Booting from a USB device doesn’t refresh or reset your Surface. Instead, it lets you start your Surface using Windows or another operating system that’s on your USB device. For info about how to create a bootable USB drive for your Surface, see Creating and using a USB recovery drive for Surface.

Fix your audio drivers. Hardware problems can be caused by outdated or malfunctioning drivers. Make sure your audio driver is up to date and update it if needed. If that doesn't work, try uninstalling the audio driver (it will reinstall automatically).

You can use installation media (a USB flash drive or DVD) to install a new copy of Windows, perform a clean installation, or reinstall Windows. To create installation media, go to the software download website, where you'll find step-by-step instructions.

Getting ready for the Windows 11 upgrade. How to check if your device meets Windows 11 system requirements after changing device hardware. Learn how to use the PC Health Check app to help you improve your device performance.

Possible causes. Make sure your PC, the external display, and the cable all support DisplayPort or MHL alternate modes. Make sure the device or dongle is connected directly to your PC. Make sure the device or dongle is connected to the USB-C port on your PC that supports the correct Alternate Mode.

We understand that sometimes purchases of digital game products don’t go as planned. When that happens, we’ll help you request a refund. Refunds are typically issued for requests meeting the following criteria: Requests are made within 14 days of the purchase date.

If you can’t set the power mode in Power & battery settings, open Control Panel, select System and Security > Power Options, then choose a Balanced power plan. Learn how to change the power mode on your Windows PC to preserve your battery, limit notifications, and background activity.

Get started with Copilot. To get started, open the Copilot app from the Start menu or use the Copilot icon if present on your Windows taskbar. If your device keyboard includes a dedicated Copilot key, you can also use it to launch Copilot.

In the search box on the taskbar, type device manager, then select Device Manager from the menu.

Once the Windows 11 upgrade has been tested and validated for your specific PC, Windows Update will indicate that it's ready for installation. To check if Windows 11 is ready for your device, go to Start > Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update and select Check for updates.