Related topics
×
Sign in with Microsoft
Sign in or create an account.
Hello,
Select a different account.
You have multiple accounts
Choose the account you want to sign in with.

When you turn on your Surface, it displays the following message:

Couldn't find a bootable operating System. Check the Boot Configuration to try to fix this. 

Error message shown when Surface can't find a bootable operating system.

On older devices, the Surface turns on and displays a drive icon with an X in the top right corner. 

Surface UEFI boot error screen

When you turn on your Surface, it boots to UEFI (Unified Extensible Firmware Interface). If you see this, try the following steps for a possible solution.

  1. If shown, select OK to dismiss the dialog.

  2. Select Boot configuration from the menu on the left.

  3. Make sure that you have a valid boot device selected. All the options including Windows Boot Manager, Internal Storage, USB Storage, and PXE Network should be selected by default.

If Windows doesn’t start, go to Solution 2.

Press and hold down the power button until your Surface restarts and you see the Windows logo screen (this takes about 20 seconds), then release the power button. For more info, see Force a shutdown and restart your Surface

If Windows doesn't start, go to Solution 3.

Here's how to reset your Surface with a USB recovery drive:

  1. Insert the USB recovery drive into the USB port on your Surface.

  2. Press and hold the volume-down button while you press and release the power button.

  3. When the Surface logo appears, release the volume-down button. For more info, see Creating and using a USB recovery drive for Surface.

If Windows doesn't start, go to Solution 4.

There's one last step you can take. If these steps don't resolve the problem, service and support options may be available to assist you.

Shows a truck icon.

​​​​​​Send to Microsoft
To prepare your device for shipping to Microsoft, you can print a shipping label, check your Microsoft warranty, and create service orders.​​

Even smaller button.

Find in-person support
Currently China, India, and Japan have in-person support available—which can include professional hardware inspection, troubleshooting, and system recovery.

Shows a wrench icon.

Self-repair
If you're technically experienced and have the right tools, Microsoft has a select range of replaceable components and service guides that enable you to perform the repairs.

Note: Availability may be limited for some countries or products.

To learn more, go to How to get service or repair for Surface.

Need more help?

Want more options?

Explore subscription benefits, browse training courses, learn how to secure your device, and more.

Communities help you ask and answer questions, give feedback, and hear from experts with rich knowledge.

Find solutions to common problems or get help from a support agent.

Was this information helpful?

What affected your experience?
By pressing submit, your feedback will be used to improve Microsoft products and services. Your IT admin will be able to collect this data. Privacy Statement.

Thank you for your feedback!

×