UEFI boot help needed
09-02-2015, 08:47 PM
#1
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UEFI boot help needed
Anyone here have some insight into UEFI boots? I have a 2 year old Lenovo Thinkcenter M92p desktop that I was attempting to upgrade to Win10 and then do a HD reformat and clean reinstall...and it hasn't gone well.
I spare the full description of my various attempts to make this work, but here's where we stand.
Upgraded to Win10. Created Win10 installation media (both USB and DVD). Attempted to reboot to install media, would get black screen on reboot. Removing install media and rebooting would go back to Windows.
At this point I've progressively eliminated possible conflicts and now, with no videocard, no USB devices other than keyboard and mouse (which are plugged into the 2 USB 2.0 ports), it won't boot past the Lenovo splash screen. I've tried it with the HD unplugged just to see if I could get the UEFI menu to come up, and still just the Lenovo splash screen and nothing else.
Thoughts? At this point I am thinking the motherboard must be done...at the very least, a working motherboard should be able to get me to the UEFI menu when I boot up even if there are no valid boot devices. But then I'm much more comfortable with legacy BIOS settings than the UEFI stuff so I'm not 100% confident I've ruled out all other possibilities.
I spare the full description of my various attempts to make this work, but here's where we stand.
Upgraded to Win10. Created Win10 installation media (both USB and DVD). Attempted to reboot to install media, would get black screen on reboot. Removing install media and rebooting would go back to Windows.
At this point I've progressively eliminated possible conflicts and now, with no videocard, no USB devices other than keyboard and mouse (which are plugged into the 2 USB 2.0 ports), it won't boot past the Lenovo splash screen. I've tried it with the HD unplugged just to see if I could get the UEFI menu to come up, and still just the Lenovo splash screen and nothing else.
Thoughts? At this point I am thinking the motherboard must be done...at the very least, a working motherboard should be able to get me to the UEFI menu when I boot up even if there are no valid boot devices. But then I'm much more comfortable with legacy BIOS settings than the UEFI stuff so I'm not 100% confident I've ruled out all other possibilities.
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09-02-2015, 09:24 PM
#2
Not sure on the board, too lazy to look it up (at the bar 
)
Imo, does the mb docs talk ab using the new bios at all?
Whats wrong with using the old school bios? Seems like it would be the better choice if on laptop unless its ment for gaming.
I wouldn't try to use the new if it worked already with the old
)Imo, does the mb docs talk ab using the new bios at all?
Whats wrong with using the old school bios? Seems like it would be the better choice if on laptop unless its ment for gaming.
I wouldn't try to use the new if it worked already with the old
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09-03-2015, 01:27 PM
#6
<p>Does this help? UEFI Firmware Settings - Boot to from inside Windows 10 - Windows 10 Forums</p><p>It's basically how I needed to force the machine to reboot into UEFI. IIRC, same steps apply to 8.1</p>
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09-03-2015, 06:31 PM
#7
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Guys...it won't boot past the Lenovo splash screen. I can't update mobo or chipset drivers, I can't select advanced boot options in Windows.
No video card, no USB other than keyboard (in a USB2.0 port), no other cards or peripherals. I've tried with each memory stick individually. I've tried it with the HD plugged in and the HD unplugged. I cleared the CMOS, same result.
So...at this point, I'm not sure what it could be other than the motherboard or the power supply. If I've reset the CMOS, and powering it on with no boot device, I ought to be able to get to the UEFI menu, no? Why is it stuck on the splash screen?
No video card, no USB other than keyboard (in a USB2.0 port), no other cards or peripherals. I've tried with each memory stick individually. I've tried it with the HD plugged in and the HD unplugged. I cleared the CMOS, same result.
So...at this point, I'm not sure what it could be other than the motherboard or the power supply. If I've reset the CMOS, and powering it on with no boot device, I ought to be able to get to the UEFI menu, no? Why is it stuck on the splash screen?
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09-03-2015, 06:45 PM
#8
Your computer is actually doing lots of things while you see that splash logo. I like to set my settings to display post data, so I can see what's up. You can't do that now, unfortunately.
