Microsoft rolls back Surface Pro 2 update after battery and crash issues

Microsoft released a firmware update 10 December for its Surface Pro 2 tablet. Users were reportedly experiencing technical issues when trying to install the update such as reduced battery life while error code 80070490 became more widespread. Microsoft now announced that it has decided to pullback on the update.

While technical software issues could easily be exaggerated, some people supposedly experienced a reduced battery life and system crashes. “Firmware failed for me. I have been suffering from Event ID 41(system crashes) during waking or sleeping on occasion,” writes davidb1234 in the Microsoft Community forum.

All these issues were apparently addressed based on consumer feedback. Microsoft later explained that it will be releasing a new update after the festive season instead:

“To ensure the best experience for our customers during the holiday season, we have taken steps to remove the update for Surface Pro 2 that was previously published through Windows Update on December 10th, 2013. We are working to release an alternative update package after the holidays.”

After complaints of poor battery performance, last month, Microsoft released a firmware update for the Surface pro 2 which increased the battery life by a maximum of 25%. The update was meant to give Surface Pro 2 users a smoother experience going into the new year and was designed to improve Surface Cover interaction as well as the power-saving sleep functionality.

Other software tweaks and fixes include increased stability when minimizing heavy-duty applications such as games, a new WiFi driver, optimized two-finger trackpad and better color fidelity for applications.

While many users reported issues with the update, Microsoft said that it was installing correctly and that the error message which appeared after the installation process isn’t an indicator that the update has failed.