Couldn't find a bootable operating system. Check the Boot configuration to try to fix this

I have a sufacebook two.

I had an issue that no matter what search engine I tried to use diverted to Yahoo.

research said we had malware and suggested some options to fix. One was to remove unrecongnizable apps - like the 3 downloaded solitare games we found. We also cleared our browsing history, removed extenstions from the browser ect.

Then we rebooted - I found that we had 3 operating systems to choose from although we only used to have one, we never added a 3rd - but when we picked one, it didn't seem to work so we tried to reboot and ended up now with none:

Couln't find a bootable operating system. Check the Boot confiration to try to fix this. Did what all the google searches said - and had all the boxes checked on the Boot configuration - and it never booted again.

So the only option we could see what to create a recovery usb and try that - so we did all of the following

Hi Michael_vx,

Thank you for posting in Microsoft Community.

I am aware of your desire in resetting your Surface using a USB recovery drive. I am here to help you with that.

A recovery drive image lets you reset your Surface to its factory settings and can help you troubleshoot and fix problems with your Surface device. This option will reimage the entire device and reload Windows including the drivers and firmware. It is the most complete form of Reset and it will wipe out everything on the device.

To reset the Surface device using a USB Recovery Drive. you need to use a 16GB/32GB of flash drive and must be formatted into FAT32 prior downloading the Recovery image. Don't use anything larger than a 32GB USB stick.

See steps below for guidance.

To download the Recovery Image: You'll another working device running on Windows.

1. Visit the page to Download the recovery image for your Surface
2. Sign in with your Microsoft Account
3. From the list of Surface devices available, select the device that you need a recovery image for
4. Please note that while you will only be presented with devices that are currently registered on your account, you will also be presented with the option to get an image for a different type of device. If you try to use this option, you will be prompted to enter the serial number for that device.
5. Download the recovery image using the button on the page
6. When the download bar pops up at the bottom of your screen, save the file in a location you will be able to find it.

Note: Formatting a recovery drive will erase anything that is already stored on your USB drive. Make sure to transfer any important data from your USB drive to another storage device before using it to create a Surface USB recovery drive.

 Format USB Drive:

1. Insert your USB drive into the USB port of your PC.
2. From the desktop, open File Explorer
3. Tap and hold or right-click on the USB drive and choose Format.
4. Select FAT32 as the file system and enter a Volume label to name the USB drive, such as RECOVERY, and then tap or click Start
5. Tap or click OK to erase the contents of the USB drive
6. Tap or click OK when the format is complete

Create a recovery drive:

1. On your PC, open recovery image that you downloaded by double-clicking it or right click then select Extract and then Extract all.
2. Select the USB drive you formatted earlier for the location and click Extract.

Use a USB recovery drive to reset your Surface:

1. Shutdown the Surface
2. Insert the USB recovery drive into the USB port
3. Press and hold the volume-down (-) rocker
4. Press and release the power button
5. When the Surface logo appeaHi Michael_vx, Thank you for posting in Microsoft Community. I am aware of your desire in resetting your Surface using a USB recovery drive. I am here to help you with that. A recovery drive image lets you reset your Surface to its factory settings and can help you troubleshoot and fix problems with your Surface device. This option will reimage the entire device and reload Windows including the drivers and firmware. It is the most complete form of Reset and it will wipe out everything on the device. To reset the Surface device using a USB Recovery Drive. you need to use a 16GB/32GB of flash drive and must be formatted into FAT32 prior downloading the Recovery image. Don't use anything larger than a 32GB USB stick. See steps below for guidance. To download the Recovery Image: You'll another working device running on Windows.
   1. Visit the page to Download the recovery image for your Surface
      1. Sign in with your Microsoft Account
         1. From the list of Surface devices available, select the device that you need a recovery image for
            1. Please note that while you will only be presented with devices that are currently registered on your account, you will also be presented with the option to get an image for a different type of device. If you try to use this option, you will be prompted to enter the serial number for that device.
               1. Download the recovery image using the button on the page
                  1. When the download bar pops up at the bottom of your screen, save the file in a location you will be able to find it.
   Note: Formatting a recovery drive will erase anything that is already stored on your USB drive. Make sure to transfer any important data from your USB drive to another storage device before using it to create a Surface USB recovery drive.  Format USB Drive:
   1. Insert your USB drive into the USB port of your PC.
      1. From the desktop, open File Explorer
         1. Tap and hold or right-click on the USB drive and choose Format.
            1. Select FAT32 as the file system and enter a Volume label to name the USB drive, such as RECOVERY, and then tap or click Start
               1. Tap or click OK to erase the contents of the USB drive
                  1. Tap or click OK when the format is complete
   Create a recovery drive:
   1. On your PC, open recovery image that you downloaded by double-clicking it or right click then select Extract and then Extract all.
      1. Select the USB drive you formatted earlier for the location and click Extract.
   Use a USB recovery drive to reset your Surface:
   1. Shutdown the Surface
   2. Insert the USB recovery drive into the USB port
   3. Press and hold the volume-down (-) rocker
   4. Press and release the power button
   5. When the Surface logo appeas release the volume-down (-) rocker
   6. Surface will start the recovery software on the USB recovery drive
   7. When prompted, choose your language options and keyboard layout.
   8. Select Troubleshoot
   9. Select Recover from a Drive. Choose Remove Everything and Fully Clean the Drive. Recovering this PC. --- But then after being about 92% done it is suddenly back in the trobule shoot screen and it appears it didn't work.
   Any other options?