Locked Out of Your Old Surface Pro? Here’s How to Get Back In

Problem:

I am experiencing difficulty accessing an older Surface Pro device that has been unused for an extended period. Authentication attempts have been unsuccessful, and subsequent password recovery through Microsoft’s services has also failed. Additionally, standard recovery procedures using Shift+Restart are not functioning as expected – the system simply restarts without displaying the recovery options screen.

Resolution:

Interrupt the boot process

• Turn off the Surface completely
• Turn it on, and as soon as you see the Surface logo, hold the power button for about 10 seconds to force shutdown
• Repeat this process 2-3 times
• On the third attempt, Windows should automatically boot into the recovery environment

USB recovery drive:

 If that doesn’t work, you’ll likely need to create a bootable USB recovery drive on another computer:

• On another PC, download the Surface Recovery Image from Microsoft’s website (search “Surface recovery image download”)
• You’ll need a USB drive with at least 16GB
• Follow Microsoft’s instructions to create the recovery drive
• Boot your Surface from this USB (hold Volume Down + press Power, release power but keep holding Volume Down until you see the Surface logo).

 Force UEFI/BIOS:

Shut down completely

• Hold Volume Up + press and release Power button
• Keep holding Volume Up until you see the UEFI screen
• From there you might be able to configure boot options or access recovery tools

Accidentally Downgraded from Windows 11 to Windows 10? How to Recover Files and Reinstall Windows 11

Problem:

I had to download the Windows 10 Media Creation Tool for a class project, but I accidentally clicked Upgrade this PC now instead of Create installation media. My laptop was on Windows 11, and this mistake downgraded it to Windows 10. Now I can’t find any of my files or downloads. How can I switch back to Windows 11 and get my files back?

Resolution:

Check Windows.old Folder:

· By default, Windows creates a folder called Windows.old (in your C:\ drive).

· This folder can contain your previous Windows installation, personal files, and program data.

· If the folder is still intact, you can roll back.

Roll back to Previous version:

Windows normally gives you 10 days to go back to your previous version

Settings → Update & Security → Recovery

Look for “Go back to Windows 11”.

Data Recovery:

If Windows.old is not present, your files may be overwritten. In that case, you can try data recovery software like:

Recuva (free)

EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard

Disk Drill

If you like to go back to Windows 11:

Visit Microsoft’s official website to download the Windows 11 Installation Assistant, which can upgrade your system while preserving files.