Lenovo Thinkbook issues installing Linux

[gbWilly]

Hi All,

A friend of mine recently bought a Linovo Thinkbook and asked me if I could install it with linux.
Once in the BIOS I noticed there was only UEFI boot, no legacy boot.

I enabled the option to boot from USB, but the USB doesn't show in the boot menu as an option to boot from.
After some online research I figured out that I have to disable secure boot and that should make booting from the linux iso on USB possible.

But still no boot from USB nor it showing up in boot menu.
I made another bootable USB with a new linux iso, but that didn't change a thing.

Both USB do boot on my laptop and PC, who do have legacy boot options, but not on the Lenovo.
So, the USB images seem to be ok.

I've been struggling with this on and off for the past 2 weeks, doing a lot of research but nothing seems to work.

Anyone got a suggestion?
If you need more info I will gladly supply.

[BruceSteers]

have you tried making a UEFI usb disk?
I always use Rufus to make a UEFI boot disk

https://sourceforge.net/projects/rufus.mirror/

[gbWilly]

It seems to be a Windows application.
I'm not running any Windows, just Linux.

Except of course for the Lenovo, that runs Windows.
I'll give it a try, see what happens.
I guess it is a matter of pointing the linux iso to the proper usb and make sure UEFI boot is possible.

Thanks.

[BruceSteers]

It formats usb drives differently for uefi mode and could work the magic you need.

There is a Linux download and a git repo but I couldn't compile it.

It should work on the windows laptop.
You just set uefi mode and give the iso path.

Or find some instructions for compiling for Linux. Probably just need dependencies.

[BruceSteers]

it works with wine

[BruceSteers]

it works with wine

Scrub that. I found it runs but cannot see drives

[BruceSteers]

Are we there yet ?

[cogier]

Etcher can create an ISO, and it is available for Linux, if that helps.

[thatbruce]

Well I am sitting in front of one of those Lenovo Thinkbooks right now. Its a few months old and I recall that I had to perform some incantations before it would shut up and install linux from a USB.

The usual, tongue in left side of mouth, naked on a hilltop in Tipperary at midnight on a full moon, etc

Seriously IIRC. You have to both disable secure boot, enable USB boot and format the total, entire and complete hard drive (if and when you get that far).
Other clues, possibly destroy the MBS somehow. I don't think I had to go that far though.
I wish I could help but I really cant remember. After whatever it was I did, it just worked. Still does.
Ah, one thing I do recall is that the USB image was made just using ddcopy (or whatever).

Well I hope that helps

b

[thatbruce]

Just remembered! Yes I did have to rewrite the MBS afterwards. Otherwise it still tried to load W!

You'd need a utility in the base install on the USB that would let you do that. (Cant remember)

BUT

THERE IS A WAY!