If your Lenovo ThinkStation still does not boot from a USB drive after following the standard steps, here are some additional troubleshooting tips:
Check USB Drive Format and Creation
- Ensure the USB drive is formatted to FAT32 for compatibility with UEFI systems[4]- Reformat the USB drive and recreate the bootable media using the Microsoft Media Creation Tool or Rufus with the UEFI option[2][4]
Disable Lenovo Service Engine
- Enter BIOS by pressing F1 or F2 during boot- Go to the Security tab and disable the Lenovo Service Engine option[4]
- Save changes and exit BIOS
Try Legacy Boot Mode
- If UEFI boot is not working, try changing to Legacy boot mode in BIOS[2]- Go to the Startup tab and set the Boot Mode to Legacy
- Save changes and exit BIOS
- Restart and boot from USB again
Remove CMOS Battery
- Power down the ThinkStation and disconnect from power- Remove the CMOS battery for 1 minute to reset BIOS settings[1]
- Replace the battery and power on
- Enter BIOS and reconfigure boot order and other settings
Create Bootable USB on Another PC
- If the USB creation is still problematic, use Wondershare Recoverit to create a bootable USB on a working computer[4]- Connect the blank USB, launch Recoverit, and follow the steps to format and create the bootable media
- Boot the ThinkStation from this USB
If none of these steps resolve the issue, there may be a deeper BIOS or hardware problem preventing USB boot. Consult Lenovo support or a professional for further assistance.
Citations:[1] https://forums.tomshardware.com/threads/unable-to-boot-from-usb-lenovo-thinkstation-p510.3758095/
[2] https://www.reddit.com/r/Lenovo/comments/wwkstm/new_laptop_cannot_boot_to_usb_it_always_jumps/
[3] https://support.lenovo.com/us/en/solutions/ht500207-how-to-boot-from-usb-disk-in-the-bios-boot-menu-windows-8-windows-10-ideapadlenovo-laptops
[4] https://recoverit.wondershare.com/usb-tips/lenovo-boot-from-usb.html
[5] https://www.ifixit.com/Answers/View/371856/Can%27t%2Bboot%2Bfrom%2Busb%2Bflash%2Bdrive