot from Win11 or Win10 install media - I've tried created it using the Windows Media Creation tool and Rufus from the latest official Win11 and Win10 ISOs. None will boot into Windows setup, all return me directly to the boot device selection screen.
- Tried to boot to Windows Recovery Drive made from another Win11 system - same situation, returns me directly to the boot device selection screen
- Tried to boot Hiren's Boot CD on USB (based on WinPE) - same situation as above
- Tried multiple USB ports
- Tried multiple USB flash drive brands
- Tried disconnecting my laptop battery and letting it sit (CMOS reset type-of-thing)
- Tried booting directly from the various Windows .EFI files using shell.efi from UEFI - none will boot, they do nothing. Launching Linux .EFI files boots them just fine
- My laptop is a UEFI-only device. I cannot boot it into CSM/BIOS mode. I have to use UEFI boot.
- Power cycle/hard reset procedure with holding the power button for 1 minute
- Removed my SSD and tried to get the laptop just to boot to a Windows setup USB stick - same situation, returns me directly to the boot device selection screen
- Called ASUS, they want me to send them the laptop for an $85 diagnosis. It's out of warranty by 4 months. They will likely have to replace this motherboard, and this will cost big bucks.
- Tried to follow Microsoft's documentation on how to 'Migrate to Windows 10/11 Pro or Enterprise on Surface Hub 2S' (https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/surface-hub/surface-hub-2s-migrate-os#update-uefi-on-surface-hub-2s-to-enable-os-migration) thinking that this may hold the key to being able to unlock the boot capabilities to allow my laptop to boot to normal non-Surface Windows again. I can get to the 'Update UEFI on Surface Hub 2S to enable OS Migration' step but cannot complete it since I don't have the Surface-specific UEFI options to install the DfciUpdate.dfi management settings file from USB.
I finally installed decided all was so screwed up that I might as well actually fully install the Surface Hub 2S Windows 10 Team 2022 Update on my laptop and go from there - so I did. It booted and fully installed successfully and now I have a Surface Hub 2S laptop. It boots, but not to what I want it to, of course! I want to be back at normal Windows 11.
I found one or two others having similar issues online (but not many people!):
These three posts are from the same person - I tried but cannot use his solution because I cannot get Shift+F10, Windows+R, Ctrl+Shift+Esc or any other combo to give me the ability to launch a cmd.exe window. I think this is because the Surface Hub 2S is running in Windows S mode.
This post is extremely close to my situation, probably the exact same root issue
Could you please help me get my laptop back, Microsoft engineers? (and/or anyone else!)
Thank you!
7 Replies
- cezarcretu
Microsoft
Hello,
Surface Hub's Windows 10 Team Edition is a heavily locked down version with several security features in place that will prevent unauthorized access, including installing other operating systems (https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/surface-hub/surface-hub-security#secure-boot). However, you should be able to unlock your UEFI as per this article. It would be best to raise a support case for Surface Hub if anything is unclear with this process or you have any issues with it.
Best regards,
Cezar
I posted a somewhat long reply to this but I am unsure where it went. Is it possible it was not approved? I can't find a way to see my replies pending approval. Is there a place to see that or know what happened to my reply comment? Thank you!
Thank you, Cezar!
I had actually followed that article closely in the hopes I could get out of my situation that way. Unfortunately I could only make it about 90% through the process because the final step involves booting into the Surface UEFI and installing the management file on a special screen available there for that purpose. I had created a management file with my own self-signed certificate per the instructions, but since my UEFI is ASUS and not Surface, I have no screen/section available where I can put the new management file. If there's anything I'm missing with this, I would be happy to check anything else. I don't know if it is possible to install the new device management file some other way, perhaps through Linux or something, but I can't do it via the normal Microsoft directions, unfortunately, since my situation is so different.
I had considered opening a support case and would love to do so, but I'm not sure how to do it since this is a personal laptop and not for an actual Surface device. Do you think Microsoft will let me open a support case as just a normal consumer about this issue? If so, do you perhaps have a link to where the best place to enter that support ticket might be?
Thank you so much for reading my post and offering help and suggestions.
- cezarcretu
Hi,
You can open a case with Surface Hub since this issue is with a Surface Hub tool.
However, it looks like you will need to rewrite your UEFI and that might require ASUS support. I don;t believe Surface Hub support can help other than providing the article I mentioned before which details the security features. These are done at the UEFI level so only the manufacturer can help here.
I will DM you my email in case you need further help from Microsoft on this
Best of luck,
Cezar
I should also add that I figured out I can boot from OLDER Windows install media, like Win 7, Win 8.1, and Win 10 1507 - but once I install it (this part works) and try to upgrade from there, it won't boot again.
It's almost like the newer versions of Windows are programmed to look for something in the firmware that the Surface Hub 2S upgrade USB placed there and then refuse to boot if it is there. I wish I could find what that is.
I experienced the same issue with my HP EliteBook. Unfortunately, a ticket with Microsoft Support did not resolve the problem. Ultimately, I had to replace the motherboard at my own expense through HP.
Hi Thomas, thanks for weighing in. An amazing person on Reddit actually provided me with a UEFIShell script that corrected my issue, believe it or not. I had all but given up. Probably too late to help you, unfortunately, but I'll share here in case it helps others.
https://www.reddit.com/r/SurfaceHub/s/VzlPgl085i
