Boot loop caused by mint installation

[sturdy creek]

yep I've seen this junk sometimes.

shut down the computer, take off the charging wire, and the main battery

leave them off for 5 minutes.

then try booting up with just the AC power cable.

if it still fails, then shut down again, and remove the HDD.

then try booting the live USB up and see if at least that works

if the usb gets to live desktop, then you can hot-connect the hard drive carefully/ no hard jolts/shakes.

and then investigate from there.

any progress?

yes to give it power

[sturdy creek]

ok press F2 a few times quickly when you see the manufacturer logo appear.

it should take you into the BIOS setup screen

alright. remove the drive

the internal one

you got the back cover off at least?

I presume you're talking about a small metal caddy holding a 2.5" SATA SSD

or are you talking about an m.2 SSD?

use a bigger-handled screwdriver.

have a look at some service manual or videos for your exact model of computer

make sure you're touching the right thing.

there's no SATA SSD?

what is the recess type of that screw?

• this kind? (Phillips)

or a more dastardly hex socket

get a drop of WD40 on it

n let it sink in

what kind of screwdriver you using?

those tiny precision ones that have no turning force becuz of such a slim handle?

if so, you'll probably need something better. like a stubby with changeable bits. (the quikpic 6 micro stubby comes to mind) with size 0 or size 1 phillips bit

that or a more expensive fee at repair shop

screwdriver's 5 bucks

https://www.amazon.com/Picquic-PIQ06102-1-Teeny-Turner-Screwdriver/dp/B001QVPHBO 8.50 online. cheaper in-store if u walk into a Home Depot or craft shop

well not much else going on .. u could try pulling the small BIOS battery off the motherboard for a few minutes. it's a coin shaped one, size of a quarter or so

ensure no other power is connected either when u do that

did u try the last thing I said?

seems the SSD got some weird screwed up boot modes/loaders and the system is confused. It's lenovo's fault for not letting you enter BIOS though.

oh and dont attempt to hotplug that type of drive.

if it was 2 n half inch SATA, sure u could

yep

few minutes

[brazen schooner]

depending on the age of your laptop i would replace the battery with a new one. note the type of it.
ADDED: it's a CR2032, very commonly used type.

how old is the laptop, what's its maker & model name?

then the battery should be in good shape.

i searched lenovos website for a solution i have in my mind, but no avail.
mainboard producer asus, msi, gigabyte, asrock a.s.o. provide bios image which one can put on a usb-memory stick and the mainboard can download it. but lenovo...

which windows version did you have before? was it running smoothly?

[sturdy creek]

did u do a clean install, having it wipe the drive and install?

[brazen schooner]

may be this video could help, it's for an ideapad 3 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GL_3oq7AP4g
BUT you need the serial number of your laptop, i hope it's printed somewhere on or inside.
then you can download the uefi bios image from lenovos website to a usb stick.

[sturdy creek]

ok

[brazen schooner]

before you try the uefibios thing: try with a (little?) chance to remove the internal drive. for the right screw driver, could you provide us a more focussed photo of the screw?

uefi/bios - in old ages it's called bios, now it's a new standard, called uefi.

[sturdy creek]

just open the screw. use proper tools

[brazen schooner]

screw drivers are not that expensive.

[sturdy creek]

or leave it til u do

[brazen schooner]

uefi is the software flashed into a chip of the motherboard. it initialize the hardware, bring up the uefi menu for the user, does the settings of options a.s.o.

[sturdy creek]

a.s.o.??

[brazen schooner]

and so on .. what is the correct term?

i cant think of a situation where a linux install breaks the uefi...

that could mean it awaits a usb-stick with a uefi image on it to download into mainboard flash memory.

i wrote that i didnt find one - i didnt wrote that no uefi image is there.

right, and before i forget: the serial number could be on the receipt, too.
gn!

