Microsoft pulls Windows RT 8.1 update over crash reports

Microsoft recently rolled out the Windows 8.1 update across Windows devices, but the company has been forced to roll back the Windows RT 8.1 update for Surface tablets. This was due to the 'Blue screen of death' crashes on Surface tablets after the update.

Microsoft has pulled the update from the Windows Store. It wrote an apology for the same, saying,

"Microsoft is investigating a situation affecting a limited number of users updating their Windows RT devices to Windows RT 8.1. As a result, we have temporarily removed the Windows RT 8.1 update from the Windows Store. We are working to resolve the situation as quickly as possible and apologize for any inconvenience. We will provide updates as they become available." 

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Microsoft Surface Tablet is seen in this file photo. AP

According the PC World, some users who had completed the Windows RT update saw Windows' "Blue Screen of Death" (BSOD) display with an error message "Your PC needs to be repaired. The Boot Configuration Data file is missing some required information." This essentially 'bricked' the device meaning most users can't operate it any more. Some users have posted detailed instructions on how to go about fixing the Surface. You can check out one such blog here.

If you're aren't so tech-savy, then you'll probably have to wait till Microsoft releases a fix for the Surface RT. Windows RT is a version of Windows 8 that is designed for mobile devices based which use the ARM architecture for processing.

As far as the Surface RT tablet is concerned, Microsoft pegged losses from the device to $900 million in the last July quarter of 2013. Clearly for Microsoft, Surface RT has been no iPad competitor.