Microsoft have released a Surface RT recovery image to address issues with the Windows RT 8.1 update released a few days ago. Microsoft removed the Windows RT 8.1 update from the store after reports of the update causing devices to stop booting. The recovery image is 3.7GB large and will return your Surface RT back to it’s factory condition.
The recovery image will require a USB drive which has over 4GB of storage and a Windows 7 or later computer. Microsoft have included recovery instructions with the download on how to go ahead and recover the device. The recovery image is only limited to Surface RT devices but it’s unsure whether other OEM’s will follow suit.
Microsoft haven’t confirmed when the Windows RT 8.1 update will be available again through the store for Surface RT devices but are working towards making it available soon. Microsoft provided the following statement to The Verge:
Based on our investigations of a situation customers have encountered updating to Windows RT 8.1, we can confirm that as of now this is a Windows update issue only affecting Surface RT customers. While only less than 1 out of every 1,000 ( or less than 0.1%) Surface RT customers who have installed Windows RT 8.1 have been impacted, improving their experience and ensuring their systems are fully operable as quickly as possible is our number one priority. We have made recovery media available for download here along with actionable guidance for affected customers. We continue to work towards making the Windows RT 8.1 update available in the Windows Store again and apologize for any inconvenience. Further updates will be provided as they become available.
Source: The Verge