[brazen schooner]

the video stick all the time, i'll try watching later.
you can download new uefi images without any serial number or any account - but only when windows is running...☹️ but there are dozens of ideapad 3 models... which one do you got exactly?
here an example: https://pcsupport.lenovo.com/us/en/products/laptops-and-netbooks/3-series/ideapad-3-14aba7/downloads/driver-list/component?name=BIOS%2FUEFI&id=5AC6A815-321D-440E-8833-B07A93E0428C
ADDED: here you wil start: https://support.lenovo.com/us/en/selectproduct?linkto=downloads&linkTrack=footer:Support_Downloads

no, bc windows has to run on the very mb on which the flash memory chip resides 😦
i never extracted a uefi image out of an exe file!

one way i know is to solder the chip out and put it in a flasher device - but that works only when you have a clean image, without any exe at it.

ADDED: i see, model 82SB0001US --- ADDED #2 full name IdeaPad Gaming 3 15ARH7 - Type 82SB - Model 82SB0001US so this is the right uefi image - wrapped in an exe file 😦
https://pcsupport.lenovo.com/us/en/products/laptops-and-netbooks/gaming-series/ideapad-gaming-3-15arh7/82sb/82sb0001us/downloads/driver-list/component?name=BIOS%2FUEFI&id=5AC6A815-321D-440E-8833-B07A93E0428C

in a perfect world, the uefi - okay, bios - flasher knows how to extract the image out of the exe file - but i don't think so!

lenovo has a forum, too...

[brazen schooner]

lenovo has very good repair manuals 😄 which picture does your model match?
A) page 33

B) ... or this one on page 34

ADDED: may be you have to simulate a system board replacement, and a new board has to get its bios flashed, right? may be the following could help you. i cite:

After replacing the system board and re-assembling the computer, use a pre-made Golden Key U1 tool to start the computer and flash-write the serial number (SN), machine type (MT), product name (PN), and UUID to the new system board. The Golden Key U1 tool is prepared by running the U1 Update software on a FAT32-formatted USB thumb drive. Go to http://support.lenovo.com/us/en/solutions/HT506954 for detailed instructions on how to create and use a Golden Key U1 tool.
the golden key writes to the uefi/bios flash chip. we are a step closer!

[brazen schooner]

apropos 'leave' - @high marsh left us alone! now it looks like i talk with myself 😦

[sturdy creek]

ha!

ABANDONED

[paper vale]

NO

[paper vale]

I in fact did NOT abandon this

I just got back from school and stuff and I was banned for no reason??

No warning or anything

This server doesn’t have a ban appeal system so here I am

[brazen schooner]

that's your new nick - formerly known as "Big Poo" 😎

[paper vale]

Former poo

[paper vale]

It matches this one

Well it hase both but I only have an ssd there

[brazen schooner]

ah, you're right, there are 2 slots on the same type of mainboard - lenovo calls them 2 models bc of diff. ssd in a diff. slot... anyway.
do you had luck tu unscrew your ssd?

[paper vale]

No it’s being a BITCH

And I think I completely stripped it now

[brazen schooner]

oh... yout stripped everything - but the ssd?

[paper vale]

No like the screw

I stripped it

Do you think I could cut it out or something

I’m running out of ideas

[brazen schooner]

wdym? the screw's slit is destroyed? it can't hold the screw driver?

[paper vale]

Yes the screw slit is destroy

[brazen schooner]

to remove the ssd is not that important, just a slim chance to nudge the laptop to do something different in the direction we need.

[paper vale]

Okay okay

So should I try to get the uefi onto a usb drive ?

Where should I take this feom here

[brazen schooner]

for the second time: you can download here:
https://pcsupport.lenovo.com/us/en/products/laptops-and-netbooks/gaming-series/ideapad-gaming-3-15arh7/82sb/82sb0001us/downloads/driver-list/component?name=BIOS%2FUEFI&id=5AC6A815-321D-440E-8833-B07A93E0428C
verify the checksums, that's very important! you get them by clicking 'view checksum' ... for example:
SHA256 (<-- is the crypto-standard, also important) 9b66163c357edf4d1a948e0dad85cfa3c3da67480ecc6021f19cd4ef422495e2
and download also the readme file.

[paper vale]

On Linux or windows do I do this

[brazen schooner]

it's an exe file, therefore: windows

[paper vale]

Okay

And then when I get the uefi usb do I just plug it into the computer and wait?

