Cannot re-install windows in lenovo ideapad flex 10

[Ngazek]

Friends I cannot install windows in this ideapad flex 10 because usb bootables are not detected, there is not cd drive with this laptop. In bios setup there is no legacy option, disabled secured boot, enabled usb boot but nothing happen. Please help

 

[samuria]

How have you created the USB the best way is to download the latest ISO free and at the end it gives an option to create a USB which I correct if you have just copied files it won't be bootable

 

[Ngazek]

Thank you samuria for your reply. I have created uefi bootable pendrive through cmd and also created with the help of rufus but failed. This flex 10 display No bootables found, hit any key.

 

[Bree]

See this video. It shows that a Lenovo Flex 10 has a one-time boot menu if you insert the usb then press and hold the FN key and keep tapping F12 at start up.

Lenovo Flex 10 windows installation through bootable pendrive | YouTube

 

[Ngazek]

Bree thank you once again, I have tried this with disk part bootable pendrive and rufus created usb bootable pendrive but give always no bootable device, hit any key. I have tried all bios setting to detect usb bootable pendrive but failed. please help

 

[Bree]

Odd, it should be possible to select Legacy boot in the bios, according to this thread....

I received the following reply from Lenovo UK Service Dept:
" I can advise that you will be able to change the OS from windows 8 if you would prefer a different operating system for the FLEX 10. This can done by changing the options in the BIOS from UEFI boot mode to Legacy. All our machine models can do this apart from any machines running Windows 8 RT operating system."

Lenovo IdeaPad 1xx, 3xx, 5xx & 7xx, Edge, LaVie Z, Flex Notebooks-Lenovo Community

And this video shows it being done.

Bios Lenovo Flex10 Legacy | YouTube

 

[Ngazek]

Bree this Lenovo flex 10 is a windows 8 pro running machine, its hard disk got damaged by falling this laptop. I tried the same settings shown by your video but still UEFI only appearing. May be SB chip problem? Built in sata hard disk port is detecting in bios but USB is not detecting and boot manager is empty.

 

[Ngazek]

Bree thank you again for helping me. If you got some information about this flex 10 bios firmware limitation please let me know.

 

[Bree]

If you got some information about this flex 10 bios firmware limitation please let me know.

No personal experience, only what I've been able to find in Google. It does sound like something more than just the hard disk got broken or dislodged in the fall.

This hardware maintenance manual may help: https://download.lenovo.com/consumer/mobiles_pub/ideapad_flex_10_hmm.pdf

 

[samuria]

Back to my first reply we have a lot of people who use Rufus to create USB and they won't boot let ms create it as it's solved most people's problems

 

[Ngazek]

Tank you for helping me

 

[Ngazek]

Back to my first reply we have a lot of people who use Rufus to create USB and they won't boot let ms create it as it's solved most people's problems

Okay let me try. You mean microsoft cmd disk part or microsoft usb bootable creator tool?

 

[Ngazek]

Samuria what do you mean by ms

 

[Bree]

If you go to https://www.microsoft.com/software-download/windows10 and click the 'Download tool now' button you will get the Media Creation Tool for Windows 10. Run it and select 'create install media for another PC'. Then choose to make a USB.


This USB is designed to boot on anything, whether it is Legacy or UEFI. You may not want to install W10, but it is a good way to make a bootable usb that you know should be able to boot. Test your PC with it. If you can't get that to boot then it means the problem is in the PC, not the usb.

 

[Snick]

Samuria what do you mean by ms

M$
ms
Microsoft
Rufus: How to Create Windows 10 Bootable USB Flash Drive ...
H0w to boot windows 7 to USB with rufus - YouTube
Windows 10 Media Creation Tool - YouTube

Always easier for newbies to watch a video on subject-matter, a time or to to familiarize with the process. The run the video to see the step, pause, do it on your computer, run video through next step, pause do it on your computer, pause. And of course you can go back and re-watch the step if you need to on any part of the process.

Over the years, I've found that is the most effective way to convey the process. Additionally, I try to create tools, either batch scripts, PowerShell scripts, or self-extracting zip executables, my preferred being WinRAR
Video how to create self-extracting RAR file

Snick

 

[Ngazek]

If you go to https://www.microsoft.com/software-download/windows10 and click the 'Download tool now' button you will get the Media Creation Tool for Windows 10. Run it and select 'create install media for another PC'. Then choose to make a USB.


This USB is designed to boot on anything, whether it is Legacy or UEFI. You may not want to install W10, but it is a good way to make a bootable usb that you know should be able to boot. Test your PC with it. If you can't get that to boot then it means the problem is in the PC, not the usb.

Bree okay, good idea to clear my confusion. Thank you

 

[Ngazek]

M$
ms
Microsoft
Rufus: How to Create Windows 10 Bootable USB Flash Drive ...
H0w to boot windows 7 to USB with rufus - YouTube
Windows 10 Media Creation Tool - YouTube

Always easier for newbies to watch a video on subject-matter, a time or to to familiarize with the process. The run the video to see the step, pause, do it on your computer, run video through next step, pause do it on your computer, pause. And of course you can go back and re-watch the step if you need to on any part of the process.

Over the years, I've found that is the most effective way to convey the process. Additionally, I try to create tools, either batch scripts, PowerShell scripts, or self-extracting zip executables, my preferred being WinRAR
Video how to create self-extracting RAR file

Snick

Thank you Snick for for details videos and guides. I will try all these

 

[Snick]

No problem Ngazek, that's why we are here to help others.
If you have issues we'll continue to help or it works for you please post again.

The windows 10 media creation tool, choose USB has ALWAYS worked for me, straight forward. Being an IT Tech, I've tried pretty much every program that would create a bootable DVD or USB. Over the years they have become much more user friendly.
We can't upload an ISO from Sevenforums or provid links thereto, against the rules. I use TeamViewer – Remote Support, Remote Access, Service ... quite often as long as the Original Poster (OP) agrees.

 

[rayfloyd170]

i received a lenovo ideapad flex10 with the same problem, when entering bios there is no legacy support but only UEFI. even if i disable the Secure boot option it will only show the harddrive and can not detect any USB.. now i am thinking this has a corrupted bios. This netbook came to me with soldered cmos batteries and some joints. other lenovo laptops i have checked can switch from legacy to UEFI and vice versa. This doesnt have that option and only in UEFI.

 

[Bree]

i received a lenovo ideapad flex10 with the same problem, when entering bios there is no legacy support but only UEFI. even if i disable the Secure boot option it will only show the harddrive and can not detect any USB.. now i am thinking this has a corrupted bios. This netbook came to me with soldered cmos batteries and some joints. other lenovo laptops i have checked can switch from legacy to UEFI and vice versa. This doesnt have that option and only in UEFI.

That, I'm afraid, is typical for laptops that are less than 2 years old. Legacy CSM support is no longer included in a UEFI class 3 bios.

The vast majority of PCs today feature UEFI class 2 and thus can expose either UEFI or BIOS interfaces, which can be selected in the BIOS configuration. There are systems that belong to UEFI class 3/3+ already (e.g., Microsoft Surface Book), but they are rare. In a bid to make capabilities like UEFI Secure Boot ubiquitous, Intel plans to remove CSM support from new client and server platforms by 2020. As a result, all new platforms from that point on will be strictly UEFI class 3.

Intel to Remove Legacy BIOS Support from UEFI by 2020

That is not as bad as it sounds, as you can still boot from a usb as long as it has UEFI boot files on it. All Microsoft install USBs made with their Media Creation Tool are capable of both UEFI and Legacy boot, for example.