Windows 10: Which Surface device should I buy?

AlexisSherrill · Jul 29, 2018

Greetings! I have been a Microsoft user for years and I have bought a Macbook a few months ago, and I have decided to give it away (to another family member) and go for a Microsoft device. The reason why is because I am taking college classes that require Windows 10 and I tried the bootcamp, but it wasn't my taste. So I am thinking about purchasing a Surface device, but I am not sure which one should I buy. What I want is a device that can run Windows 10 Pro because that what most college students use for schoolwork. I use Big Fish Games for my gaming (I am a casual gamer, mobile gamer, and occasional console gamer), I am taking Computer Classes at the Community College, and I like using touchscreen. Which Surface device should I buy? Surface Pro 2017, Surface Book, or the Surface Go w/ Windows 10 Pro?

:)

Brink · Jul 29, 2018

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

Surface Studio, Surface Book, Surface Pro 4, Surface 3, or Surface Pro 3 with a configured boot order in UEFI

Step 1: Shut down your Surface.
Step 2: Insert the bootable USB drive into the USB port on your Surface.
Step 3: Press the power button to turn it on.
Step 4: Follow the on-screen instructions to boot from your USB drive.
Click to expand...

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

Brink · Jul 29, 2018

Updates for Surface Devices - Jan. 9, 2018

Over the next few days, we are releasing updates for several Surface devices, including:

Surface Book 2

Surface Laptop

Surface Studio

Surface Book

Surface Pro 4

Surface Pro 3 (Preview)

These updates include updated Surface UEFI firmware for each listed device to address potential security vulnerabilities, including Microsoft security advisory 180002. For more information about this advisory and how it affects Surface devices, see Surface Guidance for Customers and Partners: Protect your devices against the recent chip-related security vulnerability.

For Surface Book, these updates also include drivers for Intel(R) Display Audio, Intel(R) HD Graphics 520, Intel(R) Management Engine Interface, Surface dTPM (IFX), Surface Management Engine, and Surface System Aggregator. These updates improve reliability, audio stability, DirectX 12 and power performance, and system stability; and resolve potential security vulnerabilities, including Microsoft security advisory 170012.

For Surface Book 2, the updates are available in MSI format from the Surface Book 2 Drivers and Firmware Page in the Microsoft Download Center. Click Download to download the following files:

SurfaceBook2_Win10_15063_1801009_1.msi

SurfaceBook2_Win10_16299_1801009_0.msi

For Surface Laptop, the updates are available in MSI format from the Surface Laptop Drivers and Firmware Page in the Microsoft Download Center. Click Download to download the following files:

SurfaceLaptop_Win10_15063_1801008_1.msi

For Surface Studio, the updates are available in MSI format from the Surface Studio Drivers and Firmware Page in the Microsoft Download Center. Click Download to download the following files:

SurfaceStudio_Win10_15063_1801006_4.msi

SurfaceStudio_Win10_16299_1801006_0.msi

For Surface Book, the updates are available in MSI format from the Surface Book Drivers and Firmware Page in the Microsoft Download Center. Click Download to download the following files:

SurfaceBook_Win10_15063_1801000_2.msi

SurfaceBook_Win10_16299_1801000_0.msi

Note: These updates to TPM firmware require the device to restart twice to complete installation.

Important! Installation of a TPM firmware update on devices in one of the following unrecommended conditions may cause devices to enter a condition in which devices boot to BitLocker Recovery, but cannot boot to Windows even when the correct recovery key is entered:

Your device is configured for BitLocker Drive Encryption, and is configured to have a platform validation profile that uses Platform Configuration Register (PCR) values that differ from the default and recommended configuration of PCR 7 and PCR 11.

Your device is configured for BitLocker Drive Encryption and has Secure Boot disabled.

If your device meets one of these conditions, you will have to suspend BitLocker before you install this update. We strongly recommend that devices in these conditions are returned to the default, recommended configuration to have Secure Boot enabled, and validation using PCR 7 and 11. Configuration of Secure Boot or BitLocker PCR values other than default are not recommended on Surface devices.

For more information about how to correct these conditions or what to do if your device enters a BitLocker Recovery state after you install these updates and can no longer boot to Windows even when you enter the correct recovery key, see KB4052978.
For Surface Pro 4, the updates are available in MSI format from the Surface Pro 4 Drivers and Firmware Page in the Microsoft Download Center. Click Download to download the following files:

SurfacePro4_Win10_15063_1801001_4.msi

SurfacePro4_Win10_16299_1801001_0.msi

For Surface Pro 3, we're releasing this driver as a preview while we work on validating the final release for Windows Update. The update file is available in MSI format from the Surface Pro 3 Drivers and Firmware Page in the Microsoft Download Center. Click Download to download the following files:

SurfacePro3_Win10_15063_1801002_1_Preview.msi

You can identify which file to download for your device by the build number located in the file name. This build number represents the minimum build of Windows required to install the drivers and firmware within that file. For example, the file SurfaceBook2_Win10_16299_1801009_0.msi has a minimum build of 16299, in other words, Windows 10 Version 1709 (Fall Creators Update). You can find a full list the build numbers for each Windows 10 version at the Windows 10 release information page.

Surface Book 2:

Surface UEFI (v388.1932.769.0) resolves security vulnerabilities, including Microsoft security advisory 180002.

Surface Laptop:

Surface UEFI (v136.1932.789.0) resolves potential security vulnerabilities, including Microsoft security advisory 180002.

Surface Studio:

Surface UEFI (v118.1925.769.0) resolves potential security vulnerabilities, including Microsoft security advisory 180002.

Surface Book:

Intel(R) Display Audio (v10.22.1.102) improves audio stability.

Intel(R) HD Graphics 520 (v22.20.16.4811) improves DirectX 12 and power performance.

Intel(R) Management Engine Interface (v11.7.0.1040) improves system stability.

Surface dTPM (IFX) (v5.62.3126.2) improves reliability and resolves potential security vulnerabilities, including Microsoft security advisory 170012.

Surface Management Engine (v11.7.4.3330) improves reliability and resolves potential security vulnerabilities, including Microsoft security advisory 170012.

Surface System Aggregator (v90.1837.256.0) improves reliability and resolves potential security vulnerabilities, including Microsoft security advisory 170012.

Surface UEFI (v91.1926.768.0) improves reliability and resolves potential security vulnerabilities, including Microsoft security advisories 170012 & 180002.

Surface Pro 4:

Surface UEFI (v108.1926.769.0) resolves potential security vulnerabilities, including Microsoft security advisory 180002.

Surface Pro 3:

Surface UEFI (v3.11.2250.0) resolves potential security vulnerabilities, including Microsoft security advisory 180002.

Click to expand...

Source: Updates for Surface Devices (09 January 2018) Surface

Brink · Jul 29, 2018

Intel Management Engine Vulnerability and Surface Devices

Microsoft is aware of the Intel Management Engine vulnerability (Intel-SA-00086). The Intel vulnerability detection tool currently lists Microsoft Surface devices as vulnerable to this security advisory.Microsoft has investigated the issue and found the following:

Remote exploit of this vulnerability requires Intel Active Management Technology (AMT). Current Surface devices do not allow remote connectivity to the ME because our devices do not run AMT.

Local exploit of this vulnerability requires Direct Connect Interface (DCI) access via USB, which is not provided on Surface devices.

Because of this, we believe exploits using this vulnerability are significantly reduced on Surface devices. We care deeply about ensuring our devices are reliable and secure and are working with Intel to generate fixes for current devices, which we expect to release in the near future.
Click to expand...

Source: Intel Management Engine Vulnerability and Surface Devices Surface

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