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Resolved Question

Samsung Ativ 500T - Updating to 8.1, Day 2...

Mar 23, 2015 5:43AM PDT

So... I'm on day 2 of re-installing Windows on my Samsung Ativ 500T tablet which wouldn't boot after a Windows update last week. I have managed to install all the necessary drivers in the horrendous SW Update application and preformed all necessary Windows updates.

After attempting to update to Windows 8.1 through the Store, the tablet hangs on boot indefinably, and restarting (three times) reverts to Windows 8.0.

My Google-fu indicates it may be an issue with the Intel graphics driver. So after installing 8.1 and reverting to 8.0, twice, I've now updated the graphics and bluetooth drivers through Windows Update (Why is Windows updating my drivers right after updating via SW Update, Samsung?) as well as the "Windows 8 patches" buried in the SW Update application and I'm trying it again. I don't expect it to work.

Some people have gone as far as installing Windows via USB stick. No thanks.

Samsung? What is the installation procedure for Windows 8.1 for this device?

Discussion is locked

jians5 has chosen the best answer to their question. View answer
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Curious
Apr 3, 2015 5:26AM PDT

Just wondering... Is everyone here running the Canadian (non-Wacom) version of the tablet as I am? Or do some of you have the US version? Just a thought...

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(NT) CDN version as well
Apr 3, 2015 7:32AM PDT
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CDN too
Apr 3, 2015 11:31AM PDT

Canadian tablet also

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Canadian Tablets
Apr 5, 2015 4:56AM PDT

This is getting worrying.

So far...
4 Canadian tablets not working
0 US tablets not working

Starting to think that perhaps Microsoft released an update - perhaps in preparation for Windows 10 (This one? http://www.infoworld.com/article/2903005/operating-systems/what-we-don-t-know-about-mystery-windows-patch-kb-3035583.html) which may have nerfed the Canadian tablets. I'm thinking it may have to do with the absence of the Wacom digitizer. Maybe the tablet is searching for it after the sound card and gets stuck in a loop.

I'm not sure about this, but there appears to be a connector near the sound chip on the motherboard that looks like it might go to the absent Wacom logic board.

Yes, I opened mine: http://i.imgur.com/LHncwej.jpg

Here's some more pictures in case anyone's curious:

Full Board: http://i.imgur.com/jLp2IrN.jpg

Zoom Left: http://i.imgur.com/GP9Kmd1.jpg
Zoom Centre: http://i.imgur.com/5eKdBYC.jpg
Zoom Right: http://i.imgur.com/y3Cqvvu.jpg (Image above without red circle)

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Interesting....
Apr 5, 2015 9:43AM PDT

Interesting idea. I don't think KB3035583 came out until March 27 though. My problems started March 13. Maybe something in the March 10 updates but I tried uninstalling them all and it didn't work....maybe need a fresh install and then don't let the March 10 updates install?

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Maybe
Apr 5, 2015 7:34PM PDT

You must be right, my original post is from march 23. My problems started on March 18, but i rarely restart my tablet so it could have been on since then.

I thought the last time I installed Windows 8.1 I had installed the drivers before the updates and it still crashed, but I may try it again when I have some time (Wednesday, April 8 probably).

If it works it is still not ideal as Windows 10 doesn't work either, and you can't forgo installing those updates as they're integrated in the OS.

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Have you tried...
Apr 5, 2015 7:40PM PDT

Have you tried installing the latest updates from Add/Remove Progams? Left side, View Installed Updates. I would try it, but my tablet's running Windows 10 right now.

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Spelling...
Apr 5, 2015 7:40PM PDT

I means Uninstalling*

This forum really needs an edit and delete feature...

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Uninstall*
Apr 5, 2015 7:41PM PDT

I meant Uninstall*. This forum needs an edit and delete feature.

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Yes
Apr 6, 2015 4:22PM PDT

Yes, un-installed all the non-security updates from March 10 on. Also, did a Refresh and then only installed updates from before March 10. Neither worked. I have un-installed the sound driver and have resigned myself to bluetooth headphones until I get a new tablet....

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re: You're doing all the right moves as far as I can tell.
Apr 3, 2015 1:30PM PDT

Canadian version as well

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Samsung
May 26, 2015 5:23PM PDT

Everything works fine with the driver disabled ....except of course there is no sound.

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Answer
?
Apr 2, 2015 8:05AM PDT

Are you performing a clean install of Windows? If not you may need to re-image the tablet.

Regards,

HD Tech

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Re-image tablet
Apr 3, 2015 5:02AM PDT

Yes. I tried thrice to restore the tablet to factory settings from the recovery partition, which installs Windows 8.0. I preformed all the updates and installed all the drivers. Restarted several times, no issues, sound working. Then I went to the Microsoft Store, as I had done before, and updated to 8.1. Upon final restart the tablet hangs at the Samsung logo. Again, I tried this thrice, and this is a 2-day process due to the tablet's slow storage.

