How to boot from a USB Drive - ThinkPad

Steps and instructions for booting from a USB Drive - ThinkPad

Identify Your Device
To be sure this content applies to the device you need information on, please enter your serial number or select your product. or Browse Product

Steps and instructions for booting from a USB Drive - ThinkPad

Symptom

This is a general tutorial on how to boot from a USB drive.

Applicable Brands

ThinkPad

Solution

To boot your system from a USB drive, follow these steps:

  1. USB Device Connection:
    • Attach the USB device to the system via any available USB port.
    • Make sure the USB drive is properly inserted and has a stable connection.
  2. System Shutdown:
    • Close any open applications.
    • Press and hold the Power Button for a few seconds to turn off the system completely. 
  3. Initiating the Boot Menu:
    • Power on the system. As soon as the ThinkPad logo appears, press F12 immediately. This action will trigger the boot menu.
    • There should be a pop-up menu with a list of choices. Use the arrow key to carefully navigate through the options and select the USB drive. Once selected, press Enter to confirm your choice.
  4. Secure Boot: (optional)
    • For systems with secure boot enabled, you might need to disable secure boot in BIOS/UEFI settings.
    • If you need to disable secure boot to boot from a USB device, see this link: Disabling Secure Boot. Disabling secure boot may be necessary as it can sometimes prevent the system from recognizing and booting from external devices.
  5. Troubleshooting USB Recognition: (optional)
    • If the system does not recognize the USB drive, check if the drive is correctly formatted and bootable.
    • You can use disk management tools or third-party software to verify and correct any formatting issues. Additionally, ensure that the USB drive is compatible with your system and has the necessary drivers or software installed if required.

The process may vary slightly depending on the specific model of the ThinkPad. It is always advisable to refer to the user manual or online documentation specific to your device model for any additional or model-specific instructions.


Document ID:HT118361
Original Publish Date:04/28/2016
Last Modified Date:02/12/2025