NVMe drive not booting

[BiggDogg90]

I have a Leveno P52 Thinkpad.
Wanted to add a NVMe m.2 1tb to it.
Using a usb to load a copy of win 10 to it.
It is in the boot directory and went through the usb to install. Gets the info from the usb then starts pre install feature.

Starts to load then defaults to the select boot drive menu each time.

I am thinking it might be a bios setting.

I am getting a new media installer mounted on my usb flash drive today and try that.

The laptop is recognizing the ssd m.s NVMe in either slot.

I tried to clone my Hdd from western digital that can in the machine but the software sad is was incompatible sector size. Would not let me do it with the free software.

So any help would be great.

 

[agent_x007]

If you copied MBR installation onto GPT formated NVMe - in won't work.
NVMe booting requires selecting Wndows Boot Manager in BIOS/UEFI for booting to work (usual setup).
Also, laptop may prevent you from booting out of NVMe drive, when CSM/Legacy boot hard drive option is enabled.

 

[BiggDogg90]

Here is some extra info.

If you copied MBR installation onto GPT formated NVMe - in won't work.
NVMe booting requires selecting Wndows Boot Manager in BIOS/UEFI for booting to work (usual setup).
Also, laptop may prevent you from booting out of NVMe drive, when CSM/Legacy boot hard drive option is enabled.

So my boot order should be
Win boot
NVMe 1 or 0
USB fdd or hdd

 

[agent_x007]

Did you created pendrive with installation using "Media Creaton Tool" ?
Alternatively, have you tried creating new installation pendrive, with Rufus and picked GPT/UEFI setting ?
This error can also show itself if you are booting windows installation in MBR/Legacy mode instead of (U)EFI, and still try to use NVMe/GPT formatted hard drive as system drive.

Legacy vs GPT should be selectable under "F8"/"F10"/"F12" key (usually), from boot selection table.
Unless your laptop doesn't support it (or it's limited to only one option because of CSM mode/Legacy only set in BIOS)

Actual boot order doesn't matter if above isn't set properly first.

 

[GertFX]

You have fallen into the UEFI + GPT vs Legacy UEFI/BIOS + MBR rabbit hole

 

[BiggDogg90]

I am trying to set up my NVMe drive for my Leveno P52 Thinkpad.

I need help to setup the BIOS.

It seems to see the drive and all the test work but will not boot to install Win 10 to it from a USB flash install.

The USB info goes on the ssd m.2 but when it goes to load from the boot directory it keep circling but to the boot selection screen.

I know it should be easier than this.

Maybe my drive is not compatible?

Help for the noob from the 486 gen x builder.

Did you created pendrive with installation using "Media Creaton Tool" ?
Alternatively, have you tried creating new installation pendrive, with Rufus and picked GPT/UEFI setting ?
This error can also show itself if you are booting windows installation in MBR/Legacy mode instead of (U)EFI, and still try to use NVMe/GPT formatted hard drive as system drive.

Legacy vs GPT should be selectable under "F8" (usually) key, from boot selection table.
Unless your laptop doesn't support it (or it's limited to only one option because of CSM mode/Legacy only set in BIOS)

Actual boot order doesn't matter if above isn't set properly first.

Thx I will look into that bios setup.

I can interact with my drive it just will not boot. Plus I think I burned out my sata cable during my attempts to move the Hdd.

The priceless and effup

You have fallen into the UEFI + GPT vs Legacy UEFI/BIOS + MBR rabbit hole

Alice you in there. My bigg ass will not fit so good luck lady!

 

[thewan]

Can you be more specific on where are you stuck? Can you boot from your USB flash drive? Can you see the SSD in the Windows Installer? Did you remove the USB flash drive after it asks to restart?

 

[BiggDogg90]

Install with usb check.

NVMe then has trouble booting to complete install.

It cycles back to the boot selection menu each time.

 

[MajorMintz]

Following up.​

Surprisingly I came across this while working on this machine when it came in for service.

Resolution:​

Got Ubuntu to run on the NVME. Brought up suspicion that 2H22 is the problem since I've seen Sysadmin drama over it.​

Did some testing through the Linux distro and found that 2H22 had CPU Microcode requirements resolving around https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2023-28005​

BIOS update README provided some insight into the recent fixes, including Windows 11 Support https://download.lenovo.com/pccbbs/mobiles/n2cur39w.txt
Could not get Lenovo's bootable BIOS Update or recovery image to take hold, so moved onto doing it the hard way:​

Booted into Hirens and copied over "BIOS Update (Utility & Bootable CD) for Windows 11, 10 (64-bit) - ThinkPad P52, P72" and gave it a go.
(You can click through the errors with it trying to run from Hirens "X:\" partition)
Cleared TMP 2.0 prior to install via the BIOS to reduce conflict.​

Ran a Win10 2H22 Media Creation USB and it completed successfully.​

Notes:​

BIOS should detect the GPT/MBR issue when enabling "OS Optimized Defaults"
AHCI mode must be enabled, RST seems to fight during the imaging process.
Grabbing a Media Creation USB from prior to 2021 (Wayback Machine) imaged Windows just fine before the BIOS update.
Board-embedded Windows 10 Pro license on machine also stayed around, activation was not a problem.
Machine model was "P52 / 20M9"​

Conclusion:​

Fantastic machine, fuck Windows 11 (from a Sysadmin point of view), wish Lenovo actually made their bootable media "bootable".​

​

Proof of Service:​

(See OP NVME Serial Number)