Thinking the problem might be related to updating from Windows 8.0 to 8.1, I opted to delete all the partition information, including the recovery partition, and install a fresh copy of Windows 8.1. After doing so, everything works until installing the sound driver, then the tablet hangs on boot. The only way I can get back to Windows is to boot in safe mode, which doesn't always work, and disable or uninstall the sound driver.

I'm now running Windows 10 on it, and the issue persists but I doubt it's relevant.

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has anyone un installed the sound driver?
Apr 3, 2015 10:37AM PDT

has anyone un installed the sound driver and then tried to upgrade to 8.1?

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Go for it
Apr 3, 2015 12:04PM PDT

The process of updating Windows from the ancient version of Windows 8.0 on the recovery partition to the point that you can actually update to 8.1 takes at least a full day. I've done it so many times now I've giving up and I'll be buying a not Samsung tablet in the near future.
I bet my left nut that uninstalling the sound driver just prior to the update to 8.1 will allow the update to go through. Then when you reinstall the driver it will go back to hanging on boot.

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re: has anyone un installed the sound driver?
Apr 3, 2015 1:24PM PDT

Tried uninstalling audio driver then doing update to 8.1... doesn't work, hangs on samsung splash screen with blue light flickering and makes a small ticking noise. This is getting frustrating, about to chuck this horrible samsung tablet out the window

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did your trouble begin 2 weeks ago too?
Apr 3, 2015 8:56PM PDT

My tablet worked fine until 2 weeks ago mid week when I did a disk cleanup (windows utility) and restarted the tablet. I think windows just installed some automatic mid week updates.

How can it be a Samsung issue if the only variable is Microsoft updates?

Also, has anyone taken their tablet to a repair tech?

I had Samsung online remote control the tablet after I restored to factory and up dated all the software and they said nothing wrong with the tablet, but to send it into the service center. (I'm in Halifax, it's in Toronto)

I'd rather not spend a couple hundred dollars to get this resolved... but looking more and more like I'm going to have to do so.

Has anyone tried a computer repair center for assistance?

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Yep
Apr 4, 2015 11:43AM PDT

Yep same as mine, even the light ticking noise. Sounds to me like it must be the camera shutter, there are no other moving parts in the tablet. I tried disabling the cameras and flash and installing the sound driver but it still BSOD's Windows 8.1.

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what ms update was released week of March 23rd
Apr 3, 2015 11:34PM PDT

It seems that Microsoft updates may be the issue. What updates were released that week? I can't tell from history because I have restored again yesterday, so all updates refer to install date.

Thoughts?

Everyone says their tablet worked fine until mid March.

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March 10 updates
Apr 5, 2015 2:36AM PDT
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Oops link didn't work
Apr 5, 2015 2:40AM PDT
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unistalling windows updates from March 10 did not help
Apr 6, 2015 2:05AM PDT

I just identified all the windows updates since March 10th and uninstalled them, rebooted and tried 8.1 update again ... still not working . What changed with my tablet to cause it to stop running 8.1????

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I give up. called Samsung who said call Microsoft. paid $99.
Apr 6, 2015 7:30AM PDT

I give up! I contact Samsung who said to contact Microsoft and after some q&a, am paying $99. For them to fix it remotely.
Fingers crossed!

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Wow
Apr 6, 2015 10:57AM PDT

You're braver than I am. Any luck with Microsoft?

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not yet
Apr 6, 2015 12:28PM PDT

They've updated all ms updates and run integrity tests, then 8.1 upgrade from store, and same result as before. Now they found another driver update issued late today and are trying upgrade 1 more time. If it fails, they will escalate to senior level... fingers crossed they fix it for me. Iv invested way too much time and now $100 & tax.

Can you recall the messages after installing starts reboot? Setting up, getting devices, etc?

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...
Apr 6, 2015 1:57PM PDT

Please keep us filled in! I have been checking this forum everyday hoping for a fix... I really don't want to end up paying $100 Sad lol

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re: not yet
Apr 6, 2015 1:57PM PDT

Please keep us filled in! I have been checking this forum everyday hoping for a fix... I really don't want to end up paying $100 Sad lol

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I'll keep you posted
Apr 6, 2015 2:13PM PDT

They tried twice and no luck. They've escalated to next level and scheduled 10 am tomorrow. I'll keep you posted

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not done yet
Apr 7, 2015 4:58AM PDT

MS premium tech support ran more tests and diagnostics, but essentially said the windows update log file & software distribution folder must have a corrupted file, which can be responsible for this issue.
They have manually deleted the Software distribution folder & allowed disk cleanup to delete the Windows update log file. both had grown to 5 gig in size total

I'v been instructed to restart the pc after above finishes & then re-try the upgrade. (fingers crossed)

while I was waiting, I found a link to an earlier forum I had surfed while looking for a solution & it pretty much describes what Microsoft Premium Support tech's have done.
http://www.eightforums.com/installation-setup/52665-windows-8-1-update-error-0xc1900101-0x40017-dell-xps-18-a.html