I'm trying to install ZorinOS alongside Windows 11 on a ThinkPad Yoga X1. Windows can see the USB drive, but the BIOS and boot manager do not show it as a bootable device. The only related option is "USB HDD," and selecting that simply starts Windows. I originally created the installer with Rufus and also tried Ventoy. I've checked the boot order and tried different USB ports, but the laptop still doesn't seem to recognize the USB as bootable. What should I check next?
3 Answers
The way the USB was created is worth checking first. For a modern Windows 11 ThinkPad using UEFI, recreate the drive in Rufus with the Zorin ISO, GPT partition scheme, and UEFI target system. If Rufus asks about ISO mode versus DD mode, try the recommended ISO mode first, then test DD mode if it still isn’t detected. Also make sure the ISO was downloaded completely and isn’t corrupted.
“USB HDD” may be the generic label for the flash drive rather than a separate Windows-only option. Try opening the one-time boot menu immediately after powering on and selecting that entry with the USB already connected. If it still launches Windows, the firmware probably doesn’t see a valid EFI bootloader on the stick, so recreating it is more likely to help than changing the boot order.
Since you already tested multiple ports and the boot order, check the firmware settings for Secure Boot and UEFI/Legacy mode. Zorin should normally boot in UEFI mode, so avoid legacy-only settings. You can temporarily disable Secure Boot as a test, then re-enable it later if the installer supports your configuration. Testing the USB on another computer can also confirm whether the installer media itself is the problem.
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