It it trying to initialize sata devices, plus lots of other things. If one of those things hangs the boot process stops. If you have removed everything other than the monitor, cleared the cmos, and it still won't get past POST I'm afraid it's toast. Try to remove all the ram except one stick too, shuffle them so you can make sure one isnt' bad.
In the day motherboards had speakers to talk post problems out to you, you might have the header for it with no speaker. If you find a speaker and plug it in it may talk to you.
http://www.computerhope.com/beep.htm
It it trying to initialize sata devices, plus lots of other things. If one of those things hangs the boot process stops. If you have removed everything other than the monitor, cleared the cmos, and it still won't get past POST I'm afraid it's toast. Try to remove all the ram except one stick too, shuffle them so you can make sure one isnt' bad.
In the day motherboards had speakers to talk post problems out to you, you might have the header for it with no speaker. If you find a speaker and plug it in it may talk to you.
http://www.computerhope.com/beep.htm
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09-03-2015, 06:59 PM
#9
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Might be back in business. Apparently removing the CMOS battery doesn't clear it, you have to do switch the CMOS jumper. Got the UEFI menu, going to see if it'll boot from the Win10 DVD now.
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09-03-2015, 07:09 PM
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Or maybe not. Now if I reset the CMOS, I can get into the UEFI menu. I changed it to legacy boot with an F2 boot order key and F10 UEFI menu...but it still won't boot past the Lenovo splash screen.
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09-04-2015, 11:24 AM
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Tonight I'm going to double check my Win10 install media DVD and USB to make sure they are really bootable. If they test out okay, and I can't get the Lenovo desktop to boot from them...*shrug*
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09-04-2015, 04:32 PM
#19
Burn iso to disc would be the first one I'd try.
Flash BIOS update - ThinkCentre Edge 92, ThinkCentre M82, M92 and M92p, ThinkStation E31 - Lenovo Support (US)
Edit*
Looks like these were just recently updated (8/14/2015)
The readme - https://download.lenovo.com/pccbbs/t.../9sjy90usa.txt
Flash BIOS update - ThinkCentre Edge 92, ThinkCentre M82, M92 and M92p, ThinkStation E31 - Lenovo Support (US)
Edit*
Looks like these were just recently updated (8/14/2015)
The readme - https://download.lenovo.com/pccbbs/t.../9sjy90usa.txt
Last edited by Girz0r; 09-04-2015 at 04:54 PM.
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09-05-2015, 03:31 PM
#20
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Okay, over the last couple hours:
1. Confirmed that both my Win10 USB Install drive and Win10 DVD install ISO work perfectly on my work laptop. Both boot to the installer exactly as expected. Retested both on the desktop, still nothing.
2. Poked through the BIOS menu, there's no flash update option there -- the only way to do it is either from the OS (obviously out of the question) or with a boot disk of some type.
3. Created both USB key and CD flash BIOS update disks. Both failed. The CD did get me ever so slightly farther than before -- I can hear the DVD drive spin up, then the screen changes to completely black with a blinking cursor in the top left. But that's it -- it sits on that screen, then the DVD drive spins back down, and nothing else happens.
I have a spare power supply but Lenovo uses a stupid proprietary 14 pin connector for the motherboard. I've ordered a 24 pin to 14 pin adapter so that I can try out the other power supply. If that fails to fix it...
1. Confirmed that both my Win10 USB Install drive and Win10 DVD install ISO work perfectly on my work laptop. Both boot to the installer exactly as expected. Retested both on the desktop, still nothing.
2. Poked through the BIOS menu, there's no flash update option there -- the only way to do it is either from the OS (obviously out of the question) or with a boot disk of some type.
3. Created both USB key and CD flash BIOS update disks. Both failed. The CD did get me ever so slightly farther than before -- I can hear the DVD drive spin up, then the screen changes to completely black with a blinking cursor in the top left. But that's it -- it sits on that screen, then the DVD drive spins back down, and nothing else happens.
I have a spare power supply but Lenovo uses a stupid proprietary 14 pin connector for the motherboard. I've ordered a 24 pin to 14 pin adapter so that I can try out the other power supply. If that fails to fix it...
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