I have a theory that might be stupid but also maybe correct?

It’s trying to backup the bios on the system, which I think it can only do on a fat32 filesystem

[brazen schooner]

you can flash the exe on an empty usb memory stick, verify the checksum and plug it into the laptop and reboot the laptop. but the chances are slim here, too.

[paper vale]

But my Linux installation changed the filesystem and OS so it’s not working

So maybe if I get windows back on my ssd itll be able to do it?

[paper vale]

Shoooooooot

[brazen schooner]

you are right, the file system on the usb stick is important and fat32 should be the right one.

[paper vale]

Maybe if I get a windows iso drive itll put the bios backup onto the usb?

[brazen schooner]

the uefi/bios doesn't need the ssd, it understands fat32 by itself and can also read the bios/uefi images, install them and replace itself with them 🙂
but exe files are a different problem...

[paper vale]

Please dumb this down for me

https://forums.lenovo.com/t5/ThinkPad-T400-T500-and-newer-T-series-Laptops/How-to-update-BIOS-by-using-USB-memory-stick/m-p/5225903

I did find this forum post

[brazen schooner]

not bad... well, i'm not sure if it works, but you can try - the bios is already - but not totally - "bricked".
the Brave browser's AI gave me this answer, for the ...:

Lenovo mkusbkey.bat
The mkusbkey.bat file is a script used to create a bootable USB drive for updating the BIOS on Lenovo computers. To use it, you must first extract the BIOS update package, which should contain the mkusbkey.bat file.
Open a command prompt with administrative rights, navigate to the folder containing the extracted files, and run the command mkusbkey.bat followed by the drive letter of your USB drive (e.g., mkusbkey.bat D:).
This process writes the necessary BIOS update files onto the USB drive, which must be formatted with the FAT32 or FAT16 file system, as NTFS or exFAT are not supported by the update process.
After the script completes successfully, safely eject the USB drive.
The USB drive can then be inserted into the target Lenovo computer, which must be restarted and booted from the USB drive to initiate the BIOS update.
The mkusbkey.bat script is typically used when the BIOS update package is provided as a ZIP file, but some packages may only include an .exe file, which might not contain the mkusbkey.bat script, requiring alternative methods like using the install.bat file or other tools.

[paper vale]

Fuck

So I just need a new laptop huh

[brazen schooner]

not so quick, calm down. do you need it for school / college rn?

[paper vale]

Not nessacarily but it’s my main laptop I do everything on

And I’ve been getting into some game dev recently which I wanted to continue

Idk if I CAN get a new computer considering it’s up to my parents discretion

[brazen schooner]

okay... but i still wonder how a linux install can brick the bios? may be the usb memory stick failed? did you verify the checksums of usb install stick? with what software did you prepare the usb stick?

[brazen schooner]

Lenovo provides a "BIOS Simulator" 😄
https://download.lenovo.com/bsco/index.html#/

did you enable or disable it?

... and this one?

this is also important

[paper vale]

I don’t remember what I have enabled or disabled

I didn’t really go into my bios often

I might’ve disabled bios backflash but I doubt it

[brazen schooner]

just in case, i add the last (?) possible setup culprit:

sorry - i lied 😉

[paper vale]

What can I do with this if I cant acsess my bios

I’m confused

[brazen schooner]

maybe i (or we) need some hints from there in the future to solve the issue.

[paper vale]

Okay okay

Well I know that I did have to go into my usb and rename one of the files to get cinnamon to work

Folders sorry

[brazen schooner]

what? which folder? rename to what?

[sturdy creek]

just remove the SSD. then you'll be able to access the BIOS til you get the drive wiped n fixed.

[sturdy creek]

get this screwdriver or a knockoff with an equally fat handle for torque

if you brutally stripped the screw, you'll need a Dremel (or no-name knockoff) tool to finely grind a straight slot in the screw, to be able to use a slot driver to unscrew it and replace

[paper vale]

I did this

I did strip the shit out of the screw cus I’m dumb asf

[sturdy creek]

if using the Dremel tool, use masking tape and plastic to prevent ANY metal dust from landing on tiny other contact points on the motherboard and causing a short

basically a repair shop could probably do the removal for 20 bucks. and another 20 maybe to restore the SSD

still cheaper than any dental rates in any town ever.

