Author Topic: ThinkPad T14 Gen 1 (AMD) can't get ArcaOS boot stick to boot  (Read 389 times)

Andi B.

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ThinkPad T14 Gen 1 (AMD) can't get ArcaOS boot stick to boot
« on: January 04, 2026, 06:18:53 pm »
I rarely use notebooks so forgive my ignorance with this sort of computers.

Today I was curious if I can install ArcaOS 5.1 on a T14 beside the preinstalled W10 and Linux Debian. But I fail on boot from the stick. With <Enter> or <F12> I get into the BIOS boot menu. Here I see my SanDisk stick. But selecting it does not much more than switching the screen to black for a second or so and return to the menu. I tried USB connectors on left and right and even USB-C with an adapter. The same stick worked on different desktop systems before.

My T14 is configured in UEFI mode and usually grub came up which let me select Debian or Windoze. Hints?

Martin Iturbide

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Re: ThinkPad T14 Gen 1 (AMD) can't get ArcaOS boot stick to boot
« Reply #1 on: January 04, 2026, 06:44:15 pm »
Hello

I have the "Lenovo ThinkPad T14s 1st Gen - 20T1" (Intel). My notes are on the wiki.

Can you check the "Secure Boot" on the BIOS? disable it and try again to boot with F12 and select to boot the USB Flash drive.

Are you trying 5.1.1 ?
I would also test, just in case, that the USB flash boot on a different machine, to test it is fine.

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Martin Iturbide
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Dave Yeo

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Re: ThinkPad T14 Gen 1 (AMD) can't get ArcaOS boot stick to boot
« Reply #2 on: January 04, 2026, 11:39:50 pm »
Always worth trying a different stick. I've had a few fail here when beta testing, weirdest was one that just stopped booting even though it seemed fine and works to transfer files.

Andi B.

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Re: ThinkPad T14 Gen 1 (AMD) can't get ArcaOS boot stick to boot
« Reply #3 on: January 05, 2026, 02:35:36 pm »
First problem was 'Secure boot'. Found it in BIOS and switched it off. Thanks Martin.

Now it boots until the ArcaOS logo...

I've two sticks. One ArcaOS5.1 the other one ArcaOS5.1DE. ArcaOS5.1DE boots into the installer. But does not find a disk and so no partitions. Now try to shrink the Linux partition from Linux boot stick and see if I get further.
« Last Edit: January 05, 2026, 04:21:00 pm by Andi B. »

Martin Iturbide

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Re: ThinkPad T14 Gen 1 (AMD) can't get ArcaOS boot stick to boot
« Reply #4 on: January 05, 2026, 04:21:10 pm »
Hi

First problem was 'Secure boot'. Found it in BIOS and switched it off. Thanks Martin.

Now it boots until the ArcaOS logo...
That's some progress.

Can you disable Hyperthreading to see if you have any difference?
Also, when the OS/2 square shows up can you press "Alt+F2" to see if it list you on which driver is getting stuck?

Regards
« Last Edit: January 05, 2026, 04:25:48 pm by Martin Iturbide »
Martin Iturbide
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Martin Iturbide

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Re: ThinkPad T14 Gen 1 (AMD) can't get ArcaOS boot stick to boot
« Reply #5 on: January 05, 2026, 04:31:56 pm »
Hi
I've two sticks. One ArcaOS5.1 the other one ArcaOS5.1DE. ArcaOS5.1DE boots into the installer. But does not find a disk and so no partitions. Now try to shrink the Linux partition from Linux boot stick and see if I get further.
Do you think it may be that the nvme driver is not loaded? I'm guessing that this machine has a NVME HDD. Can you check on the ArcaOS USB boot to change the values and check if nvme.add is enabled?

Regards
Martin Iturbide
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Andi B.

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Re: ThinkPad T14 Gen 1 (AMD) can't get ArcaOS boot stick to boot
« Reply #6 on: January 05, 2026, 07:16:19 pm »
Hi
I've two sticks. One ArcaOS5.1 the other one ArcaOS5.1DE. ArcaOS5.1DE boots into the installer. But does not find a disk and so no partitions. Now try to shrink the Linux partition from Linux boot stick and see if I get further.
Do you think it may be that the nvme driver is not loaded? I'm guessing that this machine has a NVME HDD. Can you check on the ArcaOS USB boot to change the values and check if nvme.add is enabled?

Regards
Now I started the installer with own values instead default and checked config.sys. NVME driver is there and GPT also. But NVME disk is not recognized. Maybe cause it was partitioned with Win originally? I installed Debian/Linux afterwards. But ArcaOS don't even see this disk (Mini-LVM).

I attach the testlog in case anyone is interested.

Martin Iturbide

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Re: ThinkPad T14 Gen 1 (AMD) can't get ArcaOS boot stick to boot
« Reply #7 on: January 06, 2026, 03:24:17 am »
Hello Andi B.

I have nvme experience here with two machines. Both had the GPT partitions made by Win10 and it got recognized.

I haven't seen any reports on the:
 Vendor 1C5Ch SK hynix
 Device 174Ah Gold P31/BC711/PC711 NVMe Solid State Drive

Maybe, if you have an alternative nvme HDD, you can try to replace it and see if ArcaOS recognize, but I know it is kind of a nag and maybe it is not the problem. 

I think you had made enough testing to open a ticket on the Arca Noae ticket system. I don't know if someone else have another idea of what else to test.

Regards
Martin Iturbide
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Andi B.

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Re: ThinkPad T14 Gen 1 (AMD) can't get ArcaOS boot stick to boot
« Reply #8 on: January 06, 2026, 11:49:56 am »
I thought about buying a second M2 SSD and put it into this machine. As far as I read this should work and I've planned to do that anyway. But quick search turned out the prices are now nearly double at they where a month ago. So have to wait until they drop down again.

Btw. I have a desktop system with two NVMes inside. Running here as my main machine. Didn't have a problem with them when trying ArcaOS installations.

Remy

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Re: ThinkPad T14 Gen 1 (AMD) can't get ArcaOS boot stick to boot
« Reply #9 on: January 06, 2026, 08:07:00 pm »
I thought about buying a second M2 SSD and put it into this machine. As far as I read this should work and I've planned to do that anyway. But quick search turned out the prices are now nearly double at they where a month ago. So have to wait until they drop down again.

Btw. I have a desktop system with two NVMes inside. Running here as my main machine. Didn't have a problem with them when trying ArcaOS installations.

Hi Andi!

Try here, works good and at lower price.
https://dogfishssd.com/collections/m-2-ssd

I bought a few once and all are very good and low power use.