Mistakenly installed Windows 8 onto Surface 3, how to fix?

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actkk

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Dec 26, 2014
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UPDATE 2 I have managed to get my USB Ethernet adapter to work with the device and connect it to the Internet. I am now running Windows Update, which will hopefully have some answers soon on what can be done to fix things.

UPDATE: I have now set to trying to install the drivers taken from the Microsoft Surface 3 drivers package (obtained here http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=49040) and install them manually through the Device Manager. Unfortunately, it always encounters an error at installation, saying that although the driver was found, it was "tested for compliance on a different version of Windows, and may not be compatible with this version."

I'm fairly certain that this error is occurring because the drivers are signed to either Windows 8.1 or to Windows 10, but as far as I can tell MS does not have separate driver packages for Surface 3 from the 8x series to the 10 series, only a different .msi for installation.

Is there a way that I can force it to accept and install the found driver?

I am working with a Surface 3 which needed to have its software updated from Windows 8.1 Core to Windows 8.1 Pro. I ordered an upgrade key for Windows 8 Pro and installed it, assuming (as the product description said) that I could install it and then upgrade immediately to 8.1 Pro. Upon installing 8 Pro, I find that most every device in the device manager is not working. The touch screen, WiFi, and many others are non-functional.

I have tried to install new drivers, but it is difficult without any internet connection. I purchased a USB Ethernet adapter from Insignia, but despite installing and re-installing the drivers multiple times (via a USB flash drive), I could not get the device to be recognized by the Surface 3 tablet. I also tried to download drivers from Microsoft's website which claimed to be a complete package for Surface 3. I copied them from a USB stick onto the Surface 3, but despite being able to install the Surface Platform Installer successfully, when it runs it claims that no devices need updated on the machine and then exits without installing any drivers. Running the one other executable included in the downloads, a driver for the touch screen, also had no effect.

I am now attempting again to install a wireless driver for the WiFi card in the Surface. To the best of my knowledge the card is a Marvell Avastar Wireless-AC Network Adapter (the exact card I cannot yet determine). I have tried one wireless driver for a Marvell Avastar but it did not work for me.

I feel myself slowly running out of options, has anyone dealt with this issue who may be able to help me out?
 
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That's exactly what I did. At the time I thought this was fine but I now realize it was a grievous error.

Device Manager shows about 20 Unknown Devices, and has the triangular "!" signs over the display adapter, wifi adapter, and several other objects in the list. Attempting to point Windows to the drivers manually has not yet worked, I am hoping to find a solution to this problem.
 
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This is a Surface 3, not a Surface Pro 3. It was my understanding that the 'RT' line was dropped, and that all newer Surface models run the 'true' desktop Windows 8.

I also made sure to grab the driver package from Microsoft's website which it said pertained specifically to the Surface 3, as opposed to the specific sets for Surface Pro 3, Surface 2, etc.
 
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No recovery to speak of unfortunately.

I was able to finally supply about 150 or so updates via wired connection, but still no working drivers. I still cannot direct Windows to install them manually, and finding them via the net doesn't work either. I am going to try and update it to Windows 8.1 overnight, hopefully that will fix the driver problem.
 
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Alright, I finally got it all back to working condition. I'm not entirely sure when it happened, but the ability to get back online via the USB Ethernet adapter was what did the trick. After installing many updates, installing windows 8.1, and letting that update overnight, I woke up to find everything but the touch detection working. A quick update and reboot brought total functionality back to the device.

I have since learned that Windows 8x has a page in its options that links you to a Pro upgrade, which for $99.99 they'll send you a download code. I assume that this method has less bumps in the road as it likely upgrades your current version to Pro without downgrading 8.1 to 8 (as my method did). Either way, the lesson is clear; if your Surface stops working correctly, do everything you can to get it back onto the internet. From there, make sure you grab the Windows 8.1 upgrade from the Windows Store and make sure also to install as many Windows Updates as possible. If things don't seem right, don't be afraid to restart the machine. The key is vigilance and patience for long update times. Equally important though, never go into important matters until you've thoroughly researched them! Hope this helps someone in the future.
 
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