Thinkpad X130e - issues booting from USB

[jcda]

Hi.
I bought a used Thinkpad X130e. Optically it's in great condition, and it boots up fine into BIOS and i can change all the settings.
The previous owner sold it since he struggled to install an OS, he posted a picture with the typical "no operating system found" message you get from a blank HDD/SSD.
In my hubris I thought installing an OS isn't difficult, i've done it many times and bought it for cheap.

So far I tried to install Xubuntu, Lubuntu, Ubuntu and Windows 10 from 2 different USB Sticks.
I tried UEFI and Legacy mode in BIOS.
I reset the BIOS by removing the battery, the CR2032 BIOS battery and the wall charger and loaded the defaults.
The Laptop came with a 1GB and 4GB RAM stick, I tried using only one of them at a time in both slots, it didn't make any difference.
I removed the SSD, but that also made no difference.

Lubuntu threw some messages at me and froze in different states of the installer.
Xubuntu booted into a live desktop, and i was able to enter WIFI data to get internet access. When trying to install, it froze. On reboot i wasn't able to get to a life desktop anymore.

Ubuntu threw a kernel panic:

Code: Select all

smpboot: do_boot_cpu failed(-1) to wakeup CPU#1
Initramfs unpacking failed: Decoding failed
Failed to execute /init (error -2)
Kernel panic - not syncing: No working init found. Try passing init= option to kernel. 
See Linux Documentation/admin-guide/init-rst for guidance.
CPU: 0 PID 1 Comm: swapper/0 Not tainted 5.8.0-25-generic #26-Ubuntu
Hardware name: LENOVO 0627RZ4/0627RZ4, BIOS 8RET52WW (1.15) 11/15/2011
Call Trace:
show_stack+0x52/0x58
dump_stack+0x70/0x8d
? memcpy_orig+0xd0/0x10f
panic+0x101/0x2e3
? rest_init+0xb0/0xb0
kernel_init+0x105/0x110
ret_from_fork+0x22/0x30
Kernel Offset: 0x1de00000 from 0xffffffff81000000 (relocation range: 0xffffffff80000000-0xffffffffbffffffff)
---[ end Kernel panic - not syncing: No working init found. Try passing init= option to kernel. 
See Linux Documentation/admin-guide/init.rst for guidance. ]---

Windows 10 installer alternates between two different error messages:

Code: Select all

Your PC/Device needs to be repaired
The digital signature for this file couldn't be verified

Error code: 0xc0000428

Code: Select all

A required device isn't connected or can't be accessed

Error code: 0xc000000f

I suspect there is some hidden Lenovo feature i'm unaware of that prevents me from booting an OS, or some major hardware issue.
What seems odd to me though is that i was able to boot into a live desktop, and the machine never seems to hard lock, it's just the installer failing to progress due to some reasons.

I saw some issued with the anti-theft feature, I was able to just disable it in the BIOS. Idk if that means anything.
I didn't find any TPM options in the BIOS at all.

[theterminator93]

It sounds like motherboard issues, but the only way to be sure would be a slew of pinpoint tests to rule everything else out. Do you ave the ability to set up a PXE environment to boot from LAN? Have you tried memtest? I've found Hiren's boot disk quite useful in the past.

I would try installing an OS on an SSD then transplanting it into the system in question. Windows can be "generalized" using Sysprep to strip all the drivers and config data specific to the machine you installed it on to allow it to properly boot in a totally different machine.

[jcda]

I ran a quick memtest, it didn't find any errors. I also tried both RAM sticks on their own, and in both slots (all 4 combinations) no change.
Older Ubuntu versions like 10 or 11 boot up reliably into live environment, newer ones beyond 12 don't.
Weirdly if I verify my install media when booted from it on the thinkpad, the check routine finds different amounts of errors sometimes (5, 9, 11).
I tried 2 different USB sticks, one reliable one I had and a brand new one I bought today just for this.

I installed the SSD into a different PC and again the Installer of various ubuntu versions produces a copy error and fails to install.
Currently running a longer test on the SSD filling it up and verifying data with H2testw.

But a broken SSD wouldn't explain why the USB devices produce read errors?

[RealBlackStuff]

The X130e came out 12 years ago and was made for school kids.
Even then it already looked like it was at least a 10 year old model.
Maybe time to look for a more 'grown up' laptop?

[jcda]

I did extensive write/read/verify testing on the SSD in a different PC, no errors.
I did also verify the two USB sticks, no errors.
I ran memtest86+ over night on the thinkpad, no errors.
I re-created a new USB boot medium for ubuntu and installed it on the SSD in a different PC, then transplanted it.
It boots up in the thinkpad about half-way, then freezes.
I don't have a 2nd compatible SSD that would fit, but i was able to attempt an install onto an SD Card in an SD card reader on the thinkpad, which produces the same copy errors.

Somehow when copying files around from USB, the thinkpad generates read errors.
I already tried all 3 ports, so not much to be done except swapping the mainboard.

I bought this thing (for 40 bucks) since i needed a small, rugged, keyboard with a display attached which can run x86 software.
I don't need any CPU power. I had a 10" cheapo netbook back when they became popular, and this seemed the same in more rugged format from a better brand, so it seemed the obvious choice.

I guess i'll pass it on for parts to the next weirdo.

[jronald]

On the X131e:
Default the BIOS, using the USB on the left side of the machine restart the machine and tap F12
When the "welcome" screen pops up, choose the USB stick.

Loaded W7, W10 and Mint less than a week ago

Ron

[beeblebrox]

I just auctioned a used X130e on eBay for a fistfull of Euros. In mint condition.
Installed Windows 10 Pro without any problems using a USB stick on the left side. The X130e can take 8GB, probably 16Gb as well. SATA SSD is no problem.
However it needed TPFanControl V.062 badly as the original fan software is not peaceful and drives the fan to 100% even under no load at all.
Now it is a rugged, quiet subnotebook to throw into my daily backpack. I love it!