[paper vale]

Really?

I thought this was a problem with my bios n stuff

[sturdy creek]

installing linux shouldn't have broken the UEFI

[paper vale]

True

[sturdy creek]

I've never once heard of that case

[paper vale]

Your right

What will removing the ssd do exactly because I’m curious

[sturdy creek]

I'm quite certain it's just got a bad install on it, and it's causing the whole system to stall , then restart

if not the install, then the SSD itself went bad during the course of writing about 10 GB to it during the install

and that , being hardware, is playing Gremlin to your motherboard since it's connected

[paper vale]

My friend said she could get me some superglue tomorrow to help with my screw

You think that would work

[sturdy creek]

hell NO. are u insane?

that will 100% lock it there forever

[paper vale]

No no no not like that

[sturdy creek]

get WD40 and a PROPER screwdriver like i said so many times

[paper vale]

Okay

[sturdy creek]

just the tiniest drop of wd40 trickled around the screw from a soaked toothpick or knifetip

[brazen schooner]

easy 🙂 let's sing a song "Kenny Loggins - Footloose" instead we reframe it as "Bootloop" 😅

[paper vale]

What if I where to put the tiniest amount of superglue atop of the screw and then held my screwdriver in place until it dried

Not getting it on anything in the computa ofc

[brazen schooner]

Adamant IT is a good one 🙂
"Extract a Driver or BIOS image from an exe" https://www.youtube.com/shorts/JeHFNpXoWU4
exactly that what we need.

[sturdy creek]

absolutely worthless and futile

get a PROPER screwdriver that fits. or grind a slot in the screw if need be with a Dremel, and use flat driver

or repair shop

[brazen schooner]

fyi Repair shop had to reflash BIOS chip after update: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oPvm4B4s2Cw

[paper vale]

HELLO EVERYONE

Stuff happened

So

Smartest man alive here acidentally broke his ssd (genius I know)

BUT it boots now

@sturdy creek you were right all along thank you you are very smart

I got a usb drive with ventoy on it with a Linux mint iso

And ran into the “self healing bios” stuff when it was plugged in

Now being able to finally get into my bios, I figured out that disabling the “self healing bios” feature is what stopped this madness

Bit of a problem ive found now is this new problem when I try and use a second ssd

It’s from my old laptop that has also been running Mint, it is a m.2 sata ssd that can take around 128gb of storage

For some reason it’s not being recognized by the computer at all no matter what I do

[paper vale]

The bios is actually completely fine and working!!!!

But now, at this point

It’s just logical I bring my ass to a repair shop to get that screw out and get a new ssd :p

This is the ssd I attempted to place into the other slot btw

[brazen schooner]

what a surprise - i need to wrap around my mind around it 😖
do you want to place the nvme ssd in a nvme case and check the ssd in there with fsck / e2fsck -cckpttvv ?

[paper vale]

Me too

This means that literally nothing went wrong with the ssd or installation or anything, Lenovo just doesn’t know how to make a good bios and whateva

[paper vale]

What’s a nvme case?

Just searched it up, don’t got one

[brazen schooner]

i mean a case which can receive a nmve style ssd and usually a USB 3 or C interface

[paper vale]

But the ssd works comepletely fine on my other laptop

[brazen schooner]

i didn't got that either 😄

[paper vale]

Huh?

[brazen schooner]

i mean that i missed the info that the ssd works comepletely fine.

[paper vale]

Ohhhhhhh

Sorry lol I can be slow at times

[brazen schooner]

nvm - without e 😉

[paper vale]

Tomorrow I’ll probably ask my father to bring me to a repair shop, asking them to get out a screw and get a new ssd shouldnt cost much at all

I’ve learnt to never strip a screw ever no matter what

Could’ve still had my ssd, but I’m more happy that my computer wasn’t screwed foreva