If you’re a proud owner of a Lenovo laptop, you probably want to install Windows 10 or 11 on it. You’ll be happy to know that this is a simple process anyone can do – we’ve created a step-by-step guide to help you do this quickly. If your current OS malfunctions, you must boot from USB to reinstall Windows.

A USB boot is a technique used for installing a Windows operating system on a computer or laptop. Instead of using a drive or a disc, you can boot from a USB because it’s convenient and quick.

Here’s what you need to know to boot Lenovo from USB.

In this article
    1. Create a bootable USB (Using the Media Creation Tool)
    2. Boot Lenovo With USB via BIOS
    1. Lenovo Service Engine is on
    2. Check Settings When Creating Bootable Media

Preparations for Booting Lenovo With USB on Windows 10 & 11

  • ⏰Time required: 5-10 minutes
  • 💻OS installed: Windows 10/11
  • 🔧Required tools: USB drive, Lenovo desktop or laptop
  • ⭐Required software: Windows 10/11 ISO installation, Microsoft Media Creation Tool

Before you can boot your Lenovo device from a USB, download a Windows ISO file, Microsoft Media Creation Tool, and prepare a USB drive with at least 16GB of storage formatted to the FAT32 file system. The process is entirely free, and it doesn’t require a lot of time. Anyone with basic computer skills can successfully boot Lenovo from USB.

Steps to Boot Lenovo From USB on Windows 10 & 11

Before starting:

Create a bootable USB (Using the Media Creation Tool)

  1. Open Media Creation Tool.
  2. Select Create installation media and click Next.
    selecting create installation media
  3. Adjust Language, Edition, and Architecture (select Windows 10 editor for Windows 10 ISO and Windows 11 edition for Windows 11 ISO). If you’re unsure about the settings, check Use the recommended options for this PC and click Next.
    setting up bootable usb
  4. Select the USB flash drive option, click Next, and click Finish to complete the process.
    creating bootable usb lenovo

Boot Lenovo With USB via BIOS

After creating a bootable USB, you must first change the boot order. The first step is to disable Secure Boot:

  1. Restart your device and repeatedly press F1 or F2 (depending on the device) to enter BIOS.
    entering bios on lenovo
  2. Navigate to Security and then Secure Boot.
    accessing secure boot option lenovo
  3. Go to Secure Boot and press enter to disable. (If Secure Boot is already disabled, skip this step).
    disabling secure boot lenovo
  4. Exit BIOS & save changes.

Then you can boot Lenovo from USB:

  1. Restart your device and repeatedly press F12 to enter the Boot Menu.
    accessing boot menu on lenovo
  2. Use the arrow keys to navigate to your bootable USB and press enter to select.
    selecting boot drive on leonovo

Troubleshooting: Can't Boot Lenovo From Windows 10 & 11 USB Drive?

There are two main reasons why Lenovo should avoid booting Windows installation from USB. Here’s how you can deal with them:

Lenovo Service Engine is on

  1. Press F1 or F2 while booting to enter BIOS.
  2. Go to the Security tab and disable the Lenovo Service Engine option by pressing enter.
    disabling lenovo service engine
  3. Save and exit BIOS.

Check Settings When Creating Bootable Media

Users usually incorrectly create bootable media, and this creates issues later. First, check if the USB drive is in proper format (FAT32 or exFAT), see if you have enough space, and ensure the drive is not corrupted. Ensure you’ve selected the right language, OS edition, and architecture.

How to Recover Your Vital Files From Unbootable Lenovo on Windows 10 & 11?

If your Lenovo computer has crashed and you cannot create a bootable USB or boot from USB using BIOS, you can use Wondershare Recoverit to create a bootable drive on another computer.

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Before doing anything, connect a blank USB to a working device and launch Wondershare Recoverit.

  1. Select System Crashed Computer on the left and click Start.
    recoverit system crashed computer option
  2. Select your blank USB drive in the next window and click Start.
    selecting a boot usb in recoverit
  3. Click Format in the next window and wait until the process is complete.
    formatting usb boot drive in recoverit
  4. Connect the bootable USB to the crashed device, turn it on, and repeatedly press F12 to enter the Boot Menu.
  5. Use the arrow keys to navigate to your bootable USB, press enter to select, and restart the device.
  6. In the next window, select Data Recovery (make sure you have a working hard drive connected to the computer).
    using data recover in recoverit
  7. When scanning is complete, select the hard drive to recover data and click Recover.

Use this video guide to follow the steps carefully:

Conclusion

Lenovo computers and laptops are great and make our lives convenient and easier, but if you want to reinstall your OS or cannot boot your laptop normally, you should use the tips we mentioned today.

Boot your Lenovo from a USB to reinstall your windows, or use Wondershare Recoverit if your device has crashed and doesn’t work. Furthermore, you can also use it to salvage your data from your malfunctioning hard drive. Follow these steps closely, and we guarantee 100% success!

Free Download
Free Download

FAQ

  • What is the BIOS key for Lenovo laptops/computers?
    It all depends on the device model. In most cases, you must press F1 or F2 to enter BIOS. Make sure to press the button several times repeatedly to access the BIOS. If you have Novo on your device, you can also use it to enter BIOS. Devices that have a Boot Menu can be accessed using F12.
  • Can you boot a Lenovo laptop from BIOS?
    Yes, of course. You can boot Lenovo from Bios, but you must create a bootable USB before you do that and change the boot priority. Once you’ve done that, restart your device, and it will boot automatically from your USB.
  • What is BIOS on Lenovo?
    BIOS is short for Basic Input Output System, and this small code is located on your board chip. When you start your device, this is the first software to turn on and identify hardware, configure its parameters, test all systems, and connect the operating system to the hardware.
Selena Lee
Selena Lee Dec 06, 24
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