Windows 10: Surface Go Boot From USB Not Working

issue:

i want to boot from USB but i am unable to.

i have a usb with linux ubuntu installed. i know this works because i successfully installed ubuntu on a desktop computer with it.

i would like to try this on my surface go but it does not seem to work at all.

i followed the instructions as given from: https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/4023511/surface-boot-surface-from-a-usb-device

observations:

when i try booting up using the method where i press and hold the vol-down button, it seems to always still boot into windows as normal. there is a video on the support page too... looking at that video i can confirm that i am following the steps correctly.


is this is known issue or am i still missing some detail in the instructions which is preventing the surface go from booting from usb?

things i tried:

i have tried disabling "secure boot"... it then asked me to put my bitlocker recovery key. i did this successfully but it still boots directly to windows.


previously when i did not add the recovery key it gave me the option to select a different drive... from that menu, i selected the usb drive, but this resulted in what looks like "just rebooting itself" because after that reboot, i am presented with the bitlocker screen where is asks for the recovery key.


i have tried putting "usb storage" as the first item in the boot order priority. still boots directly to windows.

:)

 

Boot Surface Laptop to USB - no Volume button

Hello Jimmy,

This doesn't list the "Surface Laptop", but you might give it a try to see.

*Arrow Boot Microsoft Surface from a USB device

Otherwise, you should be able to use OPTION ONE below to boot from the USB from advanced startup.

*Arrow Boot from USB Drive on Windows 10 PC Windows 10 Installation Upgrade Tutorials

 

Problem updating Windows Surface Pro 4 with Windows 10 feature updates

Hi,

I have manage to install image for Microsoft Surface Pro 4 by going to https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/...erecoveryimage and download a recovery image for Microsoft Surface Pro 4.

What I did to reset your Surface from a USB recovery drive was:
Step 1: Make sure your Surface is turned off and plugged in (hold down the power
button for 30 seconds).
Step 2: Insert the USB recovery drive into the USB port on your Surface.
Step 3: Press and hold the volume-down button while you press and release the
power button on your Surface.
Step 4: When the Surface logo appears, release the volume button.
Step 5: When prompted, select the language and keyboard layout you want.
Step 6: Select Troubleshoot > Reset your PC.
If prompted for a recovery key, select Skip this drive at the bottom of the
screen.
Step 7: Select the target operating system you wish to reset. This
refers to the current operating system installed on your Surface.
Step 8: Select Yes, repartition the drives, and on the next page, select Next.
Step 9: Choose Just remove my files.
Step 10: Select Reset.
Surface restarts and the Surface logo displays while the reset process continues
(this can take a while).

This always fails and I have to do the below which continues installation.
Windows 10 Installation Media:

1. Insert the Media (DVD/USB) in your PC and restart.
2. Boot from the media.
3. Select Repair Your Computer.

Select Troubleshoot.

1. Choose Command Prompt from the menu:

Type in the command:
Diskpart
Type in the command:
List disk (Note which disk is your Boot drive number mine is 0)
Type in the command:
Sel disk 0
Type in the command:
List vol (Note which volume is the EFI partition mine is 4)
Type in the command:
Sel vol 4
Type in the command:
assign letter=V:
Type in the command:
Exit
Type in the command:
V:
After you have assigned a drive letter Using Diskpart You can format the EFI partition:
Example: if you assigned a letter V to the partition the command would be:
format V: /FS:FAT32
Type in the command:
bcdboot C:\windows /s V: /f UEFI


Now I have an issue that I cannot install Feature Updates. They keep failing to install.
Any ideas how to resolve issue?

 

USB boot for bios update

Did the first step. It already doesn't work. Note the capacities and drive letters M:/N: The HP utility is about to format my raid-1 volume containing my 2 750gb drives. It thinks it's the usb stick. I can not select any other drives in the HP utility. My 512mb usb stick is U:.

Any other